The bathroom has long been considered not only a room for hygiene, but also a place for relaxation or the arrangement of a home spa. Every morning begins with the bathroom, so the equipment of this room should be given no less attention than the creation of comfort in the living rooms. Lightness and a sense of spatial freedom gives a glass shower enclosure without a tray - a modern alternative to shower cabins.
Glass structure located near the window allows sunlight to enter the room
Content
Glass shower screens: style and functionality
Boom on shower cabins and the boxes passed. They were installed at one time energetically, with pleasure, rejoicing in the merits and opportunities: hydromassage, tropical shower, cascading stream. Although visually even the smallest shower cabin was a rather complex structure, which occupied an essential place in the bathroom.
Shower partitions without a pallet look very modern
A shower enclosure with a tray began to be oppressed by its isolation, complexity, the number of connections, fasteners, gutters that get dirty and often break. Acrylic pallets may have cracks that do not leak but look unkempt.
It's not just fashion that has changed - the requirements for comfort have changed. Freedom, space, strength, aesthetics, convenience have become the main criteria. The modern market has offered a more suitable option - glass shower enclosures. And in this design, no pallet is needed at all.
Problems disappeared and many new opportunities appeared. First of all, the structure has a simple installation, which, if desired, can be done independently. You don't need to be tied to color to match a particular room design. There is an opportunity not to be satisfied with the offered sizes, but to order the ones you need, even if they are far from the standard ones. And one more important advantage - glass railing can be installed in any bathroom.
Glass shower curtains make the bathroom visually more spacious
Choosing the best location for the bath fence
Installation begins with choosing a location. With regard to the installation of the fence, certain rules and technical conditions must be observed. You cannot place a shower without a tray in the center of the room, since it will not work to make the floor bevel so that the water can drain. A reasonable way out is to make a podium, but this will significantly complicate the installation and make the structure visually heavier. This option is only acceptable for large rooms.
It is not worth placing a shower device at the wall opposite to the entrance: the feeling of integrity is lost. Moreover, this affects not so much the design decision as the feeling of the person in the soul. If this option is nevertheless chosen, it is necessary that the space between the entrance and the car be one and a half times larger than the depth of this structure.
If the bathroom has natural light, then it is better to place the cabin opposite the window. This enhances the feeling of unlimited space and freedom. Even a small room will seem spacious.
Examples of the location of glass shower rails
Sometimes the choice is limited by certain conditions, for example, small sizes. If the room is square, then it is better to purchase a shower enclosure without a pallet and install it in the corner opposite the entrance. This will provide more freedom to move around the room. After all, most likely it will still contain at least a washbasin, a heated towel rail, and possibly an automatic machine.
If the room is square, but the door is not in the center, but offset, it is better to install the box in the corner of a long section of the wall. This placement will free up the maximum amount of space near the glass railing. There will be no feeling of tightness, it will be comfortable shower room zone.
In a small rectangular bathroom (with a short side less than 2 m), the corner option is not recommended. It is more appropriate to install rectangular glass curtains... If the entrance to the room is located on the narrow side (pencil case room), the only suitable placement option is against the wall opposite the door.
Round shower enclosure located on the podium in the spacious bathroom
Glass standards used, thickness and types
For the manufacture of shower partitions, tempered glass is used. The hardening process makes it more resistant to mechanical stress. None of the items that could potentially be in the bathroom can break such glass. Even if you try to do this purposefully, using a heavy metal object, it will fly into non-sharp fragments, so it is impossible to injure them.
Triplex is also used for shower cabins - ordinary glass covered with a special film. This is an equally safe type of glass. When broken, the fragments remain on the film, do not crumble, so the probability of injury is minimal.
As a material for making a shower, glass has a number of undeniable advantages:
- maximum environmental friendliness;
- high temperature resistance;
- not affected by moisture;
- low price;
- ease of care.
The glass shower curtain can be transparent or matte, fluted or patterned
The optimal glass thickness for the manufacture of shower enclosures is considered to be 8 mm. The total range of this value varies within 4-12 mm. The thicker the glass, the heavier the doors. Impact resistance also depends on these dimensions. It is advisable to buy a glass shower enclosure of maximum thickness. In this case, you can be sure that moderate mechanical stress is not terrible for him.
Helpful advice! When choosing a canvas, be guided by the ratio of the size of the moving parts of the structure and the thickness of the glass. Forceful opening and closing will be annoying and uncomfortable.
For the implementation of the design solution, it is possible to choose any desired option. Manufacturers offer the following main types of flat or curved (curved) glass:
- transparent;
- tinted;
- matte;
- colored;
- with drawing a pattern by sandblasting or milling.
