Types of cabins
Open cabins
These are open-top cabins with no ceiling. Depending on the class, they are equipped with a mixer, shower head, mirror, shelves for shampoos and gels. In such cabins they take showers, including “tropical showers”, but you cannot organize a Finnish sauna or Turkish bath in them.
Shower cabin "Parly" TM911 85/85 open - 12,200 rubles, wholesale and retail base of plumbing fixtures "Aquasant". Corner cabin with rear wall, sliding doors, 1/4 circle acrylic tray, height 190 cm.
There are cabins that are closed with side walls on all sides, and cabins that have one or two walls of their own, and the rest are the walls of the room. Open stalls mounted in a corner are called shower enclosures.
Shower corner without tray River Don Light 80/15 MT, 800x800 mm, height 1760 mm - 5,600 rubles, online store Shop-SanRguip.
Closed cabins
A closed shower cabin (box) has a ceiling, a back wall, and doors. When the doors are closed, the interior space of the cabin becomes hermetically sealed, which allows you to arrange a bath or sauna in it, depending on the level of air humidity (more about bath modes below).
Side dimensions range from 70 to 150 cm. Height reaches 230 cm. Door options - hinged, sliding.
Here is an example of an enclosed economy class cabin.
Closed shower cabin D-lin D 3801, dimensions 90x90x210 cm - 18,190 rubles, Shower5 online store. Sliding doors, without hydromassage, with hand and overhead shower. The shape is a quarter circle, 5mm walls made of tempered glass.
Built-in cabins
Built-in cabins are installed in a niche or corner. They are covered with walls with or without a ceiling. A cabin in a niche can be made without a wall, blocking it with a curtain.
Shower sets are purchased in stores. Equipment - for every taste. Mandatory parts include faucets, shower heads, hoses, brackets, and holders.
Shower set Lemark Unit LM4522C — RUB 23,973
Hermetically sealed structures are equipped with optional functionality: hydro- and aeromassage, ozone and chromotherapy, Finnish and Turkish baths.
Types of booths
Cabins come in three main types:
- without a roof - open;
- with a roof - closed;
- combined.
Open - models that are built into the bathroom, do not have a covering on top and use the ventilation system of the room where they are installed. They always gather on the spot. A pallet is placed against the wall or in the corner of the room (instead, high-quality concrete can be poured on top, tiled), and then the walls (doors) of the product are installed on the open sides. Such cabins have a minimal set of additional modes. But you can mount units of any size and configuration.
Closed - completely autonomous design. It is a box in which a large number of additional functions are built in and is easy to dismantle and move if necessary.
Combined - a cabin that uses a deep tray (more like a bathtub). Shower walls are installed along its perimeter; the presence of a top is optional. They are very large in size and usually combine a bathtub and shower. And also many interesting additions, for example, a steam room.
Pallets
The trays protect the floor of the room from water when taking a shower in the stall. They retain heat and act as a base to which the cabin structure is attached.
The trays are included with the shower cabin, but they can also be purchased separately.
Pallets are produced in square, rectangular, pentagonal, semicircular, round, radial and others.
In terms of height, they are divided into flat - up to 30 mm deep, shallow - up to 180 mm and deep - up to 450 mm.
The minimum dimensions of standard pallets are 70x70 cm, the maximum are 130x130 cm.
Pallets are made from acrylic and its varieties - quarry, cast iron, steel, ceramics, natural stone.
Acrylic pallets
are most in demand - due to their low cost, variety of shapes and sizes. They look aesthetically pleasing, are easy to care for, and last 10-15 years.
Shower tray Royal Bath RB, acrylic, 80x80 cm - 4,830 RUR, online store Santehnika.ru
Quaril pallets
(acrylic with the addition of quartz sand) have a harder surface, which extends the service life of the product by 3-5 years. Being new to the market, quaryl products are more expensive than acrylic ones. They are not produced in Russia.
Futurion shower tray White alpin, 80x80 cm, quaril - 22,082 rubles, Santehcity online store
Cast iron pallets
are used for up to 30 years. Cast iron heats up slowly, so you have to wait a couple of minutes before standing on it. But it keeps warm for a long time. Disadvantages include heavy weight (a standard pallet weighs 80 kg) and a limited selection of shapes.
Cast iron shower tray Classic 80x80 cm - RUB 9,425, Safirs online store
Ceramic trays
do not make noise when water falls on them. They last a long time, but they prick if a glass jar of cream falls on them. The prices can surprise you.
