Choosing seals for showers

Showers are increasingly found in modern bathrooms. This is due to their ergonomic, attractive appearance and variety of options. Cabins are prefabricated structures, the tightness of which provide seals. Usually they are included in the shower cabin, but these accessories can be bought separately.

A compactor is an elastic contour that runs along the perimeter of the cab parts. The release form is thin, up to 12 mm wide whips, the length of which is 2-3 m. Thanks to this element, the construction details are tight, which means its tightness.This type of fittings, firstly, prevents the ingress of water into the bathroom, and secondly, prevents moisture from entering the joints between the parts. This, in turn, eliminates the risk of unpleasant odor, mold, and also simplifies the cleaning procedure.

Without fail, seals should be laid between the following parts:

• pallet and side panels;
• tray and door;
• adjacent contiguous panels;
• wall bath and shower door;
• in the presence of sliding or swing doors.

A quality seal must meet the following requirements:

• resistance to water and temperature leaps;
• resistance to high temperatures up to 100 ° C;
• elasticity;
• biostability;
• strength to mechanical impact, impact;
• safety, non-toxic.

Factory cabs usually have seals in their kit. When they fail or are initially not of high quality, they are dismantled and replaced with new ones.The main signals that need to be replaced are water leakage, rupture of the seal, the appearance of condensation on the walls of the booth, the appearance of smell of staleness, mold.

Depending on the material used, the following types of seals are distinguished:

A common form that is resistant to moisture, temperature and mechanical damage. Differing also in high elasticity, this component is not capable to resist to emergence of a mold. However, this disadvantage is leveled due to the application of impregnation with antiseptic properties. In addition, they do not cause corrosion of metal profiles. The advantage of the element is also the ability to use it in combination with silicone-based sealants. Models demonstrate the optimal combination of affordable prices and high quality, reliability.

Plastic seals are basically polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Its properties are similar to silicone - provide a snug fit, withstand high humidity and temperature changes.

The basis of this type of seals is a modern rubber polymer, the feature of which is the change of functions depending on the microclimate in the shower. At room temperature, the material is identical in properties to rubber, and when heated, about 10 ° C is thermoplastic. In the latter case, it is characterized by increased flexibility. This ensures a high mechanical resistance of the material and a long service life (up to 10 years).

Their thermoplastic elastomers are distinguished by their homogeneous structure, tight fit to the surfaces, rapid recovery of form, and the absence of deformation. It is logical that the cost of such elements is quite high.

Rubber meets the requirements of elasticity, strength, temperature resistance, moisture resistance. However, the service life of the sealing gum is less than that of analogues based on silicone or polymer. In addition, such models can lose their properties under the influence of some detergent compositions. Finally, they begin to lose their properties when the temperature rises above 100 ° C.

Magnetic seal is an element of any of the considered materials, equipped with magnetic tape.The presence of the latter provides improved indicators of tightness, tighter closure of doors, especially sliding. Most often magnetic tapes have silicone models. A distinctive feature of this material is that they differ in the value of the angle at which the cabin door closes. There are indicators of 90, 135, 180 °.

If the magnetic option does not fit, you can purchase a seal-latch with an adjustable latching angle. For cabs of radial design (convex doors, semicircular or asymmetrical shapes of cabs), special curved fittings are used, ensuring a tight fit on convex and concave surfaces.

The classification of the sealing tape is based on their thickness. The latter depends on the thickness of the shower panels and is 4-12 mm. The most common are seals 6-8 mm thick. It is important to accurately select the width of the whip seal. If the width is too wide, installation will not be possible, if the profile is not sufficient, the profile will not be completely filled with a sealant, which means that there is no need to talk about tightness.

As a rule, high-quality foreign manufacturers produce cabins with panels whose thickness is more than 6 mm. Cheap Chinese and domestic models have a thickness of 4-5 mm panels.

