Shower cabins with a tray

Shower cabins are becoming an increasingly popular choice. Many refuse to buy baths, preferring more compact shower boxes with trays. This solution has many advantages.

The shower cabin is not a novelty on the bathroom plumbing market, however, it was really noticed only recently. This feature is due to the fact that real estate becomes more expensive, and people often can afford to buy only a small apartment with a small bathroom or combined bathroom.

The presence of certain functions, the difference in size and shape allows you to talk about different types of showers. Each of them deserves separate attention, since the designs sometimes differ greatly from each other. In some of them it is possible to implement the hydromassage option, while others are only suitable for equipping with minimal functionality.

Prefabricated structures are just showers in the classic sense. In their composition, they have only walls, doors and a pallet. Because of their features, they can be mounted only in the corner of the bathroom, while the two room walls replace the walls of the shower stall itself. Doors can be either two or one.

As a rule, the pallet is low here. Many could encounter such showers in institutions such as hospitals, kindergartens, guest houses. The pallet is traditionally made of cast iron, but in the modern interpretation it is possible to use other materials, for example, acrylic.

Monoblock showers are also called hydroboxing. They can be mounted in any part of the bathroom, since they have not only all the walls and the tray, but also the ceiling part. Such complete closeness allows equipping them with many additional functions, including aromatherapy, music playback and, of course, hydromassage.

Monoblock hydroboxes can be made of absolutely any material. The choice of raw materials mainly depends on the weight of the structure, not its strength, since the polymers are of high quality when used. Depending on the number of functions, as well as on the material of the pallet and walls, the cost is determined: the more options and the more expensive the material is used, the more expensive the hydroboxing is.

Electronic showers can fully function only when they are connected to the electrical network. This mainly refers to the monoblock versions, equipped with lighting, radio and other functions that can not be imagined without electricity.

Electronic showers can operate without electricity, but in this case only the main functions will be performed: adjustment and water supply. There can be no talk of any radio or remote control. There will be no automatic adjustment of water, if your hydrobox is equipped with this function. All management will have to be done manually. The hydromassage function will also not be available.

Mechanical showers are fully controlled manually.Their device does not provide for the presence of functions that should work only if they are connected to the power supply network. However, this does not mean that the functions are very limited. Of course, you will have to resort only to the standard set: mixing and supplying water to the tap, then to the shower, as well as adjusting the flow rate.

From a financial point of view, this option is more accessible than the previous one, since you will not have to overpay for the car itself or for electricity. After all, hydroboxing consumes a lot of electricity, while a shower cabin with manual control does not need it at all. Due to the simplified design, its cost will also be several times lower.

Open constructions are made only with walls, but without a roof. There can be no talk of any hydromassage in such a construct: a lot of water will spill up, ruining the environment. Such booths have standard functionality, less often they are equipped with “exotic” functions: music, automatic control, lighting. The pallet can be either deep or low.

For the installation of such a shower you need to carefully prepare the room:

• to level floors and walls;
• well treat joints with sealant to ensure waterproofing;
• select suitable materials for the floor and walls themselves and ensure that they do not react to water in any way.

Walls also need to be treated with antibacterial agents to prevent mold and mildew.

Closed hydroboxes are completely insulated on each side and on top. Usually they have a high base, which can also be used as a bath if it is of sufficient size. Due to the fact that the design is closed, it can be mounted on any site. It is important that there are water supply and drain systems: without them, the hydrobox will not function.

In closed cabins there may be several functions, including a Turkish bath or sauna.Steam is supplied to this sealed box, and as a result, the effect is no worse than in a real steam room. In addition, in the enclosed showers often do the function of a hydromassage, since the water here will not spill.

A large closed shower with a bath is of particular interest, since it not only has all the same functions as the rest of the structure of this type, but also allows you to fully take a bath. This is especially nice if the hydrobox has the functions of aromatherapy and lighting. You can adjust the lighting and smell and fully relax. This option is most preferable for people suffering from a sleep disorder.

Shower cabins have many features, including both positive and negative sides of structures. That is interesting, and those, and others approximately equally, therefore before the choice it is necessary to study all "reefs" which you can face in use.

Shower cabins have a number of obvious advantages, thanks to which users more and more often choose them instead of baths leaving in the past. However, these advantages are associated not only with the ever-expanding functionality that hydroboxes are endowed with, but also with many others, for example:

• In the first place, why they choose shower cabins - it’s because they take up very little space. Hydroboxing takes up half the space than a bathtub, so as a result of such an acquisition, it is possible to place a sink, a washing machine, a dryer and the like in the room.
• Reduced trauma. While taking a shower, standing in a standard bathroom, you can slip and fall. The same thing happens if you don't get out of the bath carefully enough without leaning on something. In cases with showers this will not happen, since their sides are much lower, and in the case of a fall, you can only crash into walls made of heavy-duty tempered glass.
• Significant savings are achieved. The water in the showers is consumed much less, because here in most cases there is only a function of the shower. When bathing a child in a pan with high sides of the water is spent two times less than when bathing in a bath.
• Unlike the traditional bathtub, dozens of various additional functions can be installed in the shower box, including the sauna function.

