Choosing plumbing fixtures for a bathroom is not so easy if you want to make it beautiful and comfortable. The primary task is to place all equipment and furniture so that they are comfortable to use, wash, and repair. That’s why it’s so important what kind of bathtub or shower cabin it will be: the dimensions, configuration and design are decisive when choosing them. For their sake, sometimes you have to sacrifice design or brand preferences. However, the huge variety of standard sizes and configurations makes it possible to avoid this alternative.
In the line of any manufacturer there are several models of different sizes Source niagara.lviv.ua
Types and design features of shower cabins
Their configuration and functionality largely depend on the dimensions of shower cabins. For example, equipment with the effect of a Finnish sauna must be sealed, completely closed on all sides, and have a roof that adds height. But for a simple design with a faucet and a hand shower, it is not necessary, as are the rear walls, which “eat up” part of the usable area of the bathroom.
Therefore, first, let’s look at the types of shower cabins; this will help determine the functionality and installation options.
Open booths
Open booths are those with a leaky contour: they may lack back walls, a roof, or both.
The simplest designs are a pallet with stationary side partitions and doors, or sliding or hinged partitions, depending on the configuration and installation location. Neither a mixer with a watering can nor a shower panel are usually included in their package and are purchased separately. Therefore, they cost much less than other modifications.
Open corner design Source rmnt.net
Standard standard sizes of open-design shower stalls start from 75 cm along the length of the wall, and from 170 cm in height from the floor. If you need the most compact option, then such products are always a priority, as they allow you to equip even the most modestly sized bathroom as comfortably as possible. However, their dimensions can be much larger. In addition, such a booth is often not purchased ready-made, but side screens of the required size are ordered. In this case, a tray is not necessary - the drain can be made directly into the floor.
The side walls of open structures are attached in different ways:
- on a frame fixed on a pallet, as in the previous photo;
- on a frame attached to the walls:
- on a profile or special hinges, also installed on the wall.
An example of installing glass walls on a wall profile Source stroyka-gid.ru
If the cabin is equipped with rear walls, but does not have a roof, it is called partially open. It has a huge advantage over the structures already described - it is a more reliable degree of waterproofing. By installing such a product, you don’t have to worry about the waterproofness of the walls in the bathroom, whereas in the case of completely open stalls, they need to be finished with ceramic tiles or other water-impermeable materials.
In addition, partially open models are equipped with a shower panel with the minimum required set of functions: mixer, watering can, massage nozzles. Therefore, you do not have to purchase and install them yourself. However, with similar external dimensions, the internal ones turn out to be somewhat more modest, which can be a decisive factor for people of large build.
Part of the useful internal area is occupied by walls and panels Source www.vanna-doma.ru
Open structures have such advantages as compactness, small height, ease of assembly and installation, and low cost. But when deciding which shower stall to choose, one cannot ignore their disadvantages. These include:
- moisture settles during water procedures on all surfaces of the room, since the cabin is not sealed and does not prevent steam from escaping outside. This can lead to rapid damage to furniture, mold formation and worsen the microclimate in the bathroom;
- the need for protective finishing of the walls inside the box with waterproofing materials;
- lack of such necessary and pleasant functions as autonomous lighting, radio, steam generator, etc.
The shape of the open booth is selected in accordance with the size and configuration of the room. It can be square, angular, rectangular, trapezoidal. Often it is installed in a niche. The cheapest option is a shower tray, the dimensions of which correspond to the parameters of the niche.
In this case, it is enough to mount only one wall with a door or simply hang a curtain Source www.o-vannoy.ru
Closed booths
Closed structures are the most numerous and popular. They are sealed boxes with all walls, doors, tray and roof. These include models of varying functionality, from the simplest, designed exclusively for showering, to those equipped with a full set of equipment:
- regular and tropical shower;
- hydromassage nozzles;
- steam generator (including with aromatherapy function);
- infrared sauna;
- backlight;
- radio or audio system;
- ventilation;
- voice control.
Thanks to a wide range of functions and comfort, closed hydroboxes lead the rating of shower cabins, leaving open models behind. But they cannot compete with the latter in terms of cost and compactness.
Hydrobox with infrared sauna Source www.o-vannoy.ru
See also: Catalog of house projects with a sauna
Even closed models that are quite modest in internal dimensions may turn out to be too bulky or high for the miniature bathrooms of standard apartments or rooms in old houses converted into a bathroom.
Note! Due to the presence of a roof with a built-in rain shower, lamp and other equipment, the height of a closed shower cabin is rarely less than 200-210 cm. This must be taken into account, especially if the pan will have to be raised to create a normal drainage slope.
