Open shower cabins: varieties, selection and installation rules

Shower cabins appeared on the Russian market at the beginning of the 21st century and began to rapidly gain popularity. They are relatively easy to install and allow you to take both a shower and a bath. The cabins had a number of advantages over a regular shower in an apartment.

Over the years, many varieties and even more models of shower cabins have appeared. Each of them was superior to the previous ones, but could have its own shortcomings.

An open cockpit became one of these types. Due to its compactness, it can fit even in rooms with a modest area. In this article, we will talk about the advantages of this plumbing, its subspecies and materials from which pallets are made, and also talk about what criteria are most important when choosing it.

Open showers have been created to fit in small bathrooms. This is the main plus and main feature of this variety. Unlike classic cabins, open ones have only one or two walls. Moreover, they are produced without a roof. The cabin is placed close to one of the walls of the room, which significantly saves free space.

However, the design of such a cabin has a number of disadvantages.

• Most models are not equipped with any equipment. At best, you will find a shower cubicle with mixer and shower head.
• Due to the lack of equipment, it is difficult to reinstall the cab in a different location. Otherwise, the entire bathroom will have to be overhauled.
• The wall to which the cabin will adjoin must have a waterproof coating. The gaps between them should be sealed with an airtight substance.
• The minimum set of functions. Such cabins are intended only for the most common shower experience, while full-fledged models are equipped with massage, radio, lighting and other modern options.
• There are no special holes for pipes. The pipes must be in the wall. Otherwise, you will have to manually punch a hole in the cab. Firstly, this work requires effort and time, and secondly, the result will not look very attractive.
• The room must be prepared for high humidity, because unlike closed cabins, open ones let all the steam out.

Before moving on to the analysis of subspecies, let's take a look at the main types of shower cabins, in order to understand the difference between them:

• closed;
• open;
• combined.

What is the difference between the first two options, you probably already understood. The third type combines their main advantages. It may be missing or present certain parts. For example, some models come with an open top. At the same time, combined showers are more expensive than others.

But let's not dwell on other cabins for long. Consider the subspecies open. They depend on the parameters of the main part - the pallet. Open cabins are:

• With built-in pallets - require additional floor equipment, in which it is necessary to make a recess. This is usually done in advance when pouring the screed. Such models are not very popular due to the difficult installation.
• With floor pallet - placed on the floor without any anchorage. Sometimes they are equipped with legs. Their height may differ. A suitable option for an already finished room.

The height of the floor tray determines the type of shower cabins:

• deep - with a high pallet (from 20 to 35 cm);
• low - with a low pallet (from 10 to 15 cm);
• very low - the pallet height is only 5-10 cm.

When choosing a pallet, you should consider who will use the shower. Children and the elderly often have difficulty with deep pallets. Therefore, it is better to pay attention to the averaged options.

Separately, it should be noted special type of asymmetric cabins... The corner model is characterized by increased compactness, since the corners of the rooms are the least used places in the space. Such cabins have only two walls, so they can fit even in the smallest bathroom.

Various materials can be used in the manufacture of pallets, which also affect the quality of the cabin. The most common ones.

• Cast iron is the most demanded. Provides the pallet with enviable strength and service life of up to 30 years or more. In addition, cast iron does not heat up as quickly as other materials, perfectly retaining heat. The disadvantages of cast iron pallets include a solid mass and uniformity of forms.

• Acrylic is the most popular material. Due to its properties, it allows the production of pallets of various shapes and sizes. Also, it does not require careful maintenance, which captivates many buyers. If damaged, these pallets can be easily repaired. Some models of cabins do not have a built-in reinforced layer, which is why acrylic can easily break under the weight of a person.

• Steel - it can be called the golden mean for pallets... At a low cost, it has a large margin of safety and light weight. However, steel pallets make a lot of noise when water falls. Some of the models have an additional drawback - steel 1.5 mm thick bends under the weight of a person. Choosing a steel pallet, it is worth giving preference to models made of steel with a thickness of 2.5 to 3 mm.

• Kvaril is the next step in the development of acrylic pallets. The presence of quartz in the material provides pallets with an additional margin of safety, and also significantly increases their service life.

• Ceramics have been the most popular among buyers for many years. It looks great, is comfortable to use and is durable enough. But ceramics are quite fragile and require careful handling and constant care. Also, such pallets are not the most affordable cost.

• Natural stone - onyx, granite and others. Marble stands out especially. A material that provides plumbing fixtures with a luxurious appearance. Such shower cabins look truly elegant and at the same time have a large margin of safety. But their main disadvantage is the very high price.

Size and shape are one of the main criteria to be guided by when choosing a pallet. By the way, they are quite diverse, but rely on your capabilities. Still, open showers are taken in cases with limited space. The most common combinations of dimensions (in centimeters) and shapes:

• square - 80x80, 90x90, 100x100;
• rectangular - 90x70, 120x85, 140x40, 145x85, 150x85, 150x90;
• asymmetrical - 100x80, 110x80, 120x80, 120x90, 122x76, 130x85, 150x85;
• semicircular - 80x80, 90x90, 95x95, 100x100, 110x110 125x15.

Of course, shower cabins are not limited to the listed sizes. There are also more spacious pallets, reaching 1500x1500 cm.

The simplest and cheapest models with a height of 190 cm have a square shape, less often a rectangular one. For very small rooms, it is recommended to choose semicircular and corner pallets.

Plumbing manufacturer also plays an important role when choosing a shower cabin. It's easy to get lost in the variety of brands on the market. Here are some of the most famous companies to look out for.

From Germany:

• Sturm;
• Edelform;
• Westerhof;
• Wasserfalle.

From Italy:

• Axa;
• Valencia;
• Primo.

Cheaper imported cabins costing from 45 thousand rubles. However, it all depends on the quality and functions of a particular model. The cost of some of them may exceed 100 thousand rubles.

Domestic:

• Bach;
• Aqualife;
• Eurolux;
• 1 Marka.

From China:

• Goldman;
• Fresh;
• Baraka;
• Avanta.

Chinese products are fairly common in Russian plumbing stores. The cost of shower cabins from China starts from 10 thousand and rarely exceeds 30 thousand rubles. But chasing a low cost, you can run into low-quality plumbing. If you decide to buy a cheaper Chinese cab, it is better to inquire about the manufacturer's reputation in advance.

First of all, evaluate your capabilities, both financial and available free space. With a bathroom area of ​​more than 7 square meters, you are free to choose any model.

For lovers of water treatments, a wide range of functions will be useful. But if you just want to shower with no frills, take the simplest and cheapest models.

If the family has small children, you can choose a cab with a deep pallet.... In this case, it will replace a baby bath.

Many cheap models of cabins, not only open but also closed, are supplied without roofs. The buyer may be confused by this decision, but it has its advantages.The absence of a roof not only saves free space, but also simplifies the installation of the cab, because there is no need to separately conduct electricity into it. Room light will be enough. But such models should be located in rooms protected from moisture, since more steam and water spray will come out.

Also, when assessing your capabilities, you should take care of the water pressure. Usually on floors 8 and above, it is not very strong and may not be sufficient for the chosen model. Be sure to check the cab specifications before purchasing.

In general, the knowledge gained from all of the above is enough to choose a good shower stall that will serve you faithfully for many years. Finally, let's take a look at a few examples in the interior.

• Semicircular model with a flat pallet.

• Rectangular cockpit for a narrow but long room.

• An example of an open pentagonal cab without a roof.

• Even the simplest corner model can look very stylish.

• A variation on how to place all the elements in a very limited space.

For information on which shower stall to choose, see the video.