Shower cabins for a summer residence: types, materials and choice

Showers for summer cottages are one of the most practical options for organizing washing places in the countryside. These designs are very convenient in operation and are in high demand among summer residents.

The simplest and most common way of arranging a country shower is the installation of a cabin. Such a structure can be made independently from improvised materials or be purchased in an finished form. Most factory cabins are equipped with hooks for clothes, a thermometer, shelves for bath accessories and a mirror, and more expensive samples consist of two compartments - a locker room and a wash box.

On the floor of the cabins there is a wooden grill or a pallet with an anti-slip surface that prevents slipping of the legs and ensures the hygiene of the adoption of water procedures. Ready-made models are often equipped with swing doors and a roof, although the latter may not be available.

The advantages of country cabins include the following points:

• installing a shower cabin will cost much less than building a bathhouse or organizing a full bathroom;
• the construction does not need a capital foundation and can be installed directly on the ground, which significantly reduces costs and simplifies installation;
• suitable for cab walls absolutely any improvised material, starting from rubberized fabric and ending with sheet metal;
• most cabins do not need to be connected to the sewage system, since water is discharged directly into drained soil;
• in the absence of hot water supply, you can purchase a model with a tank, where the water is heated naturally by solar heat.

The disadvantages of country shower cabins include the need for soil drainage and the arrangement of concrete piping necessary for water drainage, as well as the inability to take a shower in cold weather. The latter applies to street models that do not have a water heater and are not insulated. In addition, cabins with an upper tank, in which water is heated by solar energy, can only be operated on clear summer days.

In gloomy rainy weather, washing under such a shower will be extremely uncomfortable and dangerous to health. The same applies to cabins with slatted or too short walls, as well as to models that use blown material as a fence, as unprotected areas can cause colds in households.

The classification of country shower cabins is made according to such characteristics as the type of construction, installation method and method of water supply. According to the first criterion, the models are divided into open and closed samples.

These models are very simple structures consisting of two or three fences. They often have no ceiling or doors. The walls of the house, faced with moisture-proof material, often act as the walls of the cabin. Such designs are the most budgetary option for showers, however, they require the arrangement of drainage of used water away from the foundation of the building.

Towel hooks and shelves for accessories are located on the second wall, and the third decorative partition serves as protection against drafts and prying eyes. In addition to the annexes, there are also freestanding open cabins, also without a ceiling and doors. Such models have a round or square shape and are represented by lightweight structures designed for use in warm weather.

Closed shower stalls are full-walled separate structures having a ceiling and a door. They are tight enough, often insulated and suitable for use in windy weather. Many of them are equipped with capacious tanks with water heating elements.

According to the installation method, country shower cabins are divided on portable and stationary.

Such samples do not require arrangement of the foundation, have a collapsible design and can be moved to any place. For the winter, such models are often disassembled and put away for storage in the barn, and with the onset of the summer season, they are easily assembled and installed in the prepared place.

Such cabins are often erected on the foundation and equipped with a drain into the sewage system. In most cases, they are capital insulated buildings that overlap with the design of other buildings on the site and fit seamlessly into the landscape. They are equipped with a ceiling and doors, often have a window, a locker room and are suitable for use in any weather. Many of them are equipped with a tank with electric water heating and can be operated until mid-autumn.

According to the method of supplying hot water, showers are divided into two types - capacitive and plumbing.

• First equipped with a tank or barrel, which are located above the cab and are held by a metal frame. A shower head is screwed to the bottom of the tank, and the water is heated by sunlight or heating elements.

• Second connected to the water supply, water in which is heated thanks to a geyser or an electric boiler.This method of supplying water is justified provided that the shower cubicle and apartment building are close, as well as in open-type models that are adjacent to the wall of the building.

For the manufacture of country shower cabins use wood, plastic, metal, polycarbonate and soft materials.

A few decades ago, wood was considered the second most popular material for the construction of shower cabins and was second only to sheet metal. but from constant contact with water, it quickly darkened, became moldy and became unattractive.

