Glass shower enclosures: features, varieties and choices

Nowadays, you can see a large number of different shower cabins in plumbing stores. They can be made from a wide variety of materials. Today we will talk about structures made of glass.

Glass shower enclosures boast many important benefits.

• Strength. These shower products are made from a tempered glass base, which is particularly reliable, strong and durable.
• Beautiful appearance... Glass cabins can be suitable for almost any type of bathroom interior. They have a neat and modern design.
• Wide range of. Glass shower enclosures can be produced in a wide variety of textures and decorative patterns. They can also be made with various additional coatings, including a matte finish.
• Mobility and ergonomics. First of all, this applies to corners with sliding doors. They are easy to transport and install. In addition, they take up a minimum amount of space when opening and closing the cab.
• Functionality. Glass cabins are designed in such a way that not a single drop of water falls outside the structure. And many more samples are equipped with additional options (for example, aromatherapy).

However, it was not without its drawbacks.

• Requires regular cleaning. The glass curtain of the cabins should be washed after each use with detergents. Otherwise, a large number of soap stains will remain on such material.
• Cannot be installed in a combined bathroom... Installing transparent plumbing in such bathrooms can cause some inconvenience.

Glass shower enclosures are different. They can be manufactured with or without pallet. The first option can be suitable for almost any space. In this case, a base is fixed on the floor covering, on which water will get during use. It can be made of acrylic material, stainless steel.

Glass shower enclosures vary and depending on the type of doors. For example, the sash can be sliding. Such products do not require much space when opening. They are arranged in such a way that when a special door mechanism moves, the structure folds in the same way as a wardrobe.

Sliding models equipped with special rubber seals. These elements are needed in order to prevent the ingress of water outside the cabin. Such flaps have two guides (lower and upper). They move using small rollers that are attached directly to the door itself.

There are also shower enclosures with swing doors. They are considered the simplest type of construction. Such doors are inserted into a niche. They usually consist of two or three parts. Hinged doors for a shower cabin are most often made with metal strong hinges. Models with such doors are best purchased for bathrooms with a large area, since they require a lot of space when opening and closing them.

Some shower enclosures make and with folding structures. Such doors are suitable for small bathrooms. They open by turning one sash. Some of them can only turn in one direction, while others turn in both directions.

There are models of shower enclosures with revolving doors. They are the rarest of all the others. In this case, the parts are fixed on the static sections of the panel at the edge of the cabin. They are mounted on special magnetic hinges. Revolving door corners can be either frame or frameless. In the first case, thinner tempered glass is used. In the second, a material of greater thickness is taken.

Shower enclosures can be made from several types of glass. Often used for this bent materials... They represent a curved base, which is obtained by heating to a temperature of 600 degrees. Curved glass can be bent according to a template. Then the product is completely cooled. After such a procedure, the material not only acquires a beautiful and unusual shape, but also becomes as strong and reliable as possible.

Beveled glass is also widely used for the manufacture of shower enclosures. At the edges of the glass sheets, beveled edges (facets) are made, which are carefully polished. Such glass looks as aesthetically pleasing and original as possible. It can be either direct or curly. In addition, this material creates additional protection during operation.

For the manufacture of corners can be used and frosted glass. It is made by sandblasting. After that, the surface is additionally coated with a special compound that prevents the formation of stains on the product.

Some showers do from many small glass blocks. This material is considered the most leakproof and durable. It is made by joining two glass plates.

Glass cabins are made in different shapes.The classic options are square and rectangular models. They can be placed in almost any interior.

Corner semicircular or triangular models can be perfect for small bathrooms. They won't take up too much space. There are also interesting samples. trapezoidal with several corners and several separate doors.

The dimensions of glass cabins can also vary. The most compact models are considered to be in sizes 60x60, 70x70, 80x80, 70x100 and 90x90 cm. Such plumbing can be suitable for small bathrooms.

In plumbing stores you can find glass shower enclosures in different designs. In addition to standard models made of transparent or frosted glass without patterns, there are also options with decorative patterns that are applied with special paints.

Some drawings are made by sandblasting. In this case, the surface should be transparent and the pattern should be matte. With the help of laser technology, various convex texture images are made on glass doors.

Many glass doors make with LED-backlighting in different shades. It can only be installed at the top and bottom of the product. Some models are also produced with all-round illumination.

Before purchasing the most suitable glass shower cubicle, check that the surface is completely flat and smooth, without any roughness or scratches. In addition, it must close tightly, otherwise water will enter the room.

Also be sure to look at the type of doors. If your house has a small bathroom, then it is better to give preference to models with folding, sliding doors. If you have a large bathroom, you can purchase plumbing fixtures with swing elements.

Separately, you should pay attention to the material from which the pallet is made, if any. Sometimes such bases are made from cast iron or stainless steel. These options are the most affordable. But during operation (if water drops hit the bottom), a sharp and loud sound will be heard, which can interfere with a person.

Some pallets are made from acrylic materials. They are more expensive. Such bases heat up quickly and keep warm for a long time. They are lightweight and can be installed independently.

When choosing, it is recommended to check and thickness of canvases... As a rule, it varies from 4 to 8 millimeters. Moreover, its value practically does not affect the strength of the product. Too thick walls will significantly burden the structure. It will also lead to a heavy load on the component parts.

Corner ones will look original and beautiful. glass cabins in the form of a trapezoid. In this case, the canvas can be completely transparent. Such plumbing is perfect for interiors made in white or beige colors, with darker furniture.

In the bathroom, finished in gray and white colors, you can install transparent shower enclosure with a thin black frame... In this case, you can pick up a model with a massive dark handle on the door.

Will look spectacular cabins installed on lighter flooring without pallet. But you can also use a black base for mounting. Such plumbing can become an unusual accent of the overall interior of the bathroom.

An overview of glass shower enclosures is presented in the following video.