Type
Type determines design and functionality of shower enclosure.Found as simple varieties in the form of shower cabin,
shower cabin,
shower box with bathtube, and more advanced
hydromassage cabins,
hydromassage boxes (meet and
double hydromassage boxes),
hydromassage boxes with bathtub. More about each of them:
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Shower enclosures. This category includes the simplest models: «fences», which have no roof (in this main difference from the boxes, see below) and are not equipped with hydromassage racks. With rare exceptions, have 2, less frequently 3 walls (cf. «Walls»). The main advantage of this type is a low price: it is the optimal choice for not demanding users who do not want to overpay for an abundance of «in turn».
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Hydromassage cabin. Like classic shower cabins (see above), models of this type do not have a roof; however, their equipment includes a hydromassage rack (more about hydromassage, see «Functions»). They are a compromise between inexpensive cabins and advanced whirlpools (see below).
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Hydromassage box. The main feature of this type of shower cabin is closed on all sides structure: 4 walls, pallet and roof. This provides the possibility of installation (almost all the boxes are put in this way, see more. «Installation»), and also allows you to apply various additional features - Turkish bath, tropical shower, aromatherapy, etc. (more see «Functions»). An essential feature of any hydromassage box is the presence of a hydromassage rack. There are two-seater models, which are much larger in size, have two shower sets and are often equipped with two chairs.
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Hydromassage box with bathtub. ...Variety of boxes (see above), in which the tray is actually a bath. The bathroom means a deep container designed to be able to lie down with ease (or sit with legs extended), see more about it. The depth of the pallet. The presence of the bath correspondingly expands the possibilities of boxing - in particular, it would not have been possible to implement the function of horizontal hydro massage (see «Functions»). In particular, it would have been impossible to implement the function of horizontal hydromassage.
— Shower box. Type of enclosed shower cabin, no hydromassage (see «Functions»). Other additional features (see ibid. also), as a rule, too, but the distinctive feature of this type is precisely the lack of hydromassage.
— Double box. Double jetted box is designed for simultaneous use by two people. For this it is equipped with two headsets or two chairs (depends on the configuration). Read more about the type of whirlpool box in the appropriate selection point.
— Shower box with bathtub. Models similar in design to the above described hydromassage boxes with a bath and distinguished by an exceptional lack of hydromassage. They are somewhat cheaper, but in general they are still quite «expensive pleasure».Profile shape
Geometrically, the following options differ:
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Square. Cubicles in the form of a square can refer to almost any type of installation. Their main advantage over semi-circular (when mounted) and quarter-rounded (at angle) is a large area of the pan; in addition, even sliding doors used in square models, are much more reliable and easier to curve. At the same time, and places for such a cabin need correspondingly more.
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Rectangular. This form is very similar to the square one described above, and in practice is mainly different in that it is more often done under a fixed installation than under an angle.
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Polygonal. In fact this form is most often a type of quarter circle (see above). Polygonal cockpits are usually installed in an angular symmetrical way (cf. «Installation»), but the front part, according to the name, is not in the form of a circle arc, but in the form of a polygonal line (with several angles). Usually this is no more than a design decision, and in terms of functionality, such cabins do not have key differences from «quarter», and the choice depends mainly on your aesthetic preferences.
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Semi-circular. Type of cabin, designed for a fixed installation. According to the name, the front surface of such models is in the form of a semicircle. This saves space in the bathroom compared to recta
...ngular and square models. At the same time, the reduction of the internal space practically does not affect the comfort of the user - the rounded front wall leaves enough space for movement. Among the drawbacks can be noted the need to use curved doors, as a consequence - a little more cost and less reliability of these doors than those of «straight» forms.
— Quarter circle. Quite common shape of the cabin, designed for angle installation (in the absolute majority of cases used angle symmetrical, see «Installation»). The main advantages and disadvantages of such models are similar to semi-circular (see above). On the one hand, they save space in the bathroom, on the other - more difficult and somewhat more expensive than similar square/rectangular cabins.