• Due to the large variability it is possible to pick up a pallet for any necessary dimensions. If you need a non-standard size cabin, for example, 70x100 cm, you can always order an individual project.
• If you have sufficient skills, you can always mount the shower cabin yourself. In the case of a bathroom, you may need special sanitary knowledge, which is often available only to specialists.
• The shower cabin looks neater than the bathroom, and when using it there will be no problems with the water spilled everywhere.
• An existing seat can be extremely substantial when it comes to children or the elderly. For them, it is often necessary.

The drawbacks of showers are not as obvious as their advantages, but should also be considered:

• It often happens that because of the shape of the shower stalls, it is still impossible to install in a small bathroom. For example, rectangular hydroboxing due to the large length is not suitable for a small room, because it takes up too much space.
• A shower installed in an apartment building often cannot realize all its functionality. This is due to the fact that the water pressure is too small, so the only thing you can do is take a shower.
• After taking a shower, each time it is necessary to clean the transparent walls to avoid the formation of whitish plaque and water stains.
• Compared to the bathroom, hydroboxing is quite expensive. Not everyone is ready to lay out about 50,000 rubles for aromatherapy or radio - additional functions of a shower cabin.
• For lovers to soak in the bath, this option is also not suitable, because it is impossible to lie in the shower tray. The exception is when the rectangular pallet is specifically designed for this purpose.
• Budget models are not always of high quality. In some cases, over time, the doors “disperse” at them, losing their tightness, and their weak frame and inexpensive materials quickly rust and crack.
• It is necessary to prepare the room for the installation of hydrobox, which can take a long time and require a large amount of money.

For many, choosing and purchasing a shower stall can be a daunting task, especially when you don’t know what you should pay attention to first.

Use the following list to know which data to guide when choosing:

• Type of. Depending on the area you have, you can choose between a closed and open cabin. Recall that the closed cabin has a full four walls, while two or three walls of the bathroom serve as the walls of the open shower. Focusing on exactly where you will mount the booth, select and its type.
• Pallet. In this case, it makes sense to look at the height of the fence. Versatile is the version with the middle walls: there will be no problems with stepping over them, and you can wash the baby or pet in such a pan.
• Doors and walls. Pay attention to the type of doors: sliding, swing, "books". It may be that, due to space limitations, some of these options will not work. It is important that the walls have hermetic seams and are made of quality material.
• Material. This refers to the materials of the walls, doors, the pallet itself. All of them must be resistant to stress, do not bend, do not slip. Corrosion resistance is important.
• Functional. Depending on your preferences, determine for yourself which functions are paramount and which ones can be neglected. On the basis of this list, determine those booths that suit you, and choose the best option among them.
• Shape and size. Choosing these options, you should focus on the tallest member of the family. If he is comfortable in such a booth, then the rest too. It is important that the cabin is not strongly constrained movement. It should be possible to move your hands, lathering, or sit on an existing seat.

Depth pallets are divided into three categories:

• low (side height - less than 10 cm);
• medium (side height - from 10 to 18 cm);
• deep (average height - 25-35 cm).

Perhaps you want to use a rectangular shower like a bath. Then you will need a pallet with high sides. If you plan to just take a shower, but at the same time you want the shower stall not to be very high, choose low sides. Middle boards are optimal and suitable for most bathrooms.

Depending on the size, there are several types of showers.Each of them has its own proportions. Pay attention to the amusing fact that its size depends on the shape of the shower. Some of these options are compact, others will have to take a significant area. However, this does not affect their height, which depends only on the presence or absence of the “ceiling” of the booth.

In the classic sense, the symmetrical corner shower is a quarter circle cabin, which has two sides and a semi-circular pan. This option is mainly chosen for small rooms, since it is mounted in the corner, and the semicircular edge does not take up much space. Such symmetric circles can be found in most cases.

Sometimes designers move away from the rules, making the booth not arc-shaped, but polygonal. In this case, it looks more interesting, but does not fit into every bathroom. It should be said that such an innovation practically does not affect the size of the shower; it still takes up little space.

