Shower enclosures with pallets: varieties, brands and selection

The shower enclosure is a simplified stationary shower design. If a standard cabin has walls, a pallet and a roof, then the corner is a structure made of a pallet (and even it is not always there) and a smaller number of walls and doors. The shower enclosure adjoins the walls of the bathroom, which, in turn, become the side walls of the device.

If we compare a shower enclosure with a "full" booth, then its main advantage is in ergonomics and the ability to fit even in a small bathroom. From the name it is clear that such a structure is installed in the corner of the bathroom (possibly in a niche), which means that most of the bathroom remains free.

In addition, for its organization, the walls of the room itself are usually used, which again allows you to save space, reduce the cost of the shower area, and make the booth more compact, not cluttering up the space.

Similar designs convenient in operation, reliable (due to the simplicity of the organization of the structure). Depending on the parameters of the bathroom and the wishes of the buyer, such cabins can have different sizes and shapes. Design features and materials used can also vary, which greatly affects the cost of the product.

When installing a shower enclosure, the buyer usually independently chooses and purchases separately faucets, shower heads and other equipment. This allows you to purchase plumbing of the desired class and cost. That is, to regulate the reliability and price of the shower enclosure as a whole.

Shower enclosures can be with or without a tray. The main advantage of the pallet is more comfortable use of the structure.... The pallet heats up quickly, retains heat and transfers it to the walls of the corner, and therefore it becomes more pleasant and more comfortable to take water procedures.

Shower enclosures with a shower tray are easier to install. They usually easily connect to existing plumbing and sewerage systems. A booth without a pallet requires the installation of the existing floor, laying all communications under the screed and organizing a special floor slope under the drain.

The disadvantage of having a pallet is that not every corner will be suitable for the elderly or people with disabilities. However, for this group of users, you can purchase a corner with a low pallet, special handrails.

Often, the lack of a pallet is also called the fact that it makes the corner bulky, massive. This is especially noticeable in small bathrooms. However, thanks to the large selection of modern corner designs, this problem is easily solvable.

As already stated, shower enclosures are designed primarily for small bathrooms and are located in the corner. They cannot be placed or moved to another part of the room - this is the "minus" of the design. If you can take a standard shower box with you when you move (for this you just need to disconnect it from the water supply system), then dismantling the corner will be more laborious. In addition, it is not a fact that this system will fit into the bathroom of a new home.

In most cases, shower enclosures are less functional than standard shower enclosures. This is due to the fact that the structure of the first type does not have a roof.

Speaking about the qualities of a shower enclosure with a tray, the material of manufacture of its tray and walls is considered separately.

So, the cabin pallet can be made of the following materials.

• Cast iron. It is characterized by reliability, strength and durability. The average service life of such pallets reaches 50 years. However, cast iron is a heavy material, which can cause difficulties with the transportation and installation of the system (it is often necessary to reinforce the floor, and in old houses even refuse to install a cast-iron pallet). The material is able to withstand a large weight of the user, does not vibrate or rattle.

• Steel. Steel pallets are usually coated with an enamel layer, which increases their reliability and visual appeal. It is a lighter and more affordable material in comparison with cast iron. However, it can vibrate and make noise when it draws water.

• Enamel layer can be damaged by mechanical impact (for example, falling something on the pallet). when chips appear on it, the use of a pallet is not recommended. Steel keeps heat worse, water in such a pan cools faster.

• Acrylic. The most popular material in the world of modern plumbing, due to the optimal combination of high quality and affordability. Acrylic is a composite material characterized by a long service life (on average - up to 25 years), reliability, and hygiene. The surface of such a pallet has no pores, so dirt is easily cleaned off its surface. However, you cannot use powder and abrasive products to care for acrylic, hard brushes - this will scratch the material.

Acrylic does not vibrate, does not make noise when drawing water, keeps heat well... Due to the plasticity of the material, it is possible to give the pallet from it a variety of shapes, as well as shades.If the upper layers are damaged, they can be repaired using a special kit without replacing the pallet itself. You should be careful when buying so as not to purchase a plastic pallet with an acrylic layer.