Shower enclosures are made of special glasses with increased impact resistance
Types of glass shower enclosure designs
Constructions of shower enclosures can be conditionally divided into classic and design models. Classic options include rectangular, triangular and square shapes. Oval, undulating, with peaks and other all kinds of glass shower configurations - this is the designer version.
The choice of design largely depends on the configuration of the room. The choice of a form similar to the room can be considered successful. For example, for a medium rectangular bathroom, it is recommended to buy a shower enclosure without a tray of the same shape. In this case, visually, space will not be lost and integrity will be preserved.
If this option seems rustic, you should add a highlight with color. It is recommended to choose one shade of glass partitions for the shower room, and the doors - another. You can apply a pattern to specific areas.
Helpful advice! It is not necessary to combine tinted and frosted glass, they do not go well with each other.
Glass curtain can be installed on the edge of the bath
For very small bathrooms and rooms with protruding walls that create niches, the design can be minimized by covering the corner or niche with shower curtains only. With this option, the walls of the shower area should not be highlighted, it is better if they are identical to the main ones. This will eliminate the demarcation, fragmentation of the room and preserve the feeling of free space.
Designer forms are used for large spaces. Vertical waves increase the height, horizontal waves visually expand the space. These options are only recommended in a large room. In a small room, they will aggravate isolation and simply completely fill the room.
Oval glass showers are one of the most demanding shapes. It is worth stopping at this choice only if you can provide freedom around the entire circumference. Installed under a wall, such a structure loses its originality. The price and difficulties with installation will not be justified, since the desired result will not be achieved.
When buying an expensive, possibly exclusive glass fence, it is worth consulting with a designer. The original shapes you choose can just get lost in the room.
Sturdy and reliable fittings are used to attach glass railings
Glass shower enclosure without pallet: dimensions for comfort
Determining the shape and size of the shower enclosure is only necessary in unity. They are interdependent and interdependent. And yet it is worth dwelling on the sizes separately. The desire of almost every customer is to buy a glass shower enclosure without a large pallet. It is presentable, allows you to move freely inside the structure. But in order to achieve maximum aesthetics, convenience and comfort, certain proportions must be observed.
Note! Glass shower enclosure should not occupy more than 30% of the area of the room. Otherwise, the room becomes a minor application. The rest of the plumbing, furniture will just be attached in free spaces.
The minimum dimensions of the proposed glass fences are 80x80 cm. Such boxes should be installed in small rooms of old-style multi-storey buildings. In small-sized apartments of modern new buildings, structures of 90x90 and 80x100 cm in size and even 100x100, 90x110 and 80x120 cm fit perfectly.
Shower enclosures without pallets can be produced in almost any size
A large bathroom also needs size restrictions; a suitable place should be determined for a shower stall. The proportions must be maintained relative to the zone, then everything in the bathroom interior will be harmonious.
When determining the size of the shower, you need to take into account the free area for placing accessories, if any are planned. Transportation is also essential. It is almost impossible to deliver an oval or round glass cabin with an integral structure to a multi-storey building. When choosing dimensions, it is imperative to take into account the technical conditions: number of storeys, the presence of a freight elevator, the width of the doorways.
Related article:
Glass curtain for the bathroom: reliable and practical protection against moisture
Types of products, their brief characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of doors, recommendations for care and installation, product design options.
Floor preparation: a prerequisite for installing a shower cabin without a pallet
The platform on which glass shower enclosures with a tray are attached is the tray itself. A glass railing fits into the edge of the tub. Both the tray and the bathtub have the correct, straight lines of the outer edge. The walls of shower rooms without a tray are attached to the floor. Perfectly flat flooring is a must. For these purposes, you can use self-leveling mixtures. It is very important to give the flooded floor the necessary time to cure.
The second important condition is to provide a slope to organize the flow of water. It is recommended to raise the floor by at least 10 cm and provide a slope of 3 degrees at the shower location. Such a bevel will allow water to drain quickly and will allow you to comfortably stand on the floor without feeling the drop. You can also organize the slope using a step in the shower area without raising the overall floor level.
The shower enclosure floor can be equipped with a protective edge
The next important point in floor preparation is reliable waterproofing. Even if the installation of a shower is carried out in a private house building and water does not flow to the neighbors from below, this factor cannot be neglected. Moisture will seep into the seams between the slabs, make the screed vulnerable, and begin to saturate the walls. It is advisable to apply waterproofing in at least two layers. It is this amount that will provide optimal moisture resistance.
Sometimes, for greater tightness around the perimeter of the fences in the floor area (or only near the doors), a side is set up. It usually comes complete with fences and fittings. This element can be acrylic or metal. The acrylic rim is almost invisible, while the metal rim is successfully combined with similar fittings.
