5 tips for choosing a shower tray: material, depth, size, shape, siphon, installation method

Planning installation In bathroom shower enclosure or creation shower nicheIt is also necessary to provide for the purchase of a pallet. Unless, of course, it will be manufactured from bricks from tiling, or from other material. Moreover, the choice of a pallet must be taken very seriously so as not to regret the purchase later. And you can easily regret it. And the point is not only in the presence of frankly bad models among manufacturers, but also in ignorance of some important nuances.

These nuances will be discussed below. Having studied the information presented, you will significantly increase the likelihood of the right choice of shower tray.

Material selection for shower tray

95% of shower trays are made from the following five materials:

• acrylic;
• fake diamond;
• enameled steel;
• plastic;
• ceramics.

Models made of plastic and steel belong to the budget segment. Acrylic, artificial stone and ceramics are significantly more expensive, their purchase will cost 3-4 times more expensive. Each of the materials has its own characteristics and by itself cons. You can familiarize yourself with them in the table below.

Material	disadvantages	Minimum price
Acrylic	scratched cracks when hit hard	from 4000 rub.
Fake diamond	cold chips on impact	from 5800 rub.
Enamelled steel	is noisy cold looks cheap enamel chips	from 1500 rub.
Plastic	slippery may expand / contract with temperature fluctuations difficult to launder scratched	from 1500 rub.
Ceramics	cold chips on impact meager selection of sizes	from 6200 rub.

* Prices are average for Russia.

The table shows that the worst options are plastic pallets. Their most significant drawback is a change in size during heating / cooling, which greatly complicates their installation (it is necessary to use elastic sealant, allowing the "game" of the pallet 1-2 mm). They may also have an unpleasant odor.

Therefore from budget pallets it is better to still give preference to enameled steel. But you have to modify the file, in particular heat and sound insulationotherwise, taking a shower will be extremely uncomfortable. For a summer residence, steel is a good solution, but it’s better not to put it in an apartment.

Of more expensive pallets Acrylic can be called optimal, if only because it is warm, quiet and easy to clean. Pottery is also not bad, but you will have to use a wooden grid or rug with it, otherwise feet will be cold, especially in the autumn-winter period.Fake diamond already warmer, but acrylic is still inferior significantly.

Buying acrylic shower trays is important official representatives of manufacturers, otherwise there is a high risk under the guise of acrylic to get low-quality plastic. Such deception is widespread, so you need to be careful. This also applies to models made of stone and ceramics, although the scale of the fakes is still significantly smaller.

Choosing the depth of the shower tray

The depth of the pallet is the distance from the lowest part of its bottom to the top of the sides. According to this parameter, all models can be conditionally divided into three types: shallow, medium and deep. The shallow depth is 1-3 cm, medium 4-7 cm, deep up to 70 cm.The choice of shower tray in height depends on several factors, in particular on the method of use and household needs of residents.

•  Method of use

For shower enclosures and shower niches with a glass door with gasket, the height of the pallet does not matter. But if you plan to use a textile curtain (soft), then low models will not work, as water will fall on the floor, flowing during washing through the rim. In this case, the depth of the pallet should be at least 3-4 cm, and preferably a little more from 7 cm.

• Household needs

Using low shower trays, under the shower you can only wash. Any other manipulations are impossible.

At medium side height it’s already possible to steam your feet, soak a few things, more or less comfortable to bathe childsoak some small clothes (linen, t-shirts, etc.).

But if you need to constantly bathe the child and / or periodically wash the dog, then without deep model still can not do. In it, you can warm yourself if you wish, although not so convenient, like in the bathroom.

• Recommendations

Of course, low shower trays look prettier, and cost significantly cheaper. However, in the absence of a bath, it is still better to give preference to a deep product (30-40 cm). After all, sooner or later depth will be needed.

Optimal size

Before moving on to recommendations for choosing the size of a shower tray, it is worth talking about the standards for indicating the width and length. Rectangular and square models indicate the exact size.

In other forms (quarter circle, radial, etc.) size is rounded up and this is important to consider. In particular, the length and width are calculated, like a rectangle, despite the presence of fillets on one or more sides.

Oval pallets the width is the diameter of the narrow side, the length is the diameter of the wide side. In rounds, the length and width are equal to the diameter.

Now let's move on to the recommendations.

The size of shower trays for fences and niches starts from 60 × 60 cm. The maximum length indicators are about 200 cm, widths are about 150 cm.

When choosing a shower tray, consider where will it be installed and build on that. However there is one important “but”: Models that are smaller than 90 × 90 cm are very uncomfortable. You can use them in extreme cases, when nothing more spacious is simply impossible to install. If there is space, it is better to give preference to pallets from 90 × 90 cm, and if you plan to take a shower together, then 120 × 100 cm or more.

Also it’s important to pre-fit the railing for the pallet or shower door. Otherwise, it may turn out that the required size will not be on sale and then, at best, you have to wait up to six months to wait for delivery. At worst, buy a new pallet.

By the way, picking up pallets and doors / fences to them is better in stores with a huge assortment. In them, the number of models available in stock or under a quick order (within 2-3 weeks) is tens or even hundreds of times more.

Color choice

Most shower trays made of acrylic, artificial stone, ceramic, plastic and steel are made in white. However, there are exceptions, some manufacturers offer color models, including black, dark gray, natural marble, etc.

The advantage of colored pallets is originality and compliance certain interiors, for example, made in dark colors.

But in general, they are inferior to white models in a number of parameters:

• strongly visible plaque from water and soap / shower gel;
• it’s more difficult to clean and needs to be done more often;
• extremely meager selection of shapes and sizes;
• rarely available;
• non-repairable, as finding repair kits of that color is usually impossible.

In addition, the leading manufacturers supplying the best quality pallets do not produce color models. Therefore, you will have to choose from mediocre "Chinese". In this regard, we recommend that you do without experiments and purchase a regular white pallet. Well, or in the extreme case, the color of natural stone, this color is very close to white in terms of performance.

Important little things to pay attention to

When deciding which shower tray is better to choose, it makes sense to pay attention not only to the main characteristics indicated above, but also to seemingly insignificant details. Ignoring the little things can add problems to the installation and subsequent operation of the products.

1. Form

For shower enclosures, it does not have much significance and is selected based on visual preferences and the layout of the bathroom. But for shower niche it is worth choosing only rectangular and square models. For all others, it will be impossible to pick up the door, and using a soft curtain is not a good idea (ugly and uncomfortable).

2. Siphon

Siphons on pallets can be used in various diameters - from 50 to 100 cm