• Another version of acrylic is kvaril. This is the same acrylic material with quartz sand in the composition, which provides higher performance characteristics of the product - the service life of the quartz pallet and its reliability are increased.

• Ceramics... Corners with a ceramic tray look nice and modern. Due to its large mass, it is quite stable, but the large weight requires a perfectly flat surface for installation. Despite the massiveness of ceramics, it is a fragile material. If you drop something on the pallet, it is highly likely to crack or split. It is impossible to repair it, only replace it.

• Stone. This is an artificial composite material that imitates a stone. The use of natural stone has to be abandoned for a number of reasons, including because of its heavy weight, the complexity of processing and maintenance (stone is a porous material) and its ability to accumulate background radiation. The artificial analog is devoid of most of these drawbacks, although it still remains a rather heavy material, which can cause difficulties in the delivery and installation of the pallet from it.

As for the material for the walls and the door, it can be polystyrene or glass. The first one has less weight and cost, it can look very attractive, but over time it deforms, has a short service life.

Glass for plastic booths is used with a thickness of at least 4 mm. Most often it is a hardened material with a thickness of 6 mm or more. If you need a product of increased strength, you can consider the option of using a triplex. This glass is made like a car glass, when a transparent reinforcing film is fixed between 2 layers of armored glass. It is very difficult to break this material, but even if damaged, it will not crumble into small traumatic fragments, but will remain on the film. The glass in the shower enclosure can be transparent or frosted, patterned, corrugated.

The most popular shower enclosure is considered to be a product with a rectangular tray. It can also be a smoother, streamlined 1/4 circle shape. Such corners are classified as a semi-closed type; they adjoin two walls of the room that form a corner.

For small bathrooms, dimensions of 90x90 cm are convenient. Of course, there are also smaller designs, but it is already inconvenient to use them, because in the process of taking water procedures, a person moves. If we are talking about a larger user, then preference should be given to booths with dimensions of 100x100 or 110x110 cm.

In addition to triangle booths, there are products with a square or rectangular base. Usually their size starts from 80x80 cm, the product includes 2 walls and a swing door.

The cabins in the shape of a semicircle are considered ergonomic. With one side (straight) they lie against the wall. True, it is not possible to fit such a product into every small-sized bathroom, since the corner is not used, and the useful area of ​​the room is "eaten up". Most often there are booths with a semicircular pallet in the size of 120x80 or 120x90 cm.

The size of the pallet is always selected taking into account the size of the room. For small rooms, as already mentioned, a corner structure with a triangular tray or a product in the shape of a quarter circle turns out to be a win-win.For elongated bathrooms, it will be more comfortable to use rectangular booths in the size of 120x80 cm.

Finally, for rooms of non-standard sizes, corners with an asymmetrical pallet are selected. If this is a small-sized bathroom (like "Khrushchev"), then you can consider the option of a corner in the sizes 70x70, 70x80, 70x90, 70x110, 80x90 or 85x85 cm. Some manufacturers also produce products of smaller sizes (for example, 60x60 cm). However, using such a corner will be uncomfortable even for a fairly slender person.

For larger bathrooms, the size of the asymmetric pallet (most often it is an unequal triangle or trapezoid) can be 70x100, 80x100 and 90x110 cm.Products in dimensions 100x80, 100x90, 110x80, 120x100 cm are considered standard.

As for the height of the pallet, it can also be different:

• a pallet up to 70 cm is considered high (on average, the height of such a pallet is 25-50 cm);
• the average depth is 10-20 cm;
• the low pallet is up to 10 cm deep.

The appearance of the shower stall can be different and depend on many factors. For example, the presence of a frame. In this regard, products are divided into frame and frameless. The former have a frame made of a metal profile that frames each glass or plastic element and provides them with additional strength. Frameless models do not have such a profile, which is why they look lighter, weightless, as if they "dissolve" in the interior of the room.

The design of a product is largely determined by the type of its doors. Swing doors are considered standard. However, for small bathrooms, swing doors are an unacceptable option. When opened, they can close the passage, interfere. In this case, sliding doors become an alternative (like those that are installed in sliding wardrobes). Sliding doors slide along special guides and do not require opening space.

