Currently, in plumbing stores you can see a large number of different showers. They can be made from a wide variety of materials. Today we’ll talk about constructions made of glass.
Advantages and disadvantages
Glass shower enclosures boast many important benefits.
- Strength. Such shower products are made of tempered glass base, which is particularly reliable, durable and durable.
- Beautiful appearance. Glass cabins will be suitable for almost any type of bathroom interior. They have a neat and modern look.
- Wide range of. Glass shower enclosures can be produced with a variety of textures and decorative patterns. They can also be made with various additional coatings, including matte finish.
- Mobility and ergonomics. First of all, this applies to corners with sliding sashes. They are easy to transport and install. In addition, they occupy 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 redistribution of the structure. And many more samples are equipped with additional options (for example, aromatherapy).
Nevertheless, there were some minuses.
- They require regular cleanings. The glass cloth of the cabs must 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 sanitary ware in such bathrooms can cause some inconvenience.
Varieties
Glass showers are different. They can be made both with a pallet and without it. The first option will be suitable for almost any space. In this case, the base is fixed on the floor covering, which will get water during use. It can be made of acrylic material, stainless steel.
Corners without a pallet are most often used in the private sector. Here, the cabin is installed directly on the floor, without the use of an additional base.
Glass showers vary and depending on the type of door. For example, sashes can be sliding. Such products do not require much space when opening. They are designed in such a way that when the special door mechanism moves, the structure develops in the same way as a sliding wardrobe.
Sliding models equipped with special rubber seals. These elements are needed in order to prevent water from entering the cab. Such flaps have two guides (lower and upper). They are moved using small rollers that are mounted directly on the door itself.
There are also showers with swing doors. They are considered the simplest type of construction. Such flaps are inserted into the niche. They consist, as a rule, of two or three parts. Hinged doors for a shower cabin are most often made with durable metal hinges. Models with such wings are best purchased for bathrooms with a large area, since opening and closing them requires a lot of space.
Some showers do and with folding designs. Such doors are suitable for bathrooms of a small area. They open by turning one leaf. Some of them can only turn in one direction, while others can turn in both directions.
There are models of showers with revolving doors. They are less common than everyone else. In this case, the parts are fixed on the static sections of the panel in the edge of the cab. They are mounted on special magnetic loops. Corners with revolving doors 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.
Many cabins are made with accordion flaps. Such elements easily fold into one plane. Often this design is also called a "book."
Materials
Shower enclosures can be made from several varieties of glass. Often used for this molded materials. They are a curved base, which is obtained by heating to a temperature of 600 degrees. Molded glass can be bent according to the pattern. Then the product is completely cooled. After such a procedure, the material not only acquires a beautiful and unusual shape, but also becomes as durable and reliable as possible.
Faceted glass also widely used for the manufacture of shower enclosures. At the edges of glass sheets, beveled edges (facets) are made, which are carefully polished. Such glass looks the most aesthetically pleasing and original. It can be both direct and figured. 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 covered with a special composition, which helps to prevent the formation of spots on the product.
Some showers do from many small glass blocks. This material is considered the most tight and durable. It is made by connecting two plates of glass.
Shapes and sizes
Glass cabins are performed in various forms. The classic option are square and rectangular models.They can be placed in almost any interior.
Corner semicircular or triangular models are perfect for small bathrooms. They will not take up too much space. There are also interesting patterns. trapezoidal with several corners and several individual wings.
Dimensions of glass cabins can also be different. The most compact are considered models with sizes of 60x60, 70x70, 80x80, 70x100 and 90x90 cm. Such plumbing can be suitable for small bathrooms.
Corners measuring 100x100, 120x80, 120x120 cm are larger models. They should be installed in rooms of medium and large area.
Design
In plumbing stores, you can see glass showers in various design designs. In addition to standard models made of transparent or frosted glass without patterns, there are also options with decorative pictures 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. Using laser technology, various convex texture images are made on glass wings.
Many glass doors make with LED backlight in different shades. It can only be installed at the top and bottom of the product. Some models are made with backlighting around the perimeter.
How to choose?
Prior to acquiring the most suitable glass shower enclosure, check that the canvas is completely even and smooth, without roughness or scratches. In addition, it must be tightly closed, otherwise water will enter the room.
Also be sure to look at the type of door. If your house has a small bathroom, then it is better to give preference to models with folding, sliding sashes. If you have a large bathroom, you can purchase plumbing with oar elements.
Separately, you should pay attention to the material from which the pallet is made, if any. Sometimes such bases are made of cast iron or stainless steel. These options are the most budget. But during operation (when water drops get to the bottom), a sharp and loud sound will be heard that can interfere with a person.
Some pallets are made of acrylic materials. They have a higher cost. Such substrates heat up quickly and hold heat for a long time. They have a small mass and you can install them yourself.
When choosing, it is recommended to check and blade thickness. 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 increase the weight of the structure. Also, this will lead to a large load on components.
Examples in the interior
Angular and original will look beautiful glass cabins in the form of a trapezoid. The canvas can be completely transparent. Such plumbing is perfect for an interior 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.
They will look spectacular cabs installed on a lighter floor without a pallet. But you can use a black base for installation. Such plumbing can become an unusual emphasis on the overall interior of the bathroom.
An overview of glass shower enclosures is presented in the next video.
