A shower stall is a great way to not only quickly and effectively get yourself in order, but also to invigorate your body. Most buyers prefer designs with a deep tray rather than a full-fledged standard-sized bathtub. For some, this is also an excellent way to save useful space in a small room.
Others strive to get maximum functionality for the same money. We are talking about multifunctional showers with hydromassage, infrared sauna and ozonation option. Thus, a correctly chosen design can replace a physiotherapy room, a Turkish bath and a massage parlor.
Options
- Pallet. Designed to collect water and then drain it. Equipped with a drain hole and siphon.
- Frame. Gives the structure stability.
- Walls. They create a closed space, preventing water drops from falling on the walls and floor of the room.
- Door block. Installed on a frame or on a bathroom wall.
- Overhead shower. It is made in the form of a watering can, which can be installed on the ceiling of the structure or attached to the wall using a bracket. Water from such a watering can is supplied at a slight angle or vertically. The watering can supports the function of aeration (saturation of liquid with air). Watering cans with aeration are also called “tropical rain”.
- Mixer.
- Roof.
- Hydromassage panel.
Criterias of choice
The advantages of using such structures include the ability to independently connect to sewerage and water. To any model you should add the treasured 50 mm, which will protrude along the edges of the fence. This space is used for installing special fencing. That is why it is not recommended to consider popular models from little-known brands that appeared on the market relatively recently and are in demand due to their rich functionality and reasonable cost. Partitions should be simple and functional at the same time. In fact, such structures belong to the category of simple ones, which allows you to install them yourself.
In ready-made kits, all parts are initially selected in such a way as to complement each other as effectively as possible.
Feature management
All controls are located in the corner of the shower stall. The parts responsible for activating individual functions usually take the form of a lever or key. All controls are located in the corner of the shower stall. The parts responsible for activating individual functions usually take the form of a lever or key.
A separate lever or key is responsible for switching the water supply mode.
Water supply modes:
- watering can;
- overhead shower (not in all cabins);
The Turkish bath function can also be activated from the control panel. When the steam generator is filled with water, you can activate the steam supply by pressing the “Steam” button.
Touch control is usually accompanied by the following actions:
- green indication accompanies the activation of functions;
- after disabling the function, the key turns red;
- You can turn on the system by pressing the touch area for a few seconds.
The overhead shower is usually equipped with a tropical rain function. To enable the Tropical Rain function, press the key with a special symbol located on the touch panel.
The hydromassage is turned on as follows. After turning on the system, press the “Nozzles” button. After pressing this button, the upper elements are activated. By pressing the button again, you activate the middle nozzles. Pressing the button three times activates the lower nozzles, and pressing the button four times activates all elements simultaneously.
By pressing the “Fan” button, you will start the ventilation system. Pressing it again turns off the ventilation device.
Door materials
Shower doors are made from different materials. Most often, plastic or glass is used for this purpose. These materials are resistant to moisture, steam, and temperature changes.
The most popular doors are made of glass. The use of glass allows us to produce doors of different levels of transparency and size. The following glass door options are available:
- Ordinary glass. The most common version
- With a matte surface.
- With tinted surface.
- With tinted surface.
- With a pattern or design.
Plastic doors are cheaper, but less durable. When choosing a door leaf made of plastic, it is better to give preference to polycarbonate or acrylic. Acrylic is made from a polymer resin, which gives the material strength and durability. If the acrylic door is damaged, there are no sharp edges, so they are safe to use. The density of polycarbonate is lower than acrylic. This material is less durable, but lighter. He is not afraid of high temperatures.
Difficulties during installation
When buying a cabin, you should definitely check the contents and integrity of all components in order to change the model if a defect is detected. Assembly instructions are required. And yet, during installation, sometimes you have to face problems. What difficulties may arise when installing a shower cabin?
- The fasteners and clamps supplied in the kit may be unreliable - first of all, you need to check their strength and, if necessary, buy others before starting installation.
- Insufficient sealing of the cabin can lead to leaks and moisture accumulation under the pan, so the joints should be carefully treated with silicone sealant.
- Correct calculation of the relationship between the levels of the bottom of the structure and the sewer pipe is one of the problems. An error leads to stagnation of water or too slow drainage.
- You should work carefully when installing the door guides: if you confuse the elements for mounting from below with those from above, the door will come out of the grooves.
- A poorly leveled pallet will cause the entire structure to wobble. If such a problem occurs, you need to adjust the height of the pallet legs.
The more functions it provides, the more difficult it is to install a shower stall. For competent installation, you need to have certain skills, act carefully and diligently, and most importantly, strictly follow the instructions.
Advice.
A shower cabin is an expensive pleasure. Installing it yourself without experience and relevant knowledge entails the risk of damaging the structure. Therefore, it is better to turn to professionals: usually installation services are provided by the selling company.
Pallet materials
Most often, pallets are made from the following materials:
- enameled and stainless steel;
- ceramics;
- ABS plastic;
- cast iron;
- acrylic;
- stone (natural and artificial).
The most popular are acrylic cabin trays. They are easy to care for, light in weight, and have good heat and sound insulation. Small scratches can be easily removed with polishing paste.
Steel and cast iron enameled models are very durable, but their weak point is the enamel, which is subject to fairly rapid mechanical wear. Stainless steel pallets are more durable.
Stone pallets are also characterized by increased strength.
Ceramic models look good, but have a high price.
The cheapest option is plastic pallets. They tolerate temperature changes well and are resistant to aggressive environments, as well as household chemicals.
