Shower doors: types, sizes and secrets of choice

Doors to the shower cabin are divided into several types. They also differ in size and geometry. Knowing the secrets of choice, the consumer will be able to count on comfort and ease of use.

So let's get acquainted with the types of doors.

The very name of this type of shower door comes from the fact that they swing open. Such a solution is almost always suitable for a bathroom and has both positive and negative sides. The doors are equipped with hinges connecting the frame and the door leaf. They will help keep the canvas inside the opening.

In addition to the canvas itself and the jamb, the opening will contain:

• a set of platbands;
• box;
• loops;
• sometimes special additions.

The box in the plan resembles the letter P. It takes the load created by the door leaf. The fixed box is equipped with hinges. A canvas is attached to these loops. Platbands are mounted last.

They are attached from the side of the wall. Almost all platbands have a telescopic design, which literally means fastening to the box on the grooves. There is no need to use nails and screws. Old-fashioned platbands can be nailed to a wall or box with medium-sized nails. However, the quality of such structures is not very high.

The advantages of swing doors are:

• effective cut-off of extraneous noise;
• heat retention;
• containment of odors;
• pleasant appearance;
• a wide variety of external performance and dimensions;
• the possibility of using various materials and internal fillings.

But it must be borne in mind that the swing-open structure can quickly slam shut from strong drafts.We'll have to install the restraints on the floors. Otherwise, the handle will hit the wall and ruin it. The typical height of swing door leaves is 2 m. Some manufacturers can offer models with a height of 1.9 m, but it is not too easy to find them.

There is a strange opinion that sliding doors have appeared recently. But this assumption is wrong. Such designs were invented in ancient times, and they still remain relevant. Sliding doors can be parallel or folding; the difference between the two has to do with design and installation method.

The parallel-sliding model is divided into sashes that move on rollers along special rails. This performance is extremely reliable. A sliding door has served for many years without any problems. The length of the profile varies from 1.5 to 2 m. The number of wheels is determined by the length of the door. Stoppers must be provided to restrict the movement of the wheels when moving the flaps.

Sliding doors are becoming more and more popular. This performance is distinguished by its rigor and stylistic consistency.

The compartment door takes up relatively little space. Therefore, they are recommended for use in small bathrooms. Coupe doors perfectly dampen extraneous noise. It is not difficult to mount them with your own hands. Some structures are made so that the door leaf goes into the wall after opening the door to the end.

Another name for a folding door is a book door. It has 1 or 2 sashes, which are additionally divided into sections. The segments run on rollers of a special design. Each roller is supplemented with stoppers and clamps. To fasten the main part of the door to the box, use:

• loops;
• supports attached to the floor;
• supports attached to the upper beam.

Folding doors can be made on the basis of:

• solid wood;
• MDF;
• plastics;
• glass;
• black stainless steel;
• aluminum;
• several dissimilar materials.

Rotary doors are a striking example of such products. They are both practical and stylish. You can open the opening with a single hand movement. After that, the door will smoothly unfold and free the passage. When the opening is closed, the door looks exactly like a typical single-leaf door leaf.

The rotary model is versatile and fits perfectly into the latest design styles, even high-tech... Inside the opening, it is located at a right angle, and in a similar position it occupies both internal and external space. In terms of protection against noise and heat leakage, the rotary version does not differ from conventional models. But a lot depends on the material used and on the insulating linings. The rotary door is considered very safe and will not close unpredictably from drafts.

Such a structure can be mounted on canvases weighing no more than 70 kg. Otherwise, the locking system may not be able to withstand the resulting load.

It is not difficult to distinguish such doors from compartment doors - they do not run along the wall, but curl up like bellows inside a musical instrument. Folding takes place towards the jamb. "Accordions" can have 1 or 2 flaps. In each canvas, 3-4 narrow vertical sections are distinguished. They are connected by hinges. The sections are equipped with roller carriages one through one from above.

The movement of the rollers occurs along guide rails placed in the upper part of the opening. In the direction of the jamb, the canvas goes when the door opens, and during closing it moves to the center. The "accordion" design stands out for its compactness. Due to the low thickness of the canvases, a little space is lost.

Deserve special mention corner doors... They are valuable for their unique appearance. Such designs allow to guarantee excellent aesthetic properties of the shower cabin and the bathroom as a whole. It is possible to arrange openings even where it is forbidden for architectural reasons.