— Round. The round shape provides the most optimal ratio of the perimeter length to the base area; simply put, more space is obtained inside the cabin with less material input. At the same time, this option is quite convenient from the point of view of the user. Its disadvantage is the high cost - the production of high-quality curved parts is not cheap. As a result, round showers are relatively infrequent. They are usually designed to fit closely, but there are also exceptions.Mount
This paragraph refers not only to the geometric shape of the models (
square,
rectangular,
polygonal, round,
semicircular,
quarter circle), but also the method of installing the shower cabin, which is directly related to the design of the doors. Accordingly, according to the installation method, we can distinguish:
- Corner. As the name suggests, these cabins are designed to be installed in a corner; usually referred to as double-walled. They are divided into
symmetrical and
versatile. The main advantage of the former can be called universality - because. the design is the same on the right and left, it will fit well in any corner of the bathroom. Versatile, in turn, are somewhat more spacious, but less versatile. More details below.
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Right hand corner. A kind of cabins with a corner installation and adjoining the wall on the right side. Accordingly, the door is located in the opposite part of the cabin.
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Left hand corner. A kind of corner cabins with the left side leaning against the wall. The choice between left-hand and right-hand installation is determined primarily by the bathroom environment, in particular from which side the cabin can be accessed.
...
- Near-wall(not corner). Shower cabins designed to be installed near the wall, regardless of the angles. As a rule, they have a three-wall or full- wall design. Given the characteristics of most bathrooms, this type of installation is not widely used - in particular, because it is designed mainly for large rooms.Glass thickness
Thickness of glass or plastic (cf. «Walls material») from which the cabin walls are made.
The thicker the glass - the stronger it is, the less likely it is to damage the wall as a result of an accident like a collision with a solid object. On the other hand, large wall thicknesses increase the weight and cost of the device. The minimum glass thickness for modern showers is 3 mm, and the maximum can reach 8 mm.
Set and features
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Bath tap. Bath mixer included in the shower enclosure supply. For obvious reasons, it is only found among
bathroom boxes (see «Type»). This will save you the need to purchase a mixer separately; in addition, the complete one will be guaranteed, while the installation of the purchase may be difficult.
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Hand shower. The presence of a shower box in the supply of the cabin (usually, the kit includes both a nozzle and a hose). Thanks to this, you do not have to buy a waterproof box separately, and the standard version is optimal for both design and design.
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Shampoo dispenser. Cockpit has its own shampoo dispenser. Actually, the name is quite conventional - this device can be used for any liquid bath products (liquid soap, shower gel, balsam, etc.). The main convenience of the dispenser is that you do not have to deal with bottles (which can fall, be out of the cabin at the right moment, etc.). In advanced models of dispensers can be several.
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Built-in radio. The built-in radio will allow you to listen to radio broadcasts directly during swimming - through a water-resistant speaker, left inside the cabin. Most often, models with this function are designed for melomans and equipped with an FM-band tuner, but there may be options with a wider range of frequencies.
— Spea
...kerphone. This function is realized due to the speakers and microphone installed in the shower room - they can be connected to a telephone line and communicate on the phone right during water procedures. This will be useful for friendly conversations, and in order not to miss important business calls (though, in the latter case, you should be careful - for example, to turn off the water in time). Loudspeaking occurs mainly in top-class models.
- Bluetooth. Availability of a wireless module to connect to the acoustics of the sauna smartphone, tablet or other media of music content.
— Display. The presence of own display in the cabin design is usually the simplest single color LCD screen, although there are exceptions. The display is used to display service information: the selected operating mode, hours, timer settings and remaining time, notification of faults, etc. This makes the use of the cabin more convenient, and the control - simple and visible.
— Electronic control. With this function, the cab is controlled by special electronic circuits. Simply put, instead of, for example, turning the tap manually, the user presses a button, and the electronics command the automatic valve. This is more convenient than mechanical control, and the functionality of such cabins is much broader - say, you can set the desired temperature, and the device itself will adjust the ratio of hot and cold water. On the other hand, the advanced design affects the price accordingly.
