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.Profile colour
Profile colors available for this shower enclosure model.
Recall, the profile in this case is called plastic or metal base, which connects the walls (glass) of the cabin. Many models are available in multiple colors - all are listed here. With regard to specific colors, the most popular in our time are
chromium,
black,
white
and golden and
bronze are much less common.
In any case, the choice for this indicator depends mainly on the design requirements. At the same time, it should also be borne in mind that different colors of profiles are sometimes combined with different types of glasses (cf. «Glass») - for example, the same model with «chrome» profile can have transparent glass, and with silver profile - matte. However, the individual colors of the profile have some practical features, here they are:
— Chrome. Profile with characteristic metal coating. Most often, the chrome surface is glossy (shiny): it is inexpensive and flashy, but quickly covered with stains when used regularly and may require careful cleaning. Matte coating is more expensive and not so bright, but it is less sensitive to dirt. However, chrome is used not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to protect profile elements from corrosion - it is very effective in this role, which, in part, led to the popularity of suc
...h coatings. Another reason is that this material perfectly combines with the vast majority of faucets, shower systems and other plumbing, where chrome is also widely used.
— Silver. The silvery profile can be made of both unpainted metal (for example, aluminium alloy corrosion resistant) and coated with the appropriate color (for example, dyed plastic). Some manufacturers also refer to the shade described above matte type of chrome coating. Accordingly, the practical characteristics of such a profile may differ; here it is necessary to focus on the price category of the product.
— White. This option usually involves a metal profile covered with white paint - it protects the profile from corrosion and gives it an aesthetic appearance. However, the paint is not as resistant to damage as, for example, chrome coating. Therefore, this option is rarely found as the only one - most often it is one of the available options, in addition to other colors of the profile.
— Black. Color, quite often used both as an option and as the only option. One of the features of the black profile is that it contrasts strongly with glass (which is often made transparent or light), and is also noticeably stand out against the background of most walls in the bathrooms (except for walls that are also made black or very dark - and these options are quite rare). All this not only promotes stylish appearance, but also allows you to visually highlight the contours of the shower cabin, which is important in some situations (for example, in low light, or if the user has problems with vision).
— Bronze. Shade similar to the one described below is golden, but darker, sometimes close to brown. In general, it is quite rare and specific option: bronze is well suited for plumbing style «retro» and fits perfectly into the corresponding interiors, but in a more traditional design of the bathroom may be inappropriate, and it is not cheap.
— Golden. Strong golden shade (different from the darker bronze - see above). Despite the rich appearance, such profiles are mostly not particularly expensive. So their low prevalence is mainly due to aesthetic moments - interiors for which the golden color is optimal, are relatively rare.Glass
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.
