How to choose a shower cabin for a bathroom?

A shower cabin instead of a traditional bathtub in a city apartment does not seem exotic for a long time, not to mention the fact that it is such plumbing equipment that owners of summer cottages often prefer. Plumbing manufacturers offer a lot of options - from the simplest and cheapest to ultra-modern, with many additional features. The article will discuss how to choose a shower cabin for a bathroom.

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Do I need to change the plumbing?

Not everyone decides on global changes in the bathroom - the bathtub in which you can relax, lie down with a book and even take a nap, sometimes even with a risk to life, seems too familiar and cozy. However, shower cabins have their own advantages, and considerable:

• there is more space in the bathroom, and you can put something else - for example, an additional cabinet or a full-size washing machine;
• all hygiene procedures can be quickly and easily performed;
• the room looks stylish and modern;
• most likely, you will not fall asleep in the cabin, and even if this happens, there is almost no risk of drowning.

Important! As for the summer cottage, a shower can be arranged even in the yard, as is now very often done. In a city apartment, you can put a bath and a cabin, if the size of the bathroom allows. Those who are going to make major repairs are most often stopped by additional costs.

But before you choose the right shower cabin for the bathroom, you can thoroughly analyze the model range, price range, and with almost a guarantee to find something suitable specifically for your room.

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What are the cabs?

Having looked in the catalog of sanitary equipment, you will be convinced that quite a lot of models are offered. They differ:

• by type of cabin;
• the shape and depth of the pallet;
• according to the material.

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Cab type

One of the first parameters that you need to pay attention to in order to choose a shower cabin for a bathroom. Boxes for bathrooms can be:

• open
• closed;
• combined.

Open cabins

These are prefabricated models. The pallet is placed directly on the floor in a corner or attached to the bottom of the wall, it is connected to the sewer. One or two panels of glass or transparent plastic are mounted to the pallet, and the rest are lined with ceramic tiles. There is no roof for such a cabin.

A device of this type has its advantages:

• ease of installation;
• relatively low price;
• the opportunity to do without a pallet;
• the opportunity to make yourself from the available materials.

If we talk about the shortcomings that you need to know before choosing a shower, then they are as follows:

• few features;
• there is a chance to fill the neighbors;
• the equipment is put once and for all in order to move it - considerable efforts and additional expenses will be required;
• access to the pipes is difficult, which means that there will be problems during their repair;
• humidity in the room rises;
• sound insulation is practically absent.

Important! In such models, the most ordinary shower is made - with a watering can, which is attached to a regular hose. But there is no way to arrange a cascade or tropical rain, that is, there is no question of any special water procedures, this is purely hygienic equipment.It is also impossible to attach a steam generator or an ozonation system. As for the likelihood of pouring in the neighbors, when installing an open shower, you need to especially carefully monitor that the floor is done qualitatively.

With or without a pallet?

Quite often, open cabins are made without a pallet, the base is poured with high-quality concrete and tiled. In this tile, you must choose one that does not slip.

Important! An open cabin can be of any size, and this is what most often attracts apartment owners.

What are the walls made of?

The panels in such a device are made of glass or other transparent material. But flat vertical walls should hold on to something. They are attached to a metal profile, which can be purchased separately at a hardware store.

Fit for you:

• aluminum;
• brass;
• stainless steel.

Important! The best for plumbing equipment is a brass profile, which tolerates water well and looks very impressive, especially in combination with transparent sparkling glass.

Closed boxes

This is a cabin in the full sense of the word, that is, it has:

• pallet;
• walls;
• ceiling.

The advantages include:

• full autonomy is really a separate box;
• an abundance of various functions;
• mobility - if necessary, the “box” can be moved to another corner, taken out to the kitchen or even taken to the country;
• the ability to quickly connect to communications;
• huge lineup;
• excellent sound insulation;
• lack of influence on humidity indoors.