Such constructions:

• allow you to combine adjacent spaces;
• allow them to be separated;
• visually increase the space;
• add comfort.

When choosing a material for a door to a shower room, you need to take into account the following requirements:

• resistance to moisture;
• mechanical strength;
• antiseptic security;
• resistance to temperature;
• ease of use;
• sanitary and environmental safety.

Natural materials are practically unsuitable for shower doors. They can dry out and crack. However, this does not mean that artificial substances are definitely better.

A large part of modern doors are made of composite materials. The bottom line is that the door leaf is glued from synthetics, and veneering or a variety of decorative films helps to improve the appearance. The problem is that even a decent quality composite is not too durable... A solid massif would be good for everyone if it did not dry out under the influence of moisture and temperature jerks.

Wear is highly dependent on what type of wood is used and how it was processed. Nevertheless, the popularity of solid wood doors is very high. Such designs immediately raise the status of the owner.

Laminated wooden doors are highly resistant to moisture. They are made on the basis of MDF. A special coating is placed on top, which increases the decorative qualities. Then it is laminated. The laminate is usually quite strong. However, it can be violated even with a slight mechanical impact; as soon as the integrity of the film is lost, moisture will quickly destroy the main structure.

Quite often, the doors to the shower room are made of plastic. They perfectly meet all the requirements for entrance structures in wet rooms. High quality plastic almost does not deform due to moisture or temperature changes. The reviews indicate that the doors made of it perfectly retain heat and protect from extraneous noise.

Many people prefer glass doors. Quality glass is much better than plastic. This material is not damaged by water and easily tolerates temperature spurts. Glass never decays. It immediately creates the feeling of a unique, expensive piece.

Glass structures have a strong drawback - transparency. However, modern technology successfully solves this problem. It is easy to apply various patterns to glass by means of sandblasting. Sometimes the doors are covered with foil, which adds aesthetics and completely solves the problem of transparency. And even the fragility of glass has been learned to eliminate, while coping with the danger of injury.

Polycarbonate structures are quite rare. This material is stronger than glass. Polycarbonate is also very light, almost weightless. Everything is easily mounted: the canvas is framed with a profile. Taking care of polycarbonate is easy.

It is often believed that standard sized doors can be used in typical apartments.But it's not that simple. Be sure to make accurate measurements right away. Almost all specialized companies can make a canvas according to the exact dimensions. However, they charge a large fee for such orders.

Typical opening widths can be:

• 60 cm;
• 70 cm;
• 80 cm;
• 90 cm.

An example of a shower door measuring 130 cm by 195 cm is Cezares Verona B13. This is a single swing design. The glasses are painted in chrome color and have a matte sheen. The profile can be adjusted. The brand warranty is given for 3 years.

Model RGW Passage PA-12 has a size of 110 cm by 195 cm... It is a matt door with adjustable width. A characteristic feature is a sliding design. The chrome-plated profile is very reliable. Temporary removal of the lower rollers helps to provide free access when cleaning.

Good Door Latte WTW-120-C-WE - modern transparent door. Its size is 120 cm by 185 cm. The glass door is equipped with a reliable electromagnetic lock. Provides effective prevention of leaks thanks to the seals. All alloys in this model are highly resistant to corrosion.

WasserKraft Lippe 45S09 Is a good alternative. Two-piece construction measuring 170 cm by 190 cm. The profile is made of premium aluminum. The thickness of the glass is 0.6 cm. Almost all people like the chrome color of the profile.

If you choose a door 180 cm by 185 cm, you should give preference models UNO-BF-2-180-C-Cr. The sliding product with frosted glass looks pretty good. The profile is painted in a high-gloss chrome tone. The door can be equipped with a corrugated or transparent sheet. The width is adjustable from 1.784 to 1.81 m.

Semicircular doors are quite popular. They appeared on the Russian market several years ago. The semicircular door can be equipped with a hinged or hidden mechanism. Sliding canvases have a smoothed shape and therefore look non-standard. It is recommended to carefully select a semicircular door according to the style of the room.

The traditional solution is a rectangular door. It creates the feeling of a classic space filling. Making it at a furniture factory is cheaper and easier. Therefore, such designs allow you to save money. This form does not affect the quality.

More original solution:

• square;
• arch;
• polygon.

