The apartment always starts repair work in order to change the situation. Since the bathroom does not occupy the last place in the renovation of the apartment to make it more convenient, many refuse an ordinary bath and install shower cabins. Recently, shower enclosures with glass walls have become popular - this is a solution that will suit any style of interior.
Why choose a glass partition shower?
In stores you will find a considerable number of options for showers made of glass. They are all different in size and shape and are made from different materials. You can even find glass showers with sliding doors. Buying this plumbing, most buyers prefer models of glass. The fact is that glass is characterized by advantages that emit material in comparison with others:
- does not become cloudy;
- it is well washed, so expensive cleaning products are not needed;
- glass tempered, strong, does not burst;
- after 5, or even 10 years of operation, it does not lose its attractive appearance;
- the design is safe because it is made of natural material;
- easy to process: bends and decorates;
- the walls of the shower do not respond to household chemicals.
Glass showers are easy to install, convenient to use and also relatively inexpensive. This is what forms the demand for goods belonging to this category.
Shower cabin: characteristics
The shower cabin is characterized by advantages: it does not take up much space, and having paid a little more, you can order additional functions, for example, hydromassage. Surprisingly, such a model will cost less than a 90 x 90 glass shower cubicle without an addition. If hydromassage is not affordable, buy showers with a high tray. In such a booth, you can take a shower and make relaxing baths.
Models with different additions are also distinguished:
- single and double hinged doors;
- additional shelves;
- handrails;
- holders.
The advantages of a glass partition or shower in the bathroom
Compared to plastic, showers and glass partitions are characterized by a number of differences:
- the design looks elegant and light, and the sophisticated appearance of the plumbing makes the bathroom more comfortable;
- in case of breakdown, the necessary parts can be quickly replaced;
- special glass is a safe material, even if the wall breaks, it is impossible to get hurt.
When choosing a glass shower cabin for yourself, pay attention to some details:
- Tempered glass should be smooth, without bubbles.
- Accessories should be made of high quality metal.
- Pay attention to the gaskets.
Caring for glass cabins is easier than you might think:
- do not use a metal sponge for cleaning;
- detergents should not contain alcohol and abrasive substances;
- so that the cabin retains its shine, wipe it in time and do not allow the appearance of plaque.
Varieties of glass for partitions and showers
Glass partitions differ in characteristics that depend on the type of glass used to produce the shower cabin:
- Classic clear glass is bought more often - this is a universal option that is suitable for any bathroom.
- Stained glass is made only on order. The design decision will make the bathroom original and make a splash. To make a stained-glass window, a special pattern is applied to the glass. After drawing the picture, one gets the feeling that the stained-glass window is composed of small multi-colored pieces of glass.
- Frosted glass creates the appearance of a light haze. To retire is a good option, but, unfortunately, practically does not let in light.
- Multi-colored glass has many different shades, you can choose any one to your taste. One minus is that such glass does not conduct well and light, so sometimes additional lighting is installed.
- Decorated glass, which is sandblasted to apply the pattern, or craftsmen use the engraving method. Such openwork patterns will look great in the bathroom.
Each of these options is perfect for a glass shower. It will give the bathroom spaciousness, lightness and versatility.
Glass Processing Technologies
Glass for bathrooms is processed using modern technology. It could be:
- print;
- grinding;
- bending;
- matting.
Species diversity and distinctive features of the material
For the manufacture of showers using glass of different strengths. This characteristic depends on the method of processing glass, it is by this parameter that three main types of material are distinguished:
- The most common and economical option is ordinary glass. This option is not only low-budget, but also very easy to use, does not scratch, is easily wiped. Unfortunately, glass has one rather serious drawback - fragility. One wrong move, and it can break into a large number of small sharp fragments, which is unsafe, especially if there are small children in the house.
- It is much safer and more convenient to use triplex - a glass material that consists of several layers of glass and a polymer film. It is not so easily broken, has good insulation. The main advantage of raw materials is safety. When broken, the canvas crumbles into thousands of small pieces without sharp edges.
- Many people ask how ordinary glass differs from tempered glass. Everything is quite simple. Tempered glass is heat treated, in other words, processed at high temperatures. Thanks to this, the glass becomes stronger and more reliable, temperature drops are not afraid of him.
Why is material selection so important?
The safety of the whole family depends on the choice of glass for a shower cabin; it is important that no one gets hurt.
Please note that if you have a glass shower without a tray, it will heat up more slowly and it will be uncomfortable to take a shower.
Some unscrupulous manufacturers use plastic, plexiglass or acrylic glass, but such materials are completely unsuitable for the manufacture of showers. They quickly lose their appearance, contribute to the appearance of the fungus.
Below in the photo is a modern-style glass shower with a tray, hydromassage and a number of additional functions that make hygienic procedures even more pleasant and comfortable.
A few words about the safety of showers
Most accidents occur in the bathroom. All due to poorly selected finishing materials, structures and devices. For greater security, you should immediately abandon the shower cabin with ordinary glass, since this is not the most successful option. Better choose an option with a stronger type of material. Experts recommend stopping the choice on tempered glass.
Of course, the price of the product is of great importance, but not in this case. Much more important is the safety of the inhabitants of the house. In general, choosing plumbing for a bathroom is not worth saving.
Subtleties of buying a shower
Prices for glass showers are very often changing. This is influenced by many different factors. Pricing directly depends on the manufacturer, the more famous the brand, the higher the cost. Of great importance is the thickness of the glass, size and style of construction.
It is necessary to include in the expenditure budget a specialist call for the installation of a glass shower. It’s better to pay a little more for services than for a new shower cubicle, which you will have to buy in case of careless behavior and damage to the previous one.
Assembly of walls of a shower cabin
Making repairs in the bathroom, many want to save. They try to mount the shower cabin themselves, forgetting that glass is a rather fragile material. One wrong move - and it can crash, so it’s not worth the risk. When installing glass walls, be careful and careful. Do not forget that the installation of the structure requires special skills.
To prevent unpleasant situations, read how to assemble the glass shower cubicle correctly:
- First you need to consider the glass and determine where the top and where the bottom. To do this, a special marking is applied to the surface, but it also happens that it is absent. In such cases, this can be determined by the number of holes: at the bottom there are always fewer.
- Then inspect the guides: the top is always large and wide, and the bottom is a little thinner.
- Having figured out the details, you can begin to fasten the glass to the fence. To prevent water from flowing out, the glass should be treated with a special hermetic and only then attached to the arch.
- In racks of glass have grooves, they are screwed on with screws. There are also gaskets that need to be worn on the glass before installation.
- If the shower glass cabin has a pallet, then the glass fencing does not need to be fixed to it with screws.
- Next, we install the side panels, lubricating them with silicone and twisting with large screws.
- The rear walls of the shower cubicle also roll with screws. All glasses are sold with holes for self-tapping screws.
- We fasten the second side panel and the back. It is on the back that contains everything you need.
- The most important thing is to carefully treat all parts with sealant.
If the work is done correctly, the glass shower will serve for many years, will be a harmonious addition to the bathroom.
Choosing a shower cabin for yourself, it is necessary to consider many nuances. Therefore, it is better to entrust it to specialists. They will design and produce the perfect option that will complement the bathroom, make it comfortable, individual, more functional. You just need to choose the shape and size of the glass shower, and the craftsmen will do everything efficiently and reliably.
Being aware of the topic and knowing the intricacies of choosing shower enclosures made of such a fragile material as glass, be sure that the interior of the bathroom is not only beautiful, but also functional.