Shower tray Kerasan Retro 1339 90x90 cm — 40,983 RUR, SanBest plumbing salon
Steel pallets
light but durable: they are not damaged under the weight of a 120-kilogram hero. Easy to install, but noisy. But the prices are affordable.
Enameled steel tray River 80×80 - 1,400 rubles, Safirs online store
Natural stone pallets
durable and strong. They do not change color, do not slip, and do not make noise in the shower. But these are expensive products. They are usually made to order.
Ritter tray made of Brown Tiny marble - RUB 93,890, Sheerdecor company
A budget alternative is artificial stone pallets. In terms of strength and durability, they are not inferior to natural ones, and do not prick under accidental impacts.
Shower tray made of cast marble CEZARES TRAY-S-A-550-56-LT 90x90 cm - RUB 16,020, Santekhpremium online store
Popular manufacturers
When determining which shower cabin would be best to purchase, they consider the product from the point of view of the optimal price-quality ratio, study ratings and customer reviews. All shower cabins can be divided into the following categories by cost.
Budget
It is clear that products from domestic and Chinese manufacturers have the lowest prices. Among Russian companies, the products of the oldest large enterprises under the brands Radomir, Triton, BAS are popular and well known. They compete with high-quality shower cabins Aquanet and Aquarelle, compact boxes Aqua Joy and designer models Laniver.
Chinese manufacturers with inexpensive and good quality products are widely represented on the market with the brands Niagara, Parly, Loranto, Eago. Slightly less common are shower stalls from equally well-known manufacturers of plumbing equipment such as Appollo, Aqualux, AquaStream, Goldman and Optima.
Mid price category
In this price segment, products from Czech manufacturers of the brands Luxus, Riho, German cabins from Grossman, Edelform, Wasserfalle, CRW, Hueppe, Hyber, Spanish Esbano, Italian Maroni stand out.
Expensive
The highest prices are found in Finnish cabins of the brands Timo, Oras, Ido, Nimo, Master Finn and products from Italy under the brands Primo, Valencia, products from German manufacturers Westerhof, Sturm, Edelform, premium cabins from Lagard.
It should be noted that there is no clear distinction between mid- and high-price cabins. Their cost depends not so much on the quality of workmanship, which for all European manufacturers is at the highest level and approximately the same, as on the functionality and additional accessories of the equipment presented.
The cost of some models of shower cabins from foreign manufacturers
Cabins without pallet
Types of ladders
Shower cabins and corners without a tray are installed during renovation, since the floor needs to be waterproofed, water supply and drainage must be made, and tiles must be laid inside the cabin.
In such cabins, water is drained through a drain - a device mounted in the floor (less often, in the wall).
The ladders differ:
- according to the location of the drain pipe - horizontal (side outlet) and vertical (direct outlet), the latter drain water faster;
- by height, which is chosen depending on the thickness of the screed;
- by type of blocking sewer odors - wet and dry seals.
A wet seal (water seal) blocks odors by creating a water plug. Gangways with such a shutter are installed if the cabin is used at least 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, the cork dries out or the water in it stagnates and emits odors itself. The dry seal retains odors using an air gap.
Here are examples of ladders of various modifications.
Horizontal shower drain Viega 557119, capacity 36 l/min, removable water seal - RUB 1,203, Lux Plumbing store
Vertical shower drain Magdrain F12Q5-N, capacity 39.5 l/min, equipped with dry and removable water seals - RUB 3,560, Plumbing Online online store
Viega vertical shower drain, water seal, flow rate 54 l/min, — 1,540 rubles, Techport online store
Extended ladders are also produced. They are called trays.
VIEGA ADVANTIX BASIC drain tray - RUB 12,988, SanComf plumbing store. Flow rate 60 l/min
They produce trays that are mounted not in the floor, but in the wall. But they are rare. And quite expensive, since they supposedly drain the water quickly. But apparently not all models. This option has a completely average throughput capacity, equal to the volume of water released by the overhead shower per unit of time.
Viega Advantix Vario shower tray for installation in the wall, side outlet above floor level, flow rate 27 l/min - RUB 26,872, Nir-vanna online store
If the inlet to the sewer is located above the floor level, then water will not flow into it. In such cases, the floor is raised. If it is impossible to lift, pumps are used, they will force the water into the sewer.
