Shower enclosures with a tray: varieties, brands and choices

A shower enclosure is a simplified design of a stationary shower. 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 fewer walls, doors. The shower corner is adjacent to the walls of the bathroom, which, in turn, become the side walls of the device.

If we compare the shower corner with a “full-fledged” cabin, its main advantage is ergonomics and the ability to fit even in a small bathroom. From the name it’s clear that this design is installed in the corner of the bathroom (possibly in a niche), which means that most of the bathroom remains free.

In addition, for the organization of the walls of the room are usually used, which again allows you to save space, reduce the cost of the shower area, 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 design). Depending on the parameters of the bathroom and the wishes of the buyer, such cabins can have various sizes and shapes. Design features and materials used may also vary, which greatly affects the cost of the product.

When installing a shower enclosure, the buyer usually chooses and purchases separately mixers, 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 corners can be with a pallet and without it. The main advantage of the pallet is a more comfortable use of the design. The pallet heats up quickly, retains heat and transfers it to the walls of the corner, and therefore it becomes more pleasant and comfortable to take water procedures.

Shower enclosures with a tray are easier to install. As a rule, they are easily connected to existing water and sewer systems. A cabin without a pallet requires the installation of an existing floor, laying under the screed of all communications and the organization of a special floor tilt under the drain.

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

Often called the lack of a pallet and the fact that it gives the corner bulkiness, massiveness. This is especially noticeable in small bathrooms. However, thanks to a large selection of designs of modern corners, this problem is easily solved.

As already mentioned, showers are designed primarily for small bathrooms and are located in the corner. They can’t be placed or moved to another part of the room - this is the minus of the design. If, when moving, a standard shower box can be taken with you (for this, you just need to disconnect it from the water supply system), then dismantling the corner will be more difficult. In addition, it is not a fact that this system will fit into the bathroom of new housing.

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

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

So, the cab tray can be made of the following materials.

• Cast iron. It is characterized by reliability, strength and durability. The average 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 (often it is necessary to strengthen the floor, and in old houses even refuse to install a cast-iron pallet). The material is capable of supporting the user's heavy weight, does not vibrate and does not rattle.

• Steel. Steel pallets are usually coated with an enamel layer, which increases their reliability and appearance. This is a lighter and more affordable material compared to cast iron. However, it can vibrate and make noise when recruiting water.

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

• Acrylic. The most popular material in the world of modern plumbing, which is due to the optimal combination of high quality and affordability in it. Acrylic is a composite material characterized by a long service life (on average - up to 25 years), reliability, hygiene. The surface of such a pallet has no pores, so dirt is easily cleaned from its surface. However, powder and abrasive products, hard brushes cannot be used to care for acrylic - this scratches 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 many forms, 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 Quaril. This is the same acrylic material with quartz sand in the composition, which ensures higher performance characteristics of the product - the service life of the pallet from quartz is increased and its reliability.

• Ceramics. Corners with a ceramic pallet look beautiful and modern. Due to its large mass, it is quite stable, but its large weight requires a perfectly flat surface for installation. Despite the massiveness of ceramics, it is a fragile material. If you drop a thing on the pallet, with a high degree of probability it will crack or crack. It is impossible to repair it, just replace it.

• A rock. We are talking about an artificial composite material that imitates stone. The use of natural stone has to be abandoned for a number of reasons, including due to the large weight, the complexity of processing and care (stone is a porous material) and its ability to accumulate radiation background. The artificial analogue is devoid of most of these shortcomings, although it still remains a rather heavy material, which may cause difficulties in the delivery and installation of the pallet from it.

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

Glass for plastic booths is used at least 4 mm thick. More often it is a hardened material with a thickness of 6 mm. If you need a product of increased strength, you can consider using 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 in case of damage it will not be showered with small traumatic fragments, but will remain on the film. Glass in a shower corner can be transparent or opaque, with drawing, corrugation.