The cost of the wooden structure was quite high, due to the high cost of wood. Today, for the manufacture of showers using boards treated with a special composition. It reliably protects wood from the damaging effects of moisture and prevents mold and mildew. Modern wooden models are practical and very attractive buildings. They often act as a central element of design and are harmoniously combined with other wooden buildings.

To extend the life of wooden cabins additionally coated with antiseptics and special varnishes, warning decay and loss of color.

A summer shower made of plastic is a very common option. Such models are strong and durable, often have a collapsible design and are relatively inexpensive. An aluminum or steel profile acts as a frame, and for the manufacture of partitions, opaque plastic, plexiglass and PVC are used. Ready-made plastic cabins are often equipped with a water tank with a volume of 170 to 200 liters, an overhead shower and hooks for towels and things. The weight of plastic models rarely exceeds 75-80 kg, which greatly simplifies their movement around the site and transportation.

In addition to plastic samples, booths were very popular from pressed low-pressure polyethylene. Such models are often equipped with an acrylic tray with anti-slip coating, which makes showering more hygienic and safe. The tank in most cases is included in the kit and is equipped with heating elements.

Metal showers are considered an echo of the past and are very rare in summer cottages. As the manufacturing materials used sheet steel and aluminum. The installation of such structures often required welding, and the structure itself needed constant anti-corrosion treatment. The advantages of metal cabs are considered high strength and durability.

Polycarbonate showers can be found quite often. This material costs relatively little and is available to a wide range of consumers. It is often used for the installation of prefabricated structures, giving them a wide variety of forms.

Shower cabins made of soft waterproof materials are open structures and are the most budgetary way to equip a shower in a summer cottage. Such models can be bought ready-made, or can be made independently. For this, a frame is constructed of aluminum profile, plastic pipes or wooden blocks, on which a plastic film or rubberized fabric is pulled. The design is placed under a plastic tank or barrel mounted on a steel rack.

When choosing or building a shower cabin for a summer residence, it is necessary to focus on the dimensions of the tallest member of the family.To do this, draw a square measuring 90x90 or 100x100 cm on the ground, in the center of which a person rises. He is offered to straighten to his full height, bend down and turn around first in one, then in the other direction. If parts of the body go beyond the markings, then its size should be increased. Next, calculate the area of ​​the locker room and on the basis of the received calculations make up the project of the future construction.

The most optimal dimensions of a two-section booth consisting of a shower and a dressing room are considered to be 100x180 cm at a height of 2.5 m. As for factory models, they are available in sizes 90x90x230 cm, 100x200x230 cm, 120x90x200 cm, 110x110x230 cm and others, depending on the material of manufacture and design. There are no strict rules on this subject, therefore in the modern market you can see models of absolutely any size.

At the installation site, showers are street and home.

When choosing a place to install a shower must be guided by the method of heating water. So, if the model is equipped with an upper tank, the water in which is heated due to solar heat, then such samples must be placed in open, unshaded areas, and even better - on hills. It is necessary to take into account the distance from the shower to the house - it should not be too large so that in case of bad weather you can quickly get to the house.

A lot of controversy is caused by installing the cab close to the wall of the house. Adherents of this installation method consider it the most convenient due to the close location of communications and easy connection of a shower cabin to them.

Opponents claim that the wall of the house will experience constant exposure to moisture, which is why it must be lined with ceramic tiles or any other waterproof material. In addition, the near-wall arrangement of the cabin requires the mandatory removal of dirty water into the sewage system. Otherwise, flows will begin to accumulate near the foundation and cause its destruction. For free-standing cabins, drainage is arranged: for this, a hole is dug with a depth of 30-40 cm, rubble is laid in it and a circular strapping of concrete is made.

If the cottage is designed to stay in the winter, then a shower They are located in the bathroom or in the bathhouse. Such samples have a large number of additional functions, have a stylish appearance and are very convenient to use.

Many home cabins are equipped with rain and hand showers, aroma and chromotherapy options, can work in the Turkish bath mode and carry out hydromassage. The disadvantages of home designs compared to street ones are their price and the need for hot water.