The use of transparent doors is often confusing. But in reality they are very attractive and create a favorable impression. A transparent structure can be made both from glass and from special types of plastic or polycarbonate. But in the bathroom, everything except glass looks frankly cheap and careless.

It is often believed that matte shower doors are always white. But in reality this is not so - the designers have worked out a lot of original solutions. Matting is performed:

• sandblasting;
• applying paints and varnishes;
• spraying of special compounds;
• by etching with special reagents.

Choosing patterns, you can give preference vegetable patterns. They are almost neutral and look attractive in almost any environment. Gold and silver plating is perceived as well.

Among the shower doors made in Germany, noteworthy AM. PM Sensation W30G-E3D5-200-CT. This model belongs to the Sensation collection. The door height is 2 m, and the width is 0.8 m. The structure is equipped with a chrome-plated profile and has a right-hand design.

Perfect for a niche door Bravat Drop BD120.4100A. The item belongs to the Drop collection. The dimensions of the structure are 1.2 m, and the height is 2 m. The style is hi-tech. The chrome-plated profile works very reliably, as does the sliding mechanism.

Italy's brands have a very good reputation. Including model SAMO FDT. It is designed to be installed in a niche measuring 0.765x0.8x 1.9 m. Everything looks attractive, even the bronze handle. The clear glass goes well with the partial frosted decor.

Of the products made in Russia, you should take a closer look at the brand's shower doors. River. Model Dreike 150 can be equipped with frosted or tinted glass. Consumers can choose between white and chrome. The four-section sliding door works very reliably. Its width is 1.5 m and its height is 1.85 m; the rollers are self-adjusting as needed.

It is useful to think about buying shower doors. Vegas Glass... This manufacturer can offer folding, sliding and swinging designs. The profile is painted in a noble bronze or in the color of chrome or gold. The design of Vegas Glass is kept in the spirit of impeccable hi-tech. Installation is possible both in a niche and on a podium, and on a shower tray.

Products Gemy also should not be discounted. Leaves a very favorable impression New Rockcoco 80. Good grades are also given by Modern Gent, Victoria, Sunny Bay 120. Gemy uses extra strong transparent glass, which is inserted into a chrome-plated aluminum profile. The range includes sliding, swinging and folding structures.

Roltechnik is a budget Czech alternative. The company has been on the market for 25 years. Roltechnik products are distinguished by good quality, but the company does not deceive consumers with false exclusivity and uniqueness of characteristics. Doors with a width of 0.7-1.6 m can be purchased through the company store. There are no folding "accordions" in the assortment; all supplied doors are designed in a modern interior style.

Some experts advise to think about buying doors Appollo. Model TS-025 has a traditional direct execution. A single swing-open sash was used. The profile is coated with a protective chrome layer. The designers have provided for the use of tempered glass, which does not pose any danger to people.

Good reviews are also received for fences with model doors:

• TS-0515 (IV) L;
• TS-0515 (lll) L;
• TS-685.

The latest model in today's review is Beloya by Cooke and Lewis. It is a pivoting design with clear glass. It can be placed in a niche formed by three walls. Corner installation is done together with the side panel.

Swing doors should not be chosen if they encounter obstacles. Therefore, in small bathrooms, other solutions are chosen. The increase in the number of leaves in the sliding door makes it stronger. At the same time, however, the interior space in the cab is reduced. The instability of sliding structures can also create problems.

Plastic rollers are too short. Due to their wear, the sashes do not go well or even completely fly out of the profiles, so metal parts are better. It is worth pulling the sliding door at the top and bottom. There may be some gaps, but the structure should not shake like an aspen sheet. A plastic profile is chosen if it is necessary to achieve increased moisture resistance, an aluminum - if mechanical strength is in the first place.

If you have funds, you can choose doors instead of relatively cheap tempered glass from triplex. This material has 2-3 layers separated by a special polymer. Such a door is practically not destroyed, and if it is damaged, then the fragments will not appear. If tempered glass is too expensive, you can choose plexiglass or polystyrene.

And a few more subtleties:

• custom shower door models are always more expensive than finished products;
• you need to go shopping where there is more assortment, and not lower prices;
• it is advisable to read reviews before buying;
• in a bathroom with a non-standard layout, a cabin and a door for it must be chosen with the help of a designer.

For information on how to install a shower door, see the next video.