Shower enclosures for bathrooms are currently used in different versions of the interior. And for a small bathroom, installing a shower cabin, the dimensions of which are small, allows you to save space in the best way. Cabins come in different shapes, can be installed in different places of the room, equipped with dozens of modern features. They will be discussed in the article.
In fact, there are not many apartments, even in new buildings with large bathrooms. If you have moved to a small house or plan to upgrade such a room, choose a compact plumbing, which can include a shower.
Open type showers
There are two types of showers - open and closed. To open can be attributed a cabin without a top. It has a pallet where water flows, side walls and a door. Recently, cabins have been sold in a complete set, which includes a mixer with shower and all types of cab mounts and fixations.
Low-cost include the standard corner shower , the dimensions of which allow you to install it in any free corner of the bathroom. It will fit even on the smallest area, with combining the bathroom with the bathroom and replacing the bathtub with a shower. We see this option in the photo above. The shower has sliding doors made of shockproof glass and a high tray. There are various configurations of open-type cabs, both with a shower panel and a mixer, and without them. The common sizes of showers, photos of which can be seen in the article, have a width of 75-90 centimeters at a height of 170 centimeters.
Disadvantages of an open shower
The disadvantages, first of all, are moisture on the walls of the bathroom, which leads to the formation of fungus. In this regard, it is necessary to treat the rear walls with special waterproofing materials. Water and spray fall outside the shower and settle on the surface of the furniture in the bathroom. There are so-called partially open showers, where the rear panels of the cabin save the walls behind them from moisture.
Closed Type Shower Enclosures
The option of a hydromassage shower cabin is in great demand. Unlike open options, it has a lid that closes the cab from above. It provides for a complex electric filling, with the help of which various nozzles with healing jets of water function to perform massage or contrast shower. In such cabins, an infrared function may be provided to warm the body. When planning its installation, you need to choose the shape and dimensions of the shower cubicle for the size of your bathroom.
There are various types of installation of hydromassage cabins. It can be mounted both to one wall and to two, having a rectangular shape, the dimensions of which vary: 90 x 120 x 215; 80 x 120 x 220; 85 x 150 x 215; 128 x 128 x 240. There are large enclosed corner cabins installed in the corner. A freestanding cabin is usually installed in a large bathroom and matches its design layout.
As an option, there are combined shower cabins in which it is very comfortable both to take a bath and use a shower. This option is suitable for people who can not decide what to install - a shower or bath.
Shower Shapes
To choose the right form of shower, you need to focus on the largest members of the family, both in growth and in volume. A person should not stand quietly in the cockpit; he should be able to move his hands and bend down. Optimum would be a minimum cab size of 80-100 centimeters in width or length. You can choose the size of the shower cabin, both rectangular, and in the form of an ellipse or a quarter of a corner. In such a cabin, it is convenient to move while taking a shower. In any case, the choice of the shape and size of the shower depends on the taste and capabilities of the buyer.
Shower Trays
It is more difficult to choose pallets for booths. In appearance they can be divided into shallow, deep and very deep. Small trays are usually installed in showers where you only need to take a shower. In the deep, you can take a sitz bath, and in the very deep, in addition to taking a bath, you can bathe children.
To enter the shower, you need to raise your legs, that is, deep and very deep pallets are not suitable for families where there are elderly people. In principle, it is possible to install a cabin with a not very deep pallet, but in this case it is necessary to ensure a safe rise and entrance to the cabin. This can be a stationary fortified step and handrails so that an elderly person can enter and exit without problems.
Types of pallets
If we talk about shower trays, shapes and sizes, then there are many varieties of them. However, the most important parameter when choosing a pallet is not so much its size and shape as the material from which it is made. The most popular currently is acrylic. Acrylic bathtubs replaced iron and steel. Made from acrylic and pallets.
The advantages of using pallets from this material include the fact that it is not slippery and can be polished, but it also has disadvantages. Pallets made of this material can be easily scratched, and they also bend under the weight of a person. And if you take into account that the sizes of pallets for shower cabins can be large, you need to set the supports not only around the perimeter, but also in the central part, in order to prevent the tray from sagging and breaking.
You can install a pallet made of another material, for example, steel. The steel pallet, even if it bends under the heavy weight of a person in the soul, it will not burst. The only drawback of such a pallet is the loud noise when the jets hit the bottom. But this can be eliminated by blowing the mounting foam between the bottom of the pallet and the floor, or by putting a foam mat on the bottom of the pallet.
There are also such pallets that are made of marble, granite or ceramic. This is an expensive option, this is its minus, but the beauty, strength of the material and silence is undoubtedly a plus. The dimensions of the shower cabins in this case are selected by the laid out stone tray.
Pitfalls of showers
Before buying a shower cabin, especially the most equipped with all kinds of amenities, you should inquire about the water pressure in the system in your house or apartment, and what is the throughput of the sewer system. Water pressure depends on the number of storeys of the house, and may be minimal on the upper floors. If the average shower cubicle is satisfied with a pressure of 1.5 bar, then the multifunctional "masterpiece" at this pressure can please only rain from the shower. All other functions operate under water pressure in the system 2-3 bar.
How to choose a shower cabin
If you decide to purchase a shower, you need to see it in person and test it "for durability." Of course, you should take into account, first of all, the "pitfalls" listed above. Next, you should check the pallet, for which you need to go into the cab and walk on it. It should not vibrate and creak. The next step will be to check the convenience of the booth. To do this, make a series of movements that you intend to perform, washing in the shower. If you have not experienced any inconvenience, then the dimensions of the shower cabin are suitable for you.
Another important point is the fastening of the pallet to the frame. It should be welded from a steel profile. This is the most ideal option. Shut-off and control valves should smoothly follow the guides and be clearly fixed. If the cabin is with a seat, it must also be checked for strength and make sure that it is suitable for your height.
DIY shower installation example
You can install a shower cabin yourself. When buying, you have a complete instruction, which indicates the stages of assembly and attached all the necessary fasteners. The first is a pallet that must be level-adjusted and located above the sewer pipes, which are installed at a certain angle, for good water flow.
If this is an acrylic pallet, you must definitely fix it in the center as recommended in the instructions. The installed pallet is necessarily treated with a sealant along the line with the walls. Next, a cab is installed. It is shown in detail in the video how the assembly takes place.
It is also necessary to provide for the installation of a moisture-proof outlet and automatic power off.
If the assembly is carried out in accordance with the attached instructions, you can expect reliable and long-term operation of the shower. Thanks to the listed characteristics of bathroom cabin models, you can navigate which one is best for you. The choice is yours.