Standard lengths of the sides of the angular symmetric cabin vary in the range of 0.8-1.2 m. This design can be installed in any corner of the bathroom, if it has sufficient wall length to accommodate the cabin. For example, with the sides of 90x90 cm you should not put the cabin in the angle from which the door is 70 cm.

Angular asymmetric shower is not much different from the previous version, except that here the sides located at the wall have different lengths. For example, a cabin may have dimensions of 120 by 80 cm, 120x90 cm, 100x80 cm or 110x80 cm. Other sides are also connected by an arc, or the edge is made polygonal.

Unlike angular symmetric booths, asymmetrical models are divided into right and left. It is important to keep in mind that according to the rules the short side of the shower is installed at the short side of the bathroom. An exception can be made only in the case when the long side of the hydrobox is equal to the short side of the bathroom, but this happens extremely rarely.

The standard dimensions of the cabin are as follows - the long side can be from 100 to 120 cm, and the short side - from 80 to 90 cm. In the future, combinations of these values ​​can be any: 120x80 cm, 80x100 cm and so on.

Rectangular showers are mainly installed in niches, it is also possible location along the wall or in the corner. Rectangle - a clear geometric shape, so it is worth being prepared for the fact that such a shower will take quite a lot of space.

Rectangular hydroboxes or open cabins often equip with a deep tray that performs the function of a traditional bath. The length of such structures is the same as for conventional bathrooms: from 150 to 180 cm. The width can vary between 70-85 cm.

Square showers have almost the same positioning advantages as symmetrical angular ones. They are also mainly installed in the corners, and the corner of the room can be any. Square shower with dimensions of 100x100 cm or 120x120 cm is suitable for a large bathroom, and 70x70 cm or 80x80 cm - for smaller options.

The disadvantage is that the bulging angle of a square booth takes up a lot of space, and it is not always possible to install such a cabin in a really small room. In the case of a large bathroom, a square shower will look inappropriate, however, as a design move, such an arrangement is quite possible.

In this case, it is not about the form, but about the size of the shower cabin with a tray. It may have dimensions other than those that are considered standard for showers. As a rule, similar products are made only to order under certain bathrooms.

Non-standard showers can be equipped with a variety of functions, and the owners themselves choose the presence or absence of this or that option. For example, many people want to have in their disposal a shower with lights, music and hydromassage, but they do not want to overpay for aromatherapy and a sauna. In this case, they simply order a booth with the amenities that they need.

There are several types of doors that are suitable for showers. Each type has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Remarkably, the material from which the doors are made is no different from the material used for the walls.

The choice of a particular type is determined by the bathroom interior, its own amenities and preferences. Some of the doors are suitable for large bathrooms, others - for small ones, one more will be universal. In any case, much more important is what the doors are made of, how well they are sealed at the joints.

The sliding door on the mechanism resembles a coupe. It is suitable for small bathrooms, because there is no need for space for opening doors. They just slide from side to side. The more common option is the one in which two doors move in and out, but there are also single-door versions.

Doors move along guides on rollers. For tightness, the joints, as well as the guides and rollers themselves are protected by rubber bands. When approaching the sash well coupled due to the magnets.

Unlike the previous version, this one takes up much more space. Here it is required to provide a space for opening doors (two or one, depending on the design). Most users notice that the two-door variation is much more convenient. In some cases, it is possible to open the door inwards, but this option should be chosen only when the hydraulic box is large and the opening of the door will not cause discomfort to the person inside. Special attention should be paid to the material from which the hinges are made for fastening the doors.

In fact, it is the same hinged door, only opening in both directions. This makes swing doors not the most convenient option.In addition to the place outside, you will need more space inside, allowing you to open the door in both directions. The door is fixed on double-sided hinges that control the door movement. It is important to pay attention to their sealing. Because of the double move, they quickly fray.

A folding door has something in common with a sliding door, because it also saves space, but the door “book” still bulges a little. Such structures consist of vertical rails connected by ball bearings. The advantage of "books" is the possibility of their partial opening, for example, if you need to release some heat from the shower stall.

Open cabins are sometimes made without any doors. There is only a frame and pallet.

Shower boxes with trays are made of various materials.It makes sense to consider in more detail the raw materials used for the manufacture of pallets directly, since the frame, walls and doors are made of the same type of materials.

Walls and doors are made either of transparent plastic in budget models, or of tempered glass. The second option is more expensive, but also more reliable. If the bathroom walls are used as cabin walls, they must be lined with ceramic tiles.

It is easy to care for acrylic trays, the material is light and practical. However, an important disadvantage is the ability to quickly bend under human weight. In order to level this drawback, quartz sand was added to the composition, and a new material was called a quarry. Quarilla pallets are considered the best.

