The type of glass that enclosure is equipped with.
In this case, glass means the material of the walls as a whole (it can also be plastic - see above). And the type is indicated by the external features of the surface. There are four main types of glass in our time:
transparent,
tinted (tinted),
frosted and
with a pattern(on a transparent or matte background). At the same time, several options can be indicated in the characteristics at once, through a slash - for example, “transparent / darkened”; this means that this model is available in several design options (in our example, respectively, there are two such options - transparent and darkened). Moreover, such options may also differ in the color of the profile (see above).
Here is a more detailed description of each of the types of glass described above:
- Transparent. A classic, extremely popular option: clear glass with a smooth surface. Widely used both by itself and as one of the available design options. Transparent walls are inexpensive and at the same time quite practical and functional. True, they practically do not hide the person in the booth - but this moment is not so often fundamental. The unequivocal disadvantages of this option include, first of all, the fact that limescale and other contaminants (inevitably arising during operation) are very
...noticeable on transparent glasses. This puts forward increased demands on the quality of cleaning. However, this point is more aesthetic than practical. In addition, glasses of this type can be supplemented with a special coating that prevents the appearance of limescale; such a coating somewhat affects the cost, but significantly simplifies maintenance and allows the glass to remain clean for a long time.
- Matte (satin). Glasses of this type are themselves transparent, but have a characteristic uneven surface. The specific "relief" of frosted glass can be different - from fine roughness to large, pronounced protrusions and depressions; and some models are available with several glass options. Accordingly, the optical properties of the walls of this type may differ: some only distort the objects behind them, others almost completely hide them, creating a “fog effect”. However, in any case, one of the main advantages of frosted glass is the ability to "mask" the person inside. This property can be very useful in some cases - for example, if the shower is installed in a shared bathroom that another person may need while someone is taking a shower. Another advantage of this material is that it does not show as much dirt as a transparent one. On the other hand, a matte surface inevitably adds to the cost of the glass—sometimes quite significantly. Therefore, such glasses are much less common than ordinary transparent ones.
— Darkened (toned). Glass that has a darkening in one shade or another. In some models, several options are available at once, in different colors, and the specific method of dimming may be different - for example, painting the glass itself or applying a special film. In any case, this material can be attributed to design solutions. It gives the shower enclosure a stylish and interesting appearance, and may also be the best choice for some interiors. In addition, many tinted glasses hide the person inside well (similar to the frosted ones described above). The main disadvantage of this option is a slightly higher cost than conventional transparent ones.
- Patterned (transparent or matte). Glass with an additional pattern applied to a transparent or matte surface; if the characteristics do not specify the type of surface, then it means a pattern on a transparent background. The image itself most often looks like an abstract pattern, but there are other options - for example, floral motifs. Be that as it may, the pattern plays primarily a decorative role, although in some models it also has a more practical meaning: a pattern on a transparent surface can “mask” a person inside (similar to how the frosted glasses described above do). However, in all cases, additional decor significantly affects the cost, despite the fact that its advantage is mainly aesthetic; on the practical side, the same results ("masking" the interior space of enclosure) can be achieved, for example, using cheaper frosted or tinted glass. Therefore, this design option is not particularly popular.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.
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.