Rear wall options
The back walls are most often made of glass or plastic. Manufacturers sometimes use wood in premium shower cabins.
Some models installed in the corner of the bathroom do not have a back wall.
Rear walls can be of two types:
- framed with profiles;
- without profiles, assembled at the corners.
Almost all the options available in the shower stall (mirror, hand shower, shelf, soap dispenser, etc.) are usually located on the back wall.
Shower cabins with a transparent back wall look less bulky and visually expand the space.
Comparison table of characteristics
The table below presents the main characteristics of the models under consideration. By comparing them with each other, it will be easier for customers to decide on the choice of cabin and purchase the product according to their needs.
| Model name | Manufacturer | Type | Peculiarities |
| Niagara NG 003 | China | open, low tray | affordable price, low pallet |
| Parly Z90 | China | high side, closed | double-walled model, installation in a corner, favorable price |
| River Nara 80/43 b/k | China | high side, open | high-quality equipment at a competitive price |
| LUXUS 535 | Czech | closed | popular stylish model with a low tray and many functions |
| RIVER NIL 150/90 | Russia | closed with low side | best cabin design, functionality, affordable price, suitable for two people |
| TIMO TE-0780 | Finland | closed with high tray | excellent technical performance, universal size, high-quality assembly |
| NIAGARA NG 777 | China | closed, high tray | budget option, closed cabin with basic functions |
Equipment
- Soap dishes, shelves. Shower stalls are closed structures, so when using them, taking things from the shelves installed in the bathroom is very inconvenient. Therefore, give preference to designs equipped with shelves for shampoos, soaps and other hygiene items. The most convenient are metal shelves with a lattice bottom, which ensures unhindered drainage of water, as well as glass shelves with holes for liquid drainage.
- Sitting. The seat will be needed for steaming in the foot tray, during cosmetic procedures, for the elderly and for a Turkish bath. Small cabins use folding seats that can be quickly removed. Most often they are made of wood or plastic, which have low thermal conductivity.
- Mirror. If it is important for you to have a mirror in your shower stall, choose designs equipped with a forced ventilation function, otherwise it will quickly fog up.
- Radio, audio.
- Telephone. When you shower in a stall with your phone, you won't miss an important call.
- Forced ventilation. Structures without a roof are naturally ventilated, while structures with a roof must be forced ventilated. A shower stall with a roof is an enclosed space in which the humidity level quickly rises. Without a forced ventilation system, fungus may soon appear inside such a structure. You can get rid of high humidity by leaving the door to the shower stall open or by using a fan installed in it, which will forcefully blow the moist air out. The second method is more preferable, as it is more effective and convenient.
- Hydromassage jets. Hydromassage is a pleasant procedure that many people enjoy. In addition, this procedure is good for health. However, keep in mind that if you choose a design with a hydromassage function, you will be forced to install a filter on the water and constantly clean the nozzles from dirt during its operation.
- Turkish bath. Some cabins have a Turkish bath function. They are equipped with an electric steam generator, which heats the water and then causes the process of evaporation, saturating the surrounding space with steam. The temperature rises to 60-65 degrees, and humidity - up to one hundred percent. This is not quite the same as a real Turkish bath. However, you will be able to get a good sweat and warm up. But remember that Turkish bath cabins can only be installed in bathrooms with high-quality hoods, otherwise fungus or mold may form in the room.
- Turkish bath. Some cabins have a Turkish bath function. They are equipped with an electric steam generator, which heats the water and then causes the process of evaporation, saturating the surrounding space with steam. The temperature rises to 60-65 degrees, and humidity - up to one hundred percent. This is not quite the same as a real Turkish bath. However, you will be able to get a good sweat and warm up. But remember that Turkish bath cabins can only be installed in bathrooms with high-quality hoods, otherwise fungus or mold may form in the room.
- Chromotherapy. Some modern shower cabins are equipped with a chromotherapy function. They are equipped with lamps of different colors, allowing you to combine water treatments with the healing effects of color and music.
The largest manufacturers and importers of shower cabins
Among the domestic manufacturers of shower cabins, Russian manufacturing companies 1 Marka, Alavann, Aqualife, Bach, Bas, Eurolux and Finn stand out. The quality of Russian sanitary ware is not much inferior to products from Europe, but the price of our shower cabins is usually lower. On average, you can buy a good shower cabin for 30-40 thousand rubles.
Products from Germany on the Russian plumbing market are represented by Edelform, Stiebel Eltron, Sturm, Wasserfalle, Westerhof. The quality of the plumbing is very high. Of course, this is done by the Germans, who are famous for their meticulousness to every detail. However, the minimum prices for the products of these companies start from 70-80 thousand rubles. You have to pay for quality.
In the middle price segment and of good quality, plumbing fixtures from Italy are presented: Primo, Valencia, Sturm, Axa; Finland: Master Finn, Novitek, Oras, Timo; Czech Republic: Riho, Vagnerplast, Luxus. The cost of products from these manufacturers can start from 40,000 rubles and reach up to 120,000 rubles. It all depends on the functionality of the model.
Separately, it is necessary to say about products from China. The situation here is such that if you buy a shower cabin from a completely unknown Chinese manufacturer, then with a very high probability you can buy outright hackwork or serial plumbing fixtures of poor quality.
If you buy plumbing fixtures from well-known manufacturers, you can save a lot of money and still get a high-quality shower stall for 10-30 thousand rubles. The most famous Chinese manufacturers: Avanta, Ammari, Baraka, Goldman, Fresh, HX, Ika, Optima, Eago, Gllon.