Pumping unit GRUNDFOS Sololift 2 D-2 - 15,000 rubles, Heat and Water online store. Capacity - 7.14 m3/hour (1.98 liters per second), power consumption - 280 W, number of water intake points - 3. Raises water to a height of 5.5 meters.
Installation of a cabin without a pallet
To allow water to flow down the ladder, the cabin floor is sloped. In order not to flood the neighbors below, it is waterproofed. These are the two main tasks of installing a cabin without a pallet.
Before installation, the floor is raised 10-15 cm from the concrete screed - either in the entire bathroom or inside the cabin. In the second option, when entering the booth, a threshold is created that children and elderly people can trip over.
The direction of the slope depends on the type of ladder. For a round or square model, the slope is made from all sides towards its center. The tray requires a longitudinal slope.
Drain pipes are also laid with a slope. The concrete base and walls to a height of 20-25 cm are pre-treated with waterproofing mastic.
The laid ladder and pipes are covered with foam plastic tiles, the gaps are filled with a cement-sand mixture. When the mixture dries, coat it with waterproofing mastic and cover it with sheets of roofing felt or fiberglass, placing them on the walls.
Then a concrete screed with a thickness of at least 4 cm is made, while the slope is controlled by the level. The dried screed is also treated with mastic, then the tiles are laid - first on the floor, then on the walls, so that the wall tiles cover the floor tiles. After laying the tiles, the joints are treated with silicone sealant.
Cabins without a pallet are installed by professional craftsmen. Illiterate amateur performance is fraught with spillage from lower neighbors and accumulation of moisture under the floor, followed by unpleasant sewer odors, which even the most thorough cleaning cannot get rid of.
Shower cabin equipment
Shower panel
Contains a watering can, jets for hydromassage, water pressure and temperature regulators, detergent dispensers, control buttons for lighting, radio, and telephone. Accessories are designed as elements of booth decor.
Niches and shelves
They store bath accessories, jars of shampoos, gels, creams. There are shaving mirrors and other necessary toiletries.
Seats
Increases comfort level. Elderly people and disabled people especially need them. Possible options: bench, high chair, brick bedside table, tiled. To make it more convenient to sit down and stand up, support handrails are installed next to the seats.
Functionality of shower cabins
Hydromassage
Massage the body with jets of water. They are supplied through nozzles - from 4 to 12 pieces. The nozzles are located in 2 rows at the level of the neck, back, lower back, and legs. Water pressure and temperature are adjustable.
Hydromassage relieves fatigue and stress, improves blood circulation, breaks down subcutaneous fat, and prevents the formation of cellulite. But it can be harmful in case of hypertension, kidney stones and other diseases. Please consult your physician before using this feature.
Shower cabin with hydromassage Aqualux AQ-4077GFH Quadro-170 - 34,000 rubles, construction hypermarket "Izolux". Length - 170 cm, width - 85 cm, height - 215 cm. Shower hose, shower head, liquid soap dispenser, mixer, 6 jets for hydromassage, acrylic tray 450 mm high, rain shower, radio, telephone, backlight, remote control .
Bath and sauna
The steam generator creates a certain humidity and temperature in the cabin, simulating the microclimate in a Finnish sauna and Turkish bath. At a humidity of 95-100% and a temperature of 45-60 ℃, a Turkish bath is obtained. In a Finnish sauna, the air is dry (humidity is about 30%) and the temperature rises to 90–110 ℃.
They produce cabins with a “pair compartment” and a wash room, and models in which bath conditions are created throughout the entire interior space of the cabin.
Shower cabin with Turkish bath Niagara NG-909S - 46,540 rubles, Plumbing Online online store. There is a hydromassage (6 nozzles), a touch control panel, LED lighting, radio, forced ventilation.
Rain shower
Tropical rain is produced by a large watering can with small holes that spray water into tiny splashes. They envelop the body, creating the sensation of rain in the tropics, where the drops splash as they hit the leaves of the lush and ubiquitous vegetation.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is when essential oils from plants are inhaled to improve well-being. Oils are poured into a container built into the rear wall of the cabin. When the sauna function is turned on, steam passes through the container and fills the cabin with the aroma of the oil. Essential oils soothe, tone, treat coughs, colds and other “sores”. But they can cause allergic reactions.