The most comfortable type of closed hydrobox are models with a high tray or bathtub. They combine the functionality of both types of plumbing equipment and allow you not only to take a shower, but also to bathe, wash large items by hand, and perform other household activities. As a rule, they are equipped with all the necessary built-in equipment and, accordingly, have a high price.
Indoor shower with hydromassage bath Source banya-expert.com
However, the last remark applies only to large hydroboxes with a full bathtub 150-170 cm long or more. If we are talking about deep shower trays, the dimensions of which are no larger than the standard 80-120 cm, the price does not increase critically.
In general, pallets are divided into low, with a depth of up to 4-5 cm, medium - up to 20 cm, and high - with a side of up to 45 cm. As a rule, this parameter does not affect the overall height of the structure, because the bottom remains at the same level.
What to do with height?
We have seen that the actual height of the cabin depends on the installation method.
In addition, it can be adjusted within small limits by legs, if any. The plinth does not necessarily touch the floor, but can hang a few centimeters above the tiles. It all depends on the design. To avoid all these troubles, a foundation is created from a steel profile or plastic pipes. Designed to support the weight of the cabin. This helps to carry out maintenance without dismantling and also ensures dryness. This will not only relieve complaints from neighbors, but also prevent the growth of fungus.
The frame most often comes with a deep tray by default. Therefore, most of the troubles can be traced in the case of low. Besides the fact that there is nowhere to put the pipes, there is a more obvious problem. The sewer outlet from the riser is usually located at a certain height from the floor. And if the drain hole of the pan is below this level, then the water will not leave the shower stall.
Since the outlet hole in the riser has a certain diameter, it is necessary to block it over its entire height and preferably with a margin. This is why foundation fabrication is so beneficial in this situation. There is one more purely specific point. The higher the installation height of the tray, the warmer it is to wash. It is not for nothing that in the Russian bathhouse the threshold of the steam room was made as high as possible.
Shapes and sizes
Such equipment differs in plan dimensions, height, and shape. The shape affects the installation location of the booth - installation in a corner, against a wall or free placement is possible.
Corner models
The corner location is optimal for small bathrooms, as well as for showers in baths and saunas. It allows you to save space as much as possible, freeing up space for the necessary furniture and other plumbing fixtures. The most compact designs are open type.
Built-in corner model Source www.dm-steklo.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the design and installation of swimming pools
The most common and popular shapes are quarter circle and polyhedron.
- A quarter circle is not an entirely correct definition, since the spherical front walls of the booth in plan are not always a segment of a circle with a radius formed by the rear walls. However, it most accurately describes this configuration. The sizes of corner shower cabins vary from very modest (80x80 cm) to very spacious (150x150 cm). These numbers mean the length of the back walls, which may have other dimensions: 90, 100, 110, 120, 125, 130, 140 cm. Some manufacturers have an even wider range of sizes.
- Multifaceted models most often represent a pentagon with two perpendicular back walls and a front part in the form of a trapezoid. Despite their more complex shape, with comparable sizes they take up less space than round ones. In addition, multifaceted boxes are not always symmetrical; the length of their rear walls can be either the same or different, which gives more room for maneuver when choosing an installation location. The most common sizes: 80x80 cm, 90x90 cm, 100x100 cm, 85x100 (110, 120) cm, 90x100 (110,120) cm, 100x110 (120) cm.
What should you consider before purchasing plumbing equipment?
Comfort for your own use. For example, according to the recommendations of building codes and regulations, for the most comfortable use of the faucet by people of average height, the faucet must be built in at a height of approximately 1.2 meters (this distance must be calculated from the pallet). Again, it is worth saying that for people with non-standard height, such a location will be uncomfortable, from which it follows that you should decide where the mixer will be located independently, based primarily on your physical characteristics and individual preferences in interior solutions; Installation method. Today, there are various ways to install a faucet: installing it on the side of your bathtub, embedding it in the wall and on the wall, mounting it on a shower counter. To determine the required distance to the mixer (measured from the floor or tray, respectively), you need to add up the following values: a constant value of 85 centimeters, the thickness of the floor covering, the length of the bathtub stands or the height of the tray; What will the mixer be used for? In a situation where you use a separate mixer or mixer with a sink (the height of which is 82-85 centimeters) and with a bathtub, it is also necessary to make some calculations. The spout in such devices is generally long and rotating. To calculate the height at which the mixer will be installed, you need to count one meter from the floor covering along the cladding, and then add 0.1-0.15 meters to this length if the owner of the mixer is tall; Features of the spout. Manufacturers of this type of plumbing provide a huge range of different options. Devices may differ in their height, shape, and tap length
When choosing the most comfortable option, be sure to pay special attention to the height and length of the device, sometimes amounting to 20 centimeters - they are the determining factor in this matter. It is possible to install a straight and short spout at a sufficiently high distance, although you need to carefully consider the features of the plumbing fixture, because, for example, in the absence of a special device - an aerator that controls the flow of water, in the above-mentioned situation with a high-hanging, short and straight spout, it will turn out too much splashing, which will significantly reduce water savings.