Important! Serious drawbacks, in addition to the fact that such a cabin is on average two to three times more expensive than a similar open one, this equipment does not have.

Combined Boxes

Such a booth stands on a deep pan or even a bath. Shower walls are placed around the perimeter. The ceiling may be, but may be absent. Such equipment combines the advantages of a font and a shower cabin, which allows you to do a variety of water procedures - from a regular bath to a hydromassage, a Charcot's shower or a cascade.

They put combined boxes in large bathrooms. Their advantages are obvious:

• the ability to choose an open or closed type, depending on the procedure;
• huge lineup.

There are also disadvantages:

• the price is 7-10 times higher than for open cabins, and 2-3 times higher than for closed ones;
• large dimensions.

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What to consider when choosing?

Since some intervention in the communication device will be required, the following considerations should be followed when choosing a shower cabin for a bathroom:

• the area of ​​the room;
• features of the location of the pipes;
• pallet shape;
• the material from which all parts of the box are made.

Dimensions

Open and closed models, in principle, are suitable even for very small bathrooms. They come in standard sizes:

• 80x80 cm;
• 90x90 cm;
• 100x100 cm.

They usually have square pallets. But the combined models have a rectangular or close configuration to it and much more diverse dimensions - 80x120, 90x120, 90x160 cm.

But among the equipment in this category there are also square models:

• 125x125 cm;
• 150x150 cm.

Pallet Shapes

Open and closed box pallets are installed either near one of the walls or in a corner. Accordingly - they are called:

• near the wall;
• angular.

Wall

In plumbing stores, wall models are most often found:

• rectangular;
• square;
• round;
• oval;
• semicircular;
• semi-oval.

Corner

Corner bowls are made so that they are conveniently put in a corner. That is, you can choose a shower cabin for a bathroom from one of the following options:

• square;
• round;
• a quarter of the oval;
• quadrant.

Important! On sale there are also boxes of irregular shape - they are intended mainly for very small bathrooms.

Depth

The walls of the pallet can be generally flush with the floor level. But among the models you will find those where the depth is 30-40 cm.The choice of shower depends on the location of the sewer pipes. Oddly enough, a low "bath" is more difficult to mount than a high one. The main advantage of low sides is that they do not need to be stepped over, and this is important if the family has, for example, a disabled person.

Important! If you still need a deep pan, despite the fact that every time you have to step over the wall, do one or two steps.

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Material

For the manufacture of bowls, different materials are used, the properties of which you need to know in order to choose a shower cabin for a good quality bathroom:

• cast iron;
• steel;
• acrylic;
• faience;
• a natural stone;
• fake diamond.

Cast iron

This traditional material for the manufacture of plumbing equipment has not lost popularity to this day. Its main advantages:

• strength - unless you specifically throw a dumbbell in such a “bath”, you won’t be able to break it;
• durability - a cast-iron pallet can stand for several decades, and the enamel will not break off from it;
• retains heat long enough.

If we talk about the shortcomings, then these include:

• heavy weight;
• some fragility - such a pallet will not stand strong blows with heavy objects.

Steel

The stainless steel is much lighter than cast iron, moreover, it is not so fragile and keeps its shape perfectly. You can drop anything onto a steel surface - nothing will happen to it. However, it is hardly worth saying that this is an ideal material for plumbing. It has very significant shortcomings, which you need to know about when planning to choose a shower cabin for a bathroom:

• heats up quickly and cools just as quickly;
• water thunders against such a surface.

Acrylic

This material is gaining in popularity, and not without reason. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of shapes and models of such products. True, in stores you are unlikely to find pure acrylic bowls, usually two-component material is used.

Faience

This material is specially created for adherents of classical traditions. Its positive qualities that contribute to the popularity of choosing a shower cabin for a bathroom of this type:

• structural strength;
• equipment stability;
• with care, an unlimited service life.

The most significant minus is fragility, which requires great care from the owners.