Refers to ceramic materials. Faience - a natural material, so that it fits in the best way with the classic interior and looks more harmonious here. The disadvantage of faience pallets is the constant need to carefully care for them, as they tend to turn yellow with time.In addition, the earthenware tray will not withstand the fall of something heavy on it, because it is too fragile.

Pallets from artificial marble came into use not so long ago. For their manufacture using natural marble chips and glue. Products made of artificial marble have excellent heat-saving qualities, which may be important when taking a bath. Care of the pallet of this type is practically not required.

Initially, the pallets were made just of cast iron, and over time this material only confirmed its high performance. The cast-iron pan together with the steel frame and glass walls is a model of reliability. Pallets of this type are coated with enamel, which is easy to maintain. It is enough to wipe it from time to time with a rag soaked in soapy water. However, chips may appear on the enamel as a result of dropping heavy objects.

For the manufacture of wooden pallets using an array of teak - an eco-friendly material with high performance properties. The advantages of wood include its ability to resist slipping, and special treatment of the material makes it resistant to moisture.

As a rule, wooden pallets are made flat, without sides. You can find pallets with boards made of wood, but in these cases only decorative trim is made of wood, and other material is used as the main material, for example, cast iron.

Steel products make a worthy competition to cast iron. They retain all the same positive properties, while their weight is several times less, which allows you to install this option even on unfortified floor. Like cast iron, steel pallets are enameled. As a result of taking a shower in a hydrobox with such a pallet inside, a favorable microclimate is formed, since the steel heats up well and gives off heat.

This material is the best among its counterparts, since it has advantages that distinguish it favorably compared to all others. So, just take care of him, he is not deformed, retains heat, and there is practically no noise from falling water. If you chop or scratch the surface a little, it can be easily repaired using the grinding method.As materials for the production of pallets are selected granite and marble.

As additional elements that equip shower cabins, use the following:

• seats mounted in the pan;
• mirrors built into one of the walls of the hydrobox;
• handles for closing and opening the doors;
• shelves on which the necessary cosmetics and household chemicals;
• hangers and hooks that can be used for washcloths or towels;
• shower heads;
• dispensers for liquid soap, shampoo and other things;
• foot massagers built into the pan;
• hydromassage panels.

Among the companies that produce high-quality and reliable hydroboxes, there are both foreign and Russian representatives. Your attention is invited podborka the most popular companies.

• AP-AM (Russia and Germany). High-quality plumbing with excellent performance and warranty from the manufacturer in 2.5 years. By production parts from Europe are used.
• Aquanet (Russia). Many are repelled by the use of Chinese parts, but the cost redeems everything.The warranty period varies greatly: it can be from 3 months to 10 years.

• Cazares (Italy). The company is constantly improving its models, adding new and new features. Warranty ranges from 1 year to 25 years.
• Lanmang (China). All products are subject to mandatory certification according to European standards. The warranty period is 1 year.
• Niagara (Russia). This brand specializes only in the manufacture of shower cubicles. They offer a large selection of glass in texture. There is both a simple transparent, and corrugated. With self-installation warranty will be six months.

• Radaway (Poland). Luxury shower cabins. The warranty is 5 years, provided that the installation was carried out by the service center of the company.
• River (Russia). Offers a wide range of design designs. There are both budget options and a suite. Warranty is 1 year.
• Apollo (China). Despite the fact that the company is Chinese, the quality of plumbing is at a decent level. With self-installation warranty is 6 months.

• Avanta (China). The warranty on the shower stalls is only a year, but this does not mean that the products are of poor quality. All hydroboxes are made of acrylic and tempered glass.
• Erlit (Russia and China).This duet of the two countries produces high-quality and inexpensive cabins, the warranty period for which varies from 1 to 7 years.

Before proceeding with the installation, you need to prepare everything you need.

The set of shower cabins includes:

• pallet;
• mirror;
• shelves;
• seat;
• headrest.

From the tools you will need a standard set: a screwdriver, level, a set of wrenches, a drill, a construction gun, silicone sealant.

First you need to collect the pallet itself. Be sure to check for leaks. If there is no doubt about tightness, connect it to the sewer pipe using the included drain pipe.

Be sure to test the drain: stand in the pan, walk along it, and then flush the water. If all is well, you can proceed to install the walls and doors.

To avoid the need for repairs,it is necessary to take care of the hydroboxing correctly: wash the tray and walls, clean the drain in time. To simplify this procedure, install special filters on the pipes.

If the damage could not be avoided, be sure to fix it immediately, as found. On the pallet, the cracks can be simply repaired and dried, if the mechanism of the doors breaks, the idle rollers need to be replaced, and in case of serious leakage the pipes can be replaced.

How to install a shower tray, see the video below.