Video description
The advantages of corner cabins are well described in the video:
Rectangular models
This variety includes booths that have the shape of a square, a regular rectangle, or a rectangle with a rounded radius corner. They all have one back wall and can be installed either in a corner or along one of the walls.
- The sizes of square products do not differ in variety. There are only three standard sizes with sides of 80, 90 and 100 cm.
- The sizes of rectangular shower cabins, on the contrary, are very diverse. The most compact model has parameters of 70x90 cm, and the largest 90x170 cm. The remaining standard sizes are shown in the table.
| Width, cm | Length, cm |
| 80 | 100, 110, 140 |
| 85 | 120, 145, 150, 158, 170 |
| 90 | 110, 120, 150 |
- The dimensions of booths with a radius corner often repeat the dimensions of rectangular ones, but among them there are also not quite standard options: 85x110 cm, 85x130 cm, 76x122 cm.
Rectangular cabin in the interior Source www.technohaus.ru
Builders' problems
The trouble is that dealers do not indicate installation dimensions. Therefore, it is difficult for a person unfamiliar with the topic to understand what exactly they are offering to buy. There are no sectional drawings, side or bottom photos. Dealers only advertise appearance. But only installers know how many problems a shower cabin can cause during its installation.
Yes, there are some standard projects, but you can find weak points in each. And then it turns out that the unlucky buyers of the shower stall begin to flood the neighbors. This is the weak point of any design - there is no leakage control.
Selection by door opening method
Even if the overall dimensions of the equipment fit into the room and do not interfere with standing near the sink or opening a cabinet, it may be inconvenient to use due to the wrong doors and the method of opening them. And sometimes it’s unsafe. Therefore, before choosing a shower stall, it would be a good idea to do your research.
In terms of design and opening mechanism, shower doors differ little from their interior counterparts.
- Hinged doors are mounted on standard hinges to fixed walls. They can only open outwards, which can be very inconvenient and unsafe, especially in a small bathroom and if there are children, animals and disabled or disabled residents in the house. As a rule, this option is chosen for spacious bathrooms.
- The swing doors open both outward and inward and are hinged. They are not suitable for all designs, which limits their use.
Swinging doors are installed only on shower enclosures with large internal space Source www.dm-steklo.ru
In conclusion
Installing a shower stall in your home is not a difficult task. Particular attention should be paid to connecting the pan to the sewer; communications will be hidden, so it is better to do everything correctly right away than to correct minor defects later. The proposed material will allow you to correctly connect the pan to the sewer.
Sources:
- https://sovet-ingenera.com/santeh/vanna/sliv-dlya-dushevoj-kabiny.html
- https://stroyday.ru/remont-kvartiry/ustanovka-i-remont-santexniki/sliv-dlya-dushevoj-kabiny.html
- https://stroy-podskazka.ru/vannaya/dushevye-kabiny/sliv/
- https://stroitelniportal.ru/stati/santehnika/vybor-i-montazh-sliva-dlya-dushevogo-poddona-svoimi-rukami/
- https://gidroguru.com/vnutrennyaya-kanal/razvodka/dush-kabiny/2557-sliv-dlya-dushevoj-kabiny
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Useful tips
When arranging a bathroom in a house or a shower room in a bathhouse, it is important to study the rating of shower cabins with high trays in terms of quality and price, and find the ratio that suits you. Most domestic and foreign manufacturers have a very wide range of models and sizes of such equipment, so you can very likely find a booth of the required dimensions and the desired brand.
In this case, the following nuances should be taken into account:
- To the external dimensions of products of a closed or partially open type, it is necessary to add the amount of clearance to the walls specified in the instructions. As a rule, it does not exceed 3 cm;
- you need to make sure that after installation the booth will not interfere with access to other objects, will not restrict the opening of cabinets or access to meters and taps;
- As practice shows, models with an external wall width of less than 90 cm are not very suitable for comfortable showering, even for people of normal build. If the bathroom is modest in size and does not accommodate a full-fledged hydrobox of this size, it is better to give preference to an open design without rear walls;
Open models have a larger internal area Source favorit-aqua.com.ua
- for quarter-circle corner models, you need to know the diagonal size from the corner to the door, as it may turn out to be significantly larger than expected;
- It is very important to pay attention to the height of the assembled product, since the top cover may require up to 30 cm of free space above the walls.
How to choose?
The choice of the optimal cabin option directly depends on the size of the bathroom, the body type of the consumer and his personal preferences.
The main point when buying a hydrobox is the relationship between the cabin and the parameters of the room - you need to start from this, and only then pay attention to all the other details. If the bathrooms are large, then the choice of the optimal box may be limited only by the financial capabilities of the buyer
If the bathrooms are large, then the choice of the optimal box may be limited only by the financial capabilities of the buyer.
Unfortunately, the opposite situation is widespread - the majority of Russians live in standard houses, where the dimensions of the bathroom are within the range of 180x210 cm, and the ceiling height is 240 cm. This significantly limits the choice of model - the dimensions of the cabin should not restrict movement, a person should be able to take two or three steps, raise your arms up or bend down.
If there are small children in the family, then you should give preference to models with a deep tray; it can simultaneously serve as a bathtub. Between closed and open models, it is better to choose a closed one - small children love to splash around, splashing drops of water; if the box is without walls, then over time the condition of the coatings in the room may deteriorate.
If the consumer is thin, then small-sized hydroboxes are suitable for him. But for overweight and obese people, it is worth considering purchasing a more spacious design - saving space in the bathroom should not be at the expense of the comfort and ease of use of the system.
In private houses without city sewerage, options with a flat tray are optimal. The additional function of a bathtub here can significantly increase water consumption, which will lead to rapid filling of the drainage hole.
If a shower stall is installed only to save space, then you should not choose rounded models in the shape of a rectangle, the outer side of which is rounded.
It is worth remembering that in small spaces the protruding corner of a rectangular square cabin will be in the way, so here it is optimal to mount a corner model with a beveled corner.
In addition to the shape and size of the structure, the choice of model is influenced by its quality. This parameter is determined by the operational properties of the entire structure as a whole and its individual elements; the strength and tightness of the connections is of fundamental importance here.
Not least important is the complex of additional functions.
- Charcot - involves the simultaneous impact on the human body of many thin jets of water with strong pressure, this causes a massage effect, refreshes and replenishes strength;
- cascade shower - in which a powerful stream of water falls on the human body from a certain height;
- tropical shower - imitates heavy rain or downpour, the jets fall strictly vertically, causing a calming and healing effect;
- ozone therapy – involves the effect of oxygen bubbles on the skin;
- chromotherapy - the effect of exposure to ultraviolet rays, which improves blood circulation in the skin;
- steam generation – you have the familiar effect of a Finnish sauna;
- aromatherapy – releases essential oils with a pleasant aroma into the cabin.
Modern shower stalls can even be equipped with a radio to listen to your favorite music while taking hygiene procedures. A few years ago, such a function was considered an indicator of special luxury, but in modern models the receiver has been replaced by speakers operating via the Internet using Wi-Fi.
Technologies do not stand still, and with them the level of comfort of shower cabins increases. However, the price of cabins is growing proportionally
This also needs to be taken into account when planning a purchase.
The best hydrobox is the one in which you can forget about the daily hustle and bustle, enjoy the blissful streams of water and recharge your batteries in a cozy environment.
You can learn how to arrange a shower stall with your own hands from the video below.
List of verified manufacturers
Brands are a blur to the eyes, I would like to choose a good manufacturer the first time. To make life easier for customers, here are 5 trustworthy brands on the Russian plumbing market.
- TIMO . Finnish company that produces shower cabins of various sizes and price categories. The side panels and doors are made of impact-resistant materials, which significantly increases the service life of the product.
- NIAGARA . A Russian brand that confidently competes with Western manufacturers, yet is located in an affordable market segment. All models are characterized by the installation of acrylic trays, built-in ventilation, radio and lighting.
- SERENA . These models were created by hardworking Chinese and organically combine interesting design and advanced functionality. It is worth noting that the products attract buyers with build quality, durability and affordable cost.
- RIVER . Another Chinese brand that is confidently conquering the Russian market. These models are characterized by the installation of acrylic trays, removable screens and sliding doors. Only environmentally friendly materials are used in production.
- ERLIT . A Russian brand that produces shower cabins in high-tech style: an organic combination of glass and chrome elements. The models are equipped with steam generators, hydromassage, music and lighting.
The products of these manufacturers have long enjoyed the well-deserved trust of Russian consumers.