A rock

For the manufacture of plumbing equipment, artificial or natural stone is used. These products are distinguished by:

• strength;
• ability to maintain temperature for a long time;
• ease of maintenance and repair.

Unfortunately, such models are more expensive than others.

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Door opening systems

Convenience of the cabin largely depends on how its doors open. And this must be taken into account when planning to choose a shower cabin for the bathroom. They are:

• swinging;
• articulated;
• sliding;
• rotary;
• folding.

Swing and articulated

Swing open outward and very wide. They are put on several loops. Hinged are mounted on two swivel joints that are located on the upper and lower ends. They also open wide, so you can get into boxing without any obstacles. They are safer and more reliable than swing.

Sliding, folding, swivel:

• Sliding doors are usually made in spacious boxes. They are set so that the cabin takes up less space. They are made of two or even several panels that overlap when the opening is open.
• In a small room, rotary door panels look best. This is a swinging plane that opens and closes with a hinge that moves along a special groove.
• There is another interesting design - the "book". It develops, and if you do not want the opening to be completely open - this option is for you.

Important! In large boxes there can also be combined doors.

Material

Most often, the box and panels with which it opens and closes are made of one material. It could be:

• polystyrene;
• glass;
• plexiglass;
• triplex.

Polystyrene

This is plastic. He can be:

• transparent
• matte.

Its advantages:

• resistance to water;
• ease.

The main disadvantage, as with any plastic, is its short service life. In addition, it is difficult to keep it clean - stains from detergents remain on it, which are not so easy to remove without a trace.

Glass and Plexiglas

For the manufacture of boxes, tempered in a special way and fairly thick glass is used, so there is no danger that you will break the panel with an awkward movement of the hand.

Important! Such products are considered the most hygienic. It’s easy to care for them.

Plexiglass is as transparent as simple. This is a fairly cheap material that can be polished. Its main disadvantage is that it is very easy to scratch.

Triplex

This is also glass, very reminiscent of automotive glass. The panel consists of three layers - two tempered glasses, between which a reinforcing transparent film is placed. This is the most durable, safe and very beautiful option. However, such a booth is very expensive.

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Extra bonuses

Open cabs have no additional features. The control system is also simple. In the cabin there can only be a shower and a pallet, sometimes the simplest radio receiver is put there. But in the closed and combined models, you can find a lot of interesting things:

• electronic control;
• cascading shower;
• rain shower;
• Charcot's douche;
• hydromassage;
• ozonation device;
• chromium plating system;
• aromatherapy equipment;
• steam generator;
• radio, player, built-in phone and more.

Important! You can take water procedures without music, but special hydraulic devices can be very useful. For example, by turning on the cascading shower, you will recline on a pallet, and a powerful jet from a meter height will flood you. With a tropical soul, a lot of thin streams flow on top of you, and Charcot's shower is about a dozen moderate streams from different directions.

Finally, with the help of a steam generator, you can, without leaving the bathroom, arrange a sauna or a Turkish bath.

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Manufacturers

Many companies work in the market for such equipment. Russian models are cheaper than European ones. The most popular Russian cab companies:

• Marka
• Alavann;
• Aqualife
• Bas;
• Bach;
• Eurolux;
• Finn.

Traditionally, German products are in great demand, although they usually cost more than Russian ones:

• Edelform,
• Stiebel Eltron,
• Sturm
• Wasserfalle,
• Westerhof.

Not bad proved themselves and the Italian companies:

• Primo,
• Valencia
• Axa.

These firms offer mid-priced products of excellent quality.

Important! Finnish and Czech companies offer good, reliable and stylish models, but Chinese manufacturers should be treated with caution - you can find a really high-quality shower cabin that will last for more than one year, but there is a good chance that you will come across a fake that is ready to fall apart immediately after installation.

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Stock footage

It is not so difficult to choose a shower cabin for a bathroom, you just need to decide in advance what exactly you need, how much you have and what area of ​​the bathroom. Then the optimal solution will come very quickly.