It is believed that the best shower enclosures and sanitary ware in general are produced by Italy and Germany. However, the cost of such products is quite high. The corners from Czech and Finnish manufacturers are not inferior in price to these products, but have a lower price. Below the class is considered most of the models from China and Korea, as well as domestic products.

Consider the most popular brands of shower enclosures with a tray.

• Timo. A well-known Finnish manufacturer whose products combine reliability and affordability. Buyers note the high quality of the assembly of products. If we talk about corners, then we need to consider the Timo TL-1102 model with a low (15 cm) pallet. The latter has the shape of a square 100x100 cm, made of reinforced acrylic.

• Frank. The popular German brand also has a shower enclosure in its line - this is the Frank F210 model with a low shower tray (5 cm) and walls made of tempered 6 mm glass. The door is hinged, some users note that it is not very convenient to use it (it is one, and the doorway is not wide).

• Band Hours. The shower enclosure manufacturer also produces corners, such as the Band Hours Alba, in a stylish asymmetrical shape. The size of the pallet is 120x80 cm, the material of the walls and the door is 6 mm tempered glass. Doors - swing doors, 2 pieces, have the reliability and durability guaranteed by the manufacturer (up to 1000 openings). In general, the model receives many positive reviews, however, for large people, the interior space is cramped.

• Edelform. The Spanish brand, in the line of which the shower enclosure is represented by the Edelform EF-7011T model. The product has dimensions in the shape of a quarter of a circle, with a low pallet and dimensions of 90x90 cm. The design is distinguished by the build quality, however, it has only 1 swing door and a narrow (45.5 cm) doorway. This is the main disadvantage of the model.

• Triton. The products of the domestic manufacturer Triton are highly appreciated by buyers. Let's consider the features of the booths of this brand using the example of the Triton Hydrus 1 model. The design is suitable for tall people, since the height of the booth is 229 cm. The pallet has the shape of a semicircle and is made in the size of 90x90 cm. Sliding doors are characterized by smooth movement, tightness and attractive appearance.

• In the manufacturer's lineup, it is worth noting the model of a corner with a deep pallet - Rio 1. The product is also characterized by a large height (222 cm), has dimensions of 90x90 cm and a pallet height of 34.5 cm. Of the minuses, it can be noted that part of the structure is made of plastic, which reduces the performance (reliability, durability) of the corner.

• Riho. This Czech manufacturer has consistently topped the ratings of the best brands of sanitary ware. Let's take a closer look at the model of a corner with a high (38 cm) pallet - Riho Lucena GSET021. The structure has the shape of a semicircle in the size of 90x90 cm with smooth sliding doors. The pallet is made of acrylic, equipped with legs and a screen, the material of the booth itself is 6 mm thick tempered glass.

When choosing a shower cabin, first of all, take into account the size of the bathroom, as well as the features of its layout.

When choosing between a glass and a plastic product, it is better to give preference to the first one. In this case, it is important that safety glass with a thickness of 4-8 mm is used. The thicker it is, the better, however, if the glass is more than 8 mm, this is a senseless thickening of the product. The glass itself must have a special treatment that repels dirt.

If you choose a corner and it does not make much difference, the shape of the pallet will be rectangular or in the form of a quarter circle, but there are some budget constraints, you should choose a triangular option. The fact is that the production of glass elements of the rounded type is technologically more complicated and, therefore, expensive process.

When choosing the height of the pallet be guided by the peculiarities of your family's lifestyle. For families with small children, a product with a high pallet is more convenient, since, if necessary, it can be turned into a sitz bath.

Pay attention to the surface of the pallet. It should not be smooth, it is traumatic. There must be corrugation on the surface.

If the product has sliding doors, it is important that the guides are made of metal. For greater reliability and tightness, doors and guides should have rubber pads and magnets.

An example of a modern bathroom interior. Thanks to transparent glass and a low base, the shower stall literally dissolves into the interior, making it visually more spacious.

However, even in the presence of a high pallet, but the correct location of the corner and interior design in general, the structure does not look massive. The shape of the corner (a quarter of a circle) and the color scheme of the bath are very well chosen here. The use of warm shades of tiles makes the room cozier, and the horizontally oriented tile pattern visually expands the bathroom.

How to assemble a shower enclosure is shown in the next video.