How to choose a shower tray? To begin with: this is the main element of plumbing equipment, responsible for the functionality of the entire structure. The service life and comfort of the cabin depend on it. This is a support that can withstand the main physical load. It also collects and discharges wastewater into the sewer system. When choosing a shower tray, you need to rely on a fairly large number of criteria. The main ones are reliability and functionality.
Characteristics of shower trays
The shape of shower trays, their size and the material of manufacture are the main parameters that need to be taken into account when choosing. Cost, ergonomics and service life depend on these 3 criteria. If you want your purchase to be useful and practical, then you need to decide on your preferences for each item indicated. If you are in doubt about what kind of shower tray you need, the size and photos of models will help you decide. Also, you can consult with specialists.
Installation location
When choosing a place where the shower tray will be installed, it is necessary to take into account the area of the bathroom and how the sewer pipes, plumbing and furniture are located. Here you need to pay attention to the following points:
- Laying communications. It is better to place the pan close to the sewer pipe. Transferring it is difficult.
- Room area. The shape and size of the product must match the bathroom. For small rooms, compact models 80×80 or 90×90 cm are suitable. In a spacious bath, you can install larger trays.
- Furniture and plumbing. When installing a tray, you need to remember about comfortable movement around the bathroom. The shower area mustn’t interfere with the location of plumbing fixtures and furniture.
In addition to the above, you need to provide space near the door to make it comfortable to enter and exit the booth. Having decided where the shower will be installed, you can proceed to the next stages of choosing a tray.
Installation location
Primary requirements
If you worry about every point randomly, you can get confused. For example, at the initial stage, you don’t need to think about which grout for the shower tray is best. However, it is important to familiarize yourself with what characteristics the product should have:
- Safety. It is important that the surface is anti-slip or textured to reduce the risk of injury.
- Soundproofing. This parameter depends on the selected material and wall thickness. When water hits the pan, it makes a sound. The quietest way to shower is on acrylic or stone trays. The noisiest ones are steel ones.
The material of manufacture plays a big role. It must be reliable in operation, environmentally friendly and durable.
Form
The choice of shower tray-shape depends on its installation location. The designs are of the following types:
- Angular. They are made in the shape of a square or sector (1/4 circle). The optimal solution for small bathrooms. The rectangular model can be installed in the corner of the room, but they are better suited for spacious or combined bathrooms.
- Installed against the wall. Suitable shapes: semicircle, square and rectangle.
- Located in the centre of the room. They can have both traditional and non-standard forms.
Don’t know what sizes shower trays come in? Diverse, taking into account the possibility of making to order. If you choose a square product, then the optimal size is 80×80 or 90×90 cm. These are excellent dimensions for comfortable hygiene procedures.
There are different shapes and sizes of shower trays to suit different interiors. The choice depends on the area of the room, your wishes and available budget.
Side Height
Are you having trouble deciding what height of shower tray rim to choose? There are several options to consider:
- Flat tray. It is performed level with the floor or no more than 4 cm in height. It looks elegant and expensive. It is convenient, especially if there are elderly people in the house. Despite their impressive appearance, they are not so common due to the complexity of installation. Raising the floor level may be necessary. It is important that water quickly and easily flows into the drain hole without flooding the room.
- Short. The depth of shower trays in this case is in the range of 4-15 cm.
- Average. The pallet is higher than 15 cm but lower than 25. This is the most common option. Stepping over such sides is not difficult, and the risk of flooding is minimized. The advantage is the ease of installation.
- Deep. The depth of this shower tray is more than 25 cm. Large sides are important if there are small children or pets in the house who need to be bathed.
Regardless of the height of the sides of the shower, it will be more comfortable to use than a regular bath. However, there are several important points to consider:
- using low models, use is limited to showering;
- in the middle trays you can additionally wash large items;
- tall showers are suitable for children or pets.
In models with sides larger than 30 cm, even adults can sit in hot water.
The height can also be affected by the size of the shower tray you decide to choose. For example, in the case of large models, you can make large sides and create a small Jacuzzi.
Side height
Color Solution
There are many colours of shower trays, but the most common are white. Black, dark grey and other models look original. However, white pallets have many advantages:
- invisibility of deposits from water, soap or shower gel;
- simplified cleaning (dark models need to be washed more often);
- variety of shapes and sizes;
- almost always in stock;
- suitability for repair, you can find repair kits in the required colour.
In addition to the above, well-known manufacturers of shower trays, as a rule, do not produce coloured models. Considering this, it is more advisable to choose white ones.
Color Solution
What materials are pallets made of?
What material is best for a shower tray? There are many options, each of which has individual characteristics.
Acrylic pallets
Shower trays made of acrylic are the most common option. They are lightweight, making them easy to transport and install. Despite the lightweight, the design is reliable and lasts a long time. Acrylic is 5 times stronger than glass. Caring for products made from it is quite simple. The surface of the material is protected from the accumulation of dirt or other deposits. Also, it is resistant to cleaning agents. In addition to the above, plumbing fixtures made from this material are characterized by an affordable price.
Even though acrylic is considered the best material for a shower tray, it also has its disadvantages. The main thing is that scratches appear on the surface quite lightly, but they can be quickly eliminated.
Acrylic pallets
Quaril pallets
Quacryl is acrylic but with certain additives. The presented material was created specifically for plumbing equipment. It has the advantages of acrylic, but at the same time has its unique properties. For example, it surpasses it in strength. Thanks to additives, the material is characterized by high noise insulation. It is safe for humans and has an anti-slip coating. The only disadvantages include the high cost and high cost of repairs.
Steel pallets
Among the varieties of shower trays, steel ones were the most popular, but with the advent of acrylic ones, they faded into the background. This is because they are inferior in some parameters. For example, they cool down faster and create noise during bathing. Are you wondering what material is best for a shower tray? Acrylic. In addition, steel models do not differ in variety. They are usually chosen because of their low weight, high strength and relatively low price.
Cast iron pallets
A shower tray made of cast iron is a champion in hardness and resistance to mechanical stress. There are no scratches, cracks or chips left on it even with a strong impact or falling objects. This material retains heat perfectly. The only thing is that water procedures in this case will be accompanied by a rather loud noise of water jets falling onto the surface.
Installation of cast iron pallets is difficult due to the weight of the material. This also negatively affects transportation. Despite many advantages, cast iron models are not popular. This is due to the uniformity of shapes and colours. This is a boring, difficult-to-handle material that is characterized by reliability and durability.
Ceramic trays
Are you wondering which tray is best to choose for your shower? Take a closer look at ceramic models that seriously compete with acrylic ones. They are characterized by an attractive appearance, long service life and ease of maintenance. Despite this, the material is heavy and unstable to damage. It won’t withstand items falling off the shower shelf.
Ceramic trays
Ceramics is a material that cannot be used to create warmth and comfort in the bathroom. It is cold to the touch and difficult to heat up. Therefore, to take a comfortable shower, the tray must first be heated with hot water. The shortcomings of the presented material are compensated by its affordability.