The compactor can have various forms:

• A-shaped. It is used in the space between panels and walls, between 2 glass panels.
• H-shaped. Appointment - sealing of 2 glasses in cabins of non-standard type, where the panels are not located at right angles to each other.
• L-shaped. It is characterized by its uniqueness, since it is effective for installation between panels and a pallet, a wall and panels, and panes. It is also mounted on sliding panels in order to improve sealing, and the design of swing doors makes it more airtight.
• T-shaped. Has a side, and therefore suitable for installation in the lower edge of the door. Eliminates water leakage from the structure.
• P-shaped. You can use the bottom of the door leaf, as well as between the panel and the wall.

More modern can be called drip, called petal seal. Its scope of application - sealing in the lower part of the door leaf.The design consists of 2 connected strips with a height of 11-29 mm. The outer vertical strip ensures the airtightness of the space between the lower part of the door leaf and the floor (pallet), the inner one does not allow water to splash, directing it into the shower box.

Kapelnik are especially popular in designs with the small pallet or plum on a floor. For greater efficiency, such seals are recommended to be combined with a threshold.

As a rule, reputable manufacturers of shower cabins also produce seals. This option is convenient, because you can easily and in a short time to choose the best fittings for a particular model.

Among the brands of seals trusted products SISO (Denmark). In the manufacturer's line you can find accessories with a thickness of 4-6 mm for glasses and universal analogues with a thickness of up to 10 mm. The length of the whips is 2-2.5 m. There are models equipped with black and white magnets. Products are compatible with the most popular models of showers.

Another reliable manufacturer of cab fittings - Huppe. Plumbing of this brand is characterized by high reliability and impeccable quality, the same can be said about the seals.In the best way they serve on shower chambers of the same production, however, Huppe seals are compatible with most other European and domestic devices. Similarly, another well-known brand Eago can be described. The manufacturer also specializes in the production of a full range of equipment and components for the bathroom, including sealing fittings.

Silicone seals are also distinguished by good quality and affordability. Pauli. The only inconvenience is a rather long number for the designation of the whip. However, if you know what each of the numbers represents, it is not difficult to acquire the desired model. So, the first 4 digits are the serial number. Next is the maximum thickness of the glass or panel, for which fittings will fit, the latter is the length of the whip. For example, 8848-8-2500.

You can replace the rubber with your own hands or by calling the master.Self-replacement is a fairly simple procedure that does not require special tools and professional knowledge. It is important to degrease the surface and close adjacent surfaces. Please note - a snug fit is possible only on thoroughly cleaned surfaces. When working, do not stretch the whip, and also ensure that it is not collected.

Easy maintenance will help to increase the service life of the element:

• do not use aggressive detergents to clean the profile;
• do not allow drying on the foam suds;
• regular airing of the shower after use will allow avoiding dampness of the sealant and the appearance of mold;
• when taking a shower do not direct its stream to the seal, it reduces its durability.

When buying accessories based on silicone, it is important that it contains no substances that are toxic to humans. Going to the store for a new seal, cut off a piece of old and take it with you. This will not make a mistake in choosing.

If the seal is in order, and water leakage is found only in some places, you can try to replace only the old sealant.To do this, remove it, clean the surface and then apply a new layer. If the update of the sealant did not help, the fittings need to be changed.

When choosing between soft and hard models, give preference to the first. The best option is the accessories, which is a soft tube - it provides a better fit.

When storing magnetic models, it is important to observe special conditions. Temperature changes and direct sunlight adversely affect their quality, therefore, it is better to purchase them in specialized stores. A simple piece of advice will allow extending their service life: leave the doors of the shower stall after taking a shower open, this will allow the fittings to dry out in a non-magnetized position.

Seals can be colored or transparent (silicone models). It is recommended to choose the shades of the seal to match the color of the panels or to create contrasting combinations.A transparent model allows you to create the effect of weightlessness of the structure.

Overview of the vertical sealer for the shower, see the following video.