The modern market offers a wide selection of showers for summer cottages. Below are the most popular samples that occupy the top lines of popularity ratings according to online stores.

• Country shower cabin without tank "Ariel-09D" manufactured by a Russian company from St. Petersburg LLC "PTK Atlantida-SPb". The model has dimensions of 90x90x230 cm, is able to withstand a maximum floor load of up to 150 kg and weighs only 34 kg. The frame of the product is made of aluminum profile and painted with atmospheric paint IGP with Dura additive.

The door and walls are made of milky polycarbonate with a thickness of 8 mm. The floor is made of Karelian pine and treated with Tikkurila. The service life of the cabin is 10 years, the cost is 23,730 rubles.

• Cabin from the Rotoplast enterprise located near Moscow equipped with a tank with a capacity of 200 l and made of light stabilized polyethylene. The wall thickness is 3 mm, the height of the wooden pallet is 10 cm, the weight of the product is 70 kg.The model is available in blue and green, has dimensions 117x111x235 cm, is very easy to clean and completely safe for humans.

The product is equipped with eyes for a padlock, has an internal bolt and a metal hook for clothes. The cost of the cabin is 18 737 rubles.

• Summer cabin for giving "Electromash" from the company from Novosibirsk, the “ABC of Instrument” consists of a frame, a water tank with a volume of 128 liters, a shower head, footrest and waterproof curtains. The product has a prefabricated design, is available in dimensions of 80x80x250 cm, weighs 34 kg and costs 6,600 rubles.

• Shower cabin "Ecostyle" from LLC Allen Trade from Volgograd is equipped with a 200 liter tank and made of blue plastic. The tank is equipped with a built-in heater of 2 kW, which allows you to use the cabin in any weather. For 3.5 hours, the water in the tank warms up to 60 degrees.

The model has a translucent roof, a plastic tray, a watering can, a siphon for draining water, a latch and a hook for towels. On the outside of the doors there are eyelets for a padlock. The weight of the cab is 80 kg, the cost is 26,100 rubles.

• Country shower cabin without tank Rostok 202.0001.401.0 It has a collapsible design consisting of a steel frame, a waterproof polymer tent and a rubber mat. The model is available in dimensions 94x94x214 cm, weighs 14.8 kg and involves the installation of a plastic flat tank with a volume of 110 to 250 liters, which can be placed instead of the roof. The cost of the model is 7,354 rubles.

When choosing a shower cabin for a summer residence, a number of important points should be considered.

• If the model is purchased for a garden plot and will be used in the summer, it’s better to purchase a mobile version, which in the fall can be taken apart and put away for storage. If the cottage is used as a country house and involves winter accommodation, then the choice is made in favor of traditional showers installed in urban apartments.
• An important criterion for choosing a cabin is the method of heating water. In a hot climate with lots of sunny days, you can stay on models with a tank without heating. In colder regions, you will have to pull electricity to the site and purchase a product with heating elements.
• Another significant parameter is the number of compartments. Models with changing rooms are much more convenient than single-section samples. They allow you to dress comfortably and can be used to store garden equipment.
• As for the dimensions of the cab, do not choose products smaller than 90x90 cm. In a small space it is very inconvenient to dress after taking a shower, which is especially true for models that do not have locker rooms.

In order for the shower to last as long as possible, Observe operating rules

• Wood Models After each use, open and ventilate until the walls and floor are completely dry. Upon detection of the beginning of decay of the boards they are immediately dismantled and replaced with new ones.
• Polycarbonate Cabs It is recommended to disassemble or cover with cardboard for the winter, protecting from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
• Plastic Models and plexiglas should not be cleaned with abrasive products. Otherwise, they will quickly become covered with small scratches and become cloudy.
• In cabins with electric water heater plastic ladders are recommended.
• Metal cabins To prevent corrosion, it is recommended to regularly paint with waterproof enamel.

An overview of a self-made shower cabin is presented in the video below.