Chromotherapy
Color treatment is now fashionable. LEDs color water jets blue, yellow, red and green. The color is selected on the remote control. It is believed that blue color relieves headaches, green and yellow have a beneficial effect on digestion, and red improves heart function.
Voice control
In premium cabins, you can use your voice to turn the water on and off, make it hotter or colder, activate the hydromassage, radio, and so on. Prices for such cabins start from 40,000 rubles.
Shower cabin with voice control Timo T-1100 - 46,000 rubles, online store "Plumbing Tut". The package also includes a touch control panel, lighting, FM radio, ventilation, hydromassage and rain shower modes.
Best lists
We will highlight in a separate list:
- budget cabin - Niagara NG 777;
- open type model - Aqualux AQ-319GM Wh;
- with deep tray - Byon Square 2611.
Let's take a closer look at them.
Budget Cabin - Niagara NG 777
The product is small in size (90x90x215 cm) and is a closed, sealed box that is installed in the corner of the room. The pallet and fences are made of quality materials. Of the modes, only shower is present.
Price: from 16,900 to 17,100 rubles.
shower cubicle Niagara NG 777
Open type model - Aqualux AQ-319GM Wh
Products without a roof on a semicircular low pallet (size 90x90x210), the material of the walls and sliding doors is glass. Equipped only with plumbing for a regular shower.
Cost: from 14,500 to 15,300 rubles.
shower cabin Aqualux AQ-319GM Wh
With deep tray - Byon Square 2611
The device, made in Switzerland, is a box with a high tray, actually a bathtub, measuring 170x85 cm. In this model you can give your baby a bath, wash yourself fully both sitting and lying down, take a shower and use all the modes that are built into the cabin.
Buy: from 59,200 to 61,300 rubles.
shower cubicle Byon Square 2611
Advantages and disadvantages of shower cabins
Advantages:
- save space compared to a bathroom, time for washing and water consumption;
- increase comfort and safety, which is especially important for older people and disabled people who find it difficult to get into the bathtub;
- make available functions that a bath will not provide (hydromassage, aroma and chromotherapy, sauna).
Flaws:
- requires more care than a bath;
- multifunctional boxes are more expensive than a bathtub;
- The sauna and hydromassage functions do not work if the water pressure is less than 2 bar (1 bar = 0.98 atm). According to SNiP, the pressure in the water supply of an apartment building ranges from 2 to 7 atm.
Selection rules
The choice of shower cabin is influenced by:
- area and height of bathroom ceilings;
- family budget possibilities;
- personal preferences and number of family members.
When purchasing, pay attention to:
- cabin equipment;
- functionality;
- material of manufacture;
- manufacturer's reputation;
- seller's warranty.
When choosing cabin sizes, focus on the largest family member. He must stand in the cabin and check whether it will be comfortable for him to wash, whether he will not hit his elbows on the walls, and whether he can sit down if necessary.
Buy cabins with functionality that will be in demand. If no one in the family takes a steam bath, there is no need to overpay for a Finnish sauna.
The cabin walls are made of plastic and glass. Plastic is cheaper, but over time it loses its shine and transparency. When it dries, salt deposits are noticeable on the plastic, so it is wiped dry after each wash.
A glass cabin is more expensive, but requires less maintenance - streaks do not remain on the walls. For shower cabins, safety tempered glass is used, which will not break if accidentally hit by a jar of cream or a chair leg.
We have already talked about pallets. Let us only add that the shape and dimensions of the cabin depend on the pallet. The most durable and affordable pallets are artificial stone pallets. The slipperiest ones are steel ones.
Doors are sliding and hinged. Sliding ones are convenient in a small bathroom.
Door or curtain?
The first point concerns how to protect the bathroom from the ubiquitous splashes. The easiest way out is a curtain; it doesn’t cope with its responsibilities too well, but some people stop at this option. Shower doors, on the other hand, guarantee sufficient tightness. When choosing this design, you need to evaluate the disadvantages and advantages of their types.
- Sliding - accordions. The most convenient, effective door, which also significantly saves space. The downside is the need to purchase accessories and the complexity of the work.
- Swing. The best option for a homemade shower, as it allows you to use almost any sheet material - plexiglass, polycarbonate, glass (for example, acrylic). The downside is the opening radius, which steals precious meters.
Polycarbonate - cellular or monolithic - has long been considered the optimal material for shower doors. They choose models based on their preferences. The first is translucent, but the honeycombs require reliable protection of the ends from moisture, so the second option is more popular.
