A shower is not just a saving of space and time, but also money. Thanks to it, our bills significantly decrease. Additionally, the shower tray is important. The most popular on the market are trays made from acrylic and enamelled steel. Ceramic, stone, composite, and even wooden trays are also available. A tray can be built from clinker bricks or concrete and covered with ceramic tiles. Acrylic trays are light, smooth, and warm to the touch.
What to choose?
There is such a large choice on the market that it's hard for us to decide which shower enclosure will be best for us. However, before making this important decision, we must establish a few things. First, consider where our shower enclosure will be placed. If we want it to be located against a wall, it's worth choosing one with a rectangular tray. Alternatively, for a freestanding cubicle, a nice square tray can be chosen.
Wall-mounted enclosures occupy quite a bit of space (with one side against the bathroom wall), while corner enclosures, installed in the room's corner, take up the least space. Recessed shower enclosures, which require only doors and a possible additional narrow side panel, are increasingly being installed. Some manufacturers offer complete sets, but they are few. Generally, these two elements are purchased separately. In that case, choose a tray intended for a specific enclosure model to ensure they fit well and the enclosure is watertight.
Enclosures are built in various ways. They consist of walls and doors usually connected with profiles. There are also frameless enclosures – joined by sealing strips or decorative chrome fittings. The walls and doors in cheaper enclosures are made of plastic: polystyrene or acrylic. Despite appearances, there aren't many such enclosures in stores; more expensive models made of toughened glass with a thickness of 3 to 8 mm prevail (the thicker, the more resistant to breakage). Both the plastics and glass can be entirely transparent or decorated with prints or have various textures - e.g., frosted glass, bark, mesh, grid, screen printing, etc.
What dimensions should the enclosure be?
A shower enclosure measuring 70x90 centimetres will ensure you can shower comfortably. However, the size of the bathroom doesn't always allow for this, and we must settle for a smaller size. Most are 180-200 centimetres tall. They are mainly installed on low trays or directly onto the floor. If you decide on a very high tray, the enclosure must be shorter. The size of the shower enclosure depends on the size of the bathroom and who will use it.
The doors to our enclosure are also an important element. The most popular are sliding doors. Perfect for small bathrooms, as they don't require additional space to open. Cheaper, plastic models have tracks from which the doors can fall. In better quality enclosures, rollers with metal bearings are used – such doors break less often and slide more easily. Often, the rollers can be released, making both the installation of the enclosure and the removal of the doors themselves, e.g., for thorough cleaning, easier.
Other models include folding doors, known as accordion, or regular doors that open like house doors – the direction in which they open can be chosen. Recently, modern walk-in showers, which are open enclosures, have become popular. There are really no restrictions to bathing and water splashes. In such cases, drainage must be located so that water does not splash into other parts of the bathroom. Large slopes and drainage in the centre are essential.
Shower taps
Depending on the bathroom's decor and installation possibilities, a surface-mounted or concealed tap can be installed in the bathroom interior. The former is placed directly on pipes led into the bathroom. Surface-mounted taps are characterised by easy installation as well as a lower price than concealed taps. Their disadvantage is the need for installation at the pipe outlet. Wall-mounted taps fit perfectly in traditional interiors and rooms decorated in a retro style.
We should pay attention to several details when choosing taps. One is appearance. Each of us wants to have a beautiful bathroom and a nice shower tap. It can be matched with bathroom fixtures, towels, and even tiles. There is a wide range of bathroom taps on the market, so we don't have to limit ourselves. Another important element is weight. It’s crucial that our tap isn't too heavy, as we might tire instead of relaxing.
Choose energy-efficient ones. Single-lever taps are easier to control and manage the water flow easier. Thermostatic taps are also available. The built-in thermostat mixes hot and cold water in a very short time to achieve the perfect balance. The temperature can be set with an accuracy of one degree, ensuring savings and preventing scalding. Additionally, taps with hydromassage can also be purchased, providing a touch of luxury. Massage is very pleasant, and the bath will become even more enjoyable with such small tricks.