Helpful advice! To protect the walls from moisture penetration in the shower area, apply a waterproofing layer 25 cm from the bottom of the drain.
If the floor is flat, with good waterproofing, if the drain is done correctly, it will not be difficult to install a glass shower enclosure.
The floor of the moisture board and the glass structures of the shower room look beautiful in the interior of the bathroom
Choosing glass shower fittings: reliable function and design
The fittings in the process of using a glass shower screen with a tray carries a serious load. It supports the heavy structure and ensures the functionality of the doors:
- swing;
- sliding;
- pendulum;
- rolling;
- folding.
These are handles, hinges, locks, fittings, axles, connectors and fasteners, sliding systems. The material used to make the hardware is mostly brass. Sliding systems are made of steel or aluminum. The chrome plating process gives the metal a matte, golden or stainless steel color. You can always buy a shower enclosure at the same time as the fittings. It should be chosen in accordance with the size, color and shape of the cabin.
For transparent cabins of a small size, fittings with a matte shade, not massive, with rectangular or other even overlays that hide the bolts, are suitable. Stainless steel is combined with frosted glass. Bolts can be without overlays. The hardware shouldn't stand out. Do not attach large and bulky handles to small shower curtains.
Depending on the fittings, the shower enclosure curtains can be sliding, swinging, pendulum, etc.
Helpful advice! You should not choose a golden color if you use many different elements of accessories - it does not look aesthetically pleasing at all.
Molding and colored glass cabins are more demanding in terms of hardware design. The main rule here is to maintain unity in the creation of the interior.
Priorities for buying prefabricated structures and custom showers
Manufacturers offer a large selection of shower enclosures without a pallet. They can be bought in the retail network, where you can see the goods, visually evaluate the dimensions, shades, combinations of parts of the structure and accessories. This is an acceptable option. Its advantage is that sellers often offer installation. There is no risk of not noticing a marriage or taking an incomplete set. During installation, installers will solve problems.
It has become more common to make purchases in online stores. There is more choice here than in the retail network. You can compare prices for your favorite model. With the help of the visualizer, it is easy to imagine how the selected model will look in the bathroom. Delivery is not a problem and time is saved.
Glass shower enclosures can be customized
With all the variety of choice, sometimes it is not possible to buy a ready-made shower cabin. The most common problems are sizing. In such cases, a bespoke shower enclosure can be purchased. This is the only way out for non-standard bathroom conditions. The order can be made through the store or directly from the manufacturer. These are additional costs, but individual sizes will be kept up to the millimeter.
The subtleties of proper care and safe operation
The main requirement for the safe use of a glass shower is a strong fastening of the fence and doors. It cannot be completely ruled out that they fall when showering, but the risk can be reduced. For this, the floor should be covered with tiles with an anti-slip matte surface. It is advisable to place the sprinkler in such a place that when removing or hanging it does not hit the curtains.
Caring for glass fences does not differ significantly from cleaning windows or glass furniture. You can use familiar and proven means.
Several recommendations for connoisseurs of environmentally friendly formulations:
- lemon water will perfectly remove stains and soap stains (15-20 g of citric acid per 1 liter of water);
- will degrease the surface and even create a thin protective layer of ammonia solution (3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water);
- effectively removes plaque vinegar diluted with water (1: 2 ratio).
Glass for shower curtains is unpretentious in maintenance and is not afraid of a variety of cleaning compounds
Helpful advice! To prevent limescale deposits on the glass, rinse the walls off with hot water each time you shower.
When applying solutions and rinsing them, use only soft materials - microfiber or rags. Reaching the upper edge of the cab with your hand is always problematic. Do not pile up on chairs or use a stepladder - this is unsafe. You should purchase a holder with a fur coat. The handle must be of the appropriate length.
How to buy a shower enclosure: tips and tricks
There is no shortage of advertising for glass showers without a tray. However, making the right choice can be tricky. If there is a lack of awareness in this matter and there are no specific preferences, then you can pay attention to the Huppe shower enclosure.This company guarantees a large selection of designs, a wide range of prices, proven German quality. The glass used by this manufacturer to make partitions has a special coating that allows the water to roll off quickly and leave no residue. This makes it easier to clean and maintains its appearance.
It is better to use tiles with an anti-slip surface for covering the floor of the shower enclosure.
Shower curtains from manufacturers in Germany, Austria and Italy are distinguished by a high level of quality. Their cost is relatively high. Slightly lower prices (with fairly good quality) for glass showers made in Poland. Domestic factories also offer many competitive goods. It can be purchased without doubting the quality. However, having opted for domestic glass for the shower, it is still better to prefer European fittings.