The most popular shower enclosure is considered to be a product whose pallet has the shape of a rectangle. It can also be a smoother, streamlined shape in the form of a 1/4 circle. Such corners are classified as semi-closed, they are adjacent to the two walls of the room, forming a corner.

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

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

Ergonomic cabins are considered in the form of a semicircle. With one side (straight) they are adjacent to the wall. True, not every small-sized bathroom manages to enter such a product, since the corner is not involved, and the useful area of ​​the room is “eaten up”. Most often there are cabins with a semicircular pallet in the size of 120x80 or 120x90 cm.

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

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

For larger bathrooms, the size of the asymmetric tray (most often it is an isosceles triangle or trapezoid) can be 70x100, 80x100 and 90x110 cm. Products in the 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;
• low pallet has a depth of up to 10 cm.

The appearance of the shower 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 first ones have a frame made of a metal profile, which frames each glass or plastic element and provides their additional strength. Frameless models of this profile do not have, because of which they look easier, weightless, as if “dissolving” in the interior of the room.

Product design is largely determined by the type of door. Swing doors are considered standard. However, for small bathrooms, swing doors are an unacceptable option. In open form, they can close the passage, interfere. In this case, sliding doors (like those installed in sliding wardrobes) become an alternative. Sliding doors slide along special guides and do not require a place to open.

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

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

• Timo. Well-known Finnish manufacturer whose products combine reliability and affordability. Buyers note the high quality of product assembly. If we talk about the corners, then you 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 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 is single, and the doorway is not wide).

• Band hours The manufacturer of showers also produces corners, for example, the Band Hours Alba model in a stylish asymmetric form. The size of the pallet is 120x80 cm, the material of the walls and doors is tempered 6 mm glass. Doors - hinged, 2 pieces, have the reliability and durability guaranteed by the manufacturer (up to 1000 openings). In general, the model receives many positive reviews, but for large people, the internal space is cramped.

• Edelform. The Spanish brand, in the line of which the shower corner is represented by the Edelform EF-7011T model.The product has a quarter-circle shape, with a low pallet and dimensions of 90x90 cm. The design is notable for 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. Customers are highly praised for products from the domestic manufacturer Triton. consider the features of the cabs of this brand on the example of the Triton model "Hydrus 1". The design is suitable for people of high growth, since the height of the cabin is 229 cm. The pallet has a semicircle shape and is made in the size of 90x90 cm. Sliding doors are characterized by smooth movement, tightness and attractive appearance.

• In the lineup of the manufacturer, it is worth noting the corner model with a deep pallet - Rio 1 The product is also characterized by a high height (222 cm), has dimensions 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 invariably tops the ranks of the best plumbing brands. Let's take a closer look at the corner model with a high (38 cm) pallet - Riho Lucena GSET021. The design 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 tempered glass 6 mm thick.

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

Choosing between a glass and a plastic product, it is better to give preference to the first. 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 meaningless thickening of the product. The glass itself must have a special treatment that repels dirt.

If you choose a corner and 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 restrictions, you should choose the triangular option. The fact is that the production of round-shaped glass elements is a technologically more complex and, therefore, expensive process.

When choosing a pallet height Focus on your family’s lifestyle. For families with small children, a product with a high tray is more convenient, since if necessary it can be turned into a sitting bath.

Pay attention to the surface of the pallet. It should not be smooth, it is traumatic. Be sure to have corrugation on the surface.

If the product has sliding sashes, 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 tray, the shower cubicle literally dissolves in the interior, making it visually more spacious.

However, even with a high pallet, but with a competent arrangement of the corner and interior decoration as a whole, the design does not look massive. Here, the shape of the corner (a quarter of the circle) and the color scheme of the bath are very well chosen. Using warm shades of tiles makes the room more comfortable, and a horizontally oriented tile pattern visually expands the bathroom.

The following video shows how to assemble a shower enclosure.