— Panel backlit. The presence of a separate lighting system of the control panel of the shower cabin. The role of such illumination is mainly decorative - it gives the design an original look. At the same time, illumination can be useful for people with low vision and/or poor external lighting.
— Towel holder. The design of the shower enclosure has its own towel rack; this will save you the trouble of finding and installing a separate towel carrier. The hanger is usually located outside so that the shower spray does not hit the towel, and at the same time it could be easily reached without leaving the cabin.In box
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Siphon. Equipped with a siphon (curved drain pipe) eliminates the need to buy a siphon separately, especially since the complete pipe is optimal for the pallet in size. However, it is not impossible to specify the size of the complete siphon and check how it will fit into the intended installation site.
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Mirror. The presence of a mirror in the shower cabinet will be useful first of all for various cosmetic procedures - applying masks, shaving, hair coloring, etc.
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Shelves. The shelves inside the shower can be used to accommodate various bath accessories: soap, shampoos, shower gels, washcloths, etc.
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Seat. With its own seat in the shower, you can take a relaxed position - not as comfortable as in the bath, but more pleasant than standing on your feet. Such a seat may be an element of the cab itself (in this case it is usually foldable) or be supplied with it as a separate chair. In models with the possibility of hydromassage (cf. «Functions»), this function is realized in such a way that under the jets of water was convenient to both stand and sit.
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Headrest. Special headrest installed in the model with bath (see «Type»). It plays the role of a pillow and allows you to comfortably place your head, lying in the bath - for maximum relaxation.
Pallet
The depth of the pallet usually means the distance from the bottom to the edge of the side, in other words - the height of the side. Trays in modern showers can be divided into the following types:
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Deep. Although there is no official criterion for the depth of pallets, models with a depth of 30 cm or more are conventionally referred to. Due to the ability to dial a fairly large amount of water such a tray can be a kind of substitute bath (for example, for children) and useful also if you have to wash something by hand. Also, deep pallets are considered the best solution for homes with old sewers, where capacity is weak - less risk that the water will not drain and spill on the floor, filling the entire pallet. On the other hand, the high height of the side can create inconvenience for the elderly, disabled, etc. and makes
, the shower cabins are high.
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Low. Pallets up to 25-30 cm (and the minimum depth may be as low as 3-4 cm) are included. Their main advantage is convenience for all - even a person who has problems with his legs (for example, because of age), without problems will cross such a board. Of the drawbacks we can note the increased sensitivity to the clogging of the drain (high probability of «flood» in the bathroom), as well as the impossibility of use in the role of a bath.
— Bath. The distinctive feature of the bath is the abili
...ty to sit or even lie down without discomfort. Accordingly, they differ from the usual deep pallets described above primarily in length - it is at least 150 cm. However, if the design provides horizontal hydromassage (cf. «Functions»), this option is also considered to be a bathroom regardless of length.
Note that the depth is indicated both for those cabins where the pallet is included in the regular delivery kit, and for those that are not completed. In the latter case, this parameter describes which pallets the cab is designed for. There is a pattern here: a large depth usually provides a small height of the cabin itself (up to 180 cm), and higher models are made, respectively, under low pallets. At the same time, cabins from 190 cm and above can provide the possibility of installation without a tray at all - directly on the floor of the bathroom (of course, provided that sewerage).Country of origin
There are many national stereotypes: many users find certain countries more attractive than others. However, nowadays these stereotypes are practically unfounded. Firstly, in the country of origin of the brand, often only the headquarters of the manufacturer is located, and the production may be located in another state. Secondly, the origin of a certain country is not yet a guarantee of quality: it all depends on how carefully a particular manufacturer controls its products. Therefore, to assess the quality, it is worth focusing not on “nationality”, but first of all on the reputation of a particular brand and the price category of the product. Among the countries represented are the following:
Austria,
Hungary,
Germany,
Denmark,
Spain,
Italy,
Canada,
China,
Netherlands,
Poland,
USA,
Finland,
Czech Republic,
Sweden,
South Korea.