Creating the perfect, comfortable bathroom space when decorating a home is a priority. The basis of any bathroom, even the smallest, will be properly selected equipment. The shower en closure is certainly the centerpiece of this interior and will determine its appearance and functionality.
What are the types of shower cabins?
Basically, there are 8 different types of shower enclosures, including semi-circular, pentagonal, square, rectangular enclosures, recessed, walk-in and frameless. When carrying out a bathroom renovation taking into account all factors like the size of the room, available space we can choose which shape of shower enclosure will be most suitable for us.
Semi-circular shower enclosures
The semi-circular shower enclosure is one of the most popular types of enclosures and is found in many homes, especially apartments, where we have limited space. Their curved glass front is designed to fit into tight corners and make the most of any available space.
Semi-circular shower enclosures are available in two different types:
- Standard - which means that both sides are of equal length
- Offset - which means that one side is longer than the other. Offset cabins offer more space inside the enclosure.
Due to their popularity, semicircular shower enclosures are available in a huge range of designs and styles to suit every taste, as well as a range of sizes, the most common of which are 800×800 or 900×900 mm. In almost all cases, semicircular enclosures will come with sliding doors, as these are the most space-efficient, but they can also be found with doors that open on hinges from the outside.
D-shaped shower enclosures
D-shapedshower enclosures are very similar to quarter-circle (half-circle) shower enclosures in that they are designed to, make the most of the space in a small bathroom, but in some ways they go a step further. While quarter-circle enclosures are designed to fit into a corner, a D-shaped enclosure is designed for a small bathroom with limited space, which may not have an accessible corner, but only has a flat wall. In terms of size, D-shaped enclosures are available in widths from 800 mm to 1050 mm. D-shaped shower enclosures are usually equipped with sliding or outward-opening doors.
Pentagonal shower enclosures
A pentagonalshower enclosure is quite similar to a quadrant enclosure and is ideal for small bathrooms, as it provides a decent bathing space and also minimizes the area it occupies in the bathroom. The main advantage of pentagonal shower enclosures over semi-circular ones is that they have a flat front, which gives you more options in terms of door installation, so instead of sliding doors you have the option of installing doors: hinged, pivoting or folding. In terms of sizes, pentagonal enclosures offer a range that includes the usual 800×800 or 900×900, but also some larger sizes such as 1400×900.
Square shower enclosures
A squareshower enclosure, as the name implies, is square in shape and thus offers much more space for bathing than any semicircle-shaped enclosure. Square enclosures are more suitable for bathrooms where space is not in short supply. In most cases they are installed against a flat wall, but if space allows, they can be installed anywhere, even in the middle of the room! Thanks to the square shape, this gives you many more options in terms of the type of doors that can be installed. The sizes of these cabins range from 700 mm to 1000 mm.
Rectangular shower enclosure
© Sanplast
Rectangular Shower Cabins
If the space in our bathroom is not too limited, this is the enclosure to choose! Like their square counterparts, rectangular enclosures benefit from a wide range of different doors. In most cases, this type of enclosure is installed along a flat wall, but it can be placed virtually anywhere. The sizes of rectangular shower enclosures vary widely, with small enclosures being around 800×1200 mm, and larger sizes reaching as much as 900×2000 mm.
Recessed shower cabin
© Sanplast
Recessed shower cabins
An alcoveshower enclosure is slightly different in that it is created in an existing alcove space in the bathroom, meaning that it is surrounded by three existing walls, and you only need to install a door or curtain in front to create the enclosure. Since you can generally fit only a curtain or a door (doors are the preferred option), we have several options, including hinged, pivoting and outward-folding doors. In some cases, we can also use an inward-opening door, but this will depend on the space available. The size of the recessed shower enclosure we get will be dictated by the size of the recess. For such a cabin we can choose a matching shower tray or bet on a modern solution by creating a linear drain.
Walk-in shower cabin
© Sanplast
Walk-in shower cabins or partition panels
A walk-in shower enclosure, as standard, allows the user to simply "walk in" to it without opening the door, which is slightly different from other shower enclosures. In most cases, walk-in enclosures are constructed of thick (usually at least 10mm) tempered glass panels. The panels are usually fixed to the wall surface and then to the shower tray or floor to prevent them from moving. The way the glass panels are arranged prevents water from spilling into another part of the room. Here it is important to keep in mind the zoning of the bathroom Walk-in shower cabins are increasingly popular due to their minimalist stylish design.
Frameless shower enclosure
© Sanplast
Frameless shower cabins
A framelessshower enclosure is basically very similar to any other shower enclosure, but as the name suggests, there is no frame to hold the glass panels in place. Instead, like walk-in/permanent partitions, the glass panels are attached to a solid wall and shower tray or floor. Since there is no supporting frame, the glass itself must be strong enough to support its weight and any impact. For this reason, glass panels are usually made of tempered (heat-treated) glass at least 10 mm thick. Because of the weight of even smaller glass panels of this type, they must be solidly attached to a solid brick or hollow block wall, rather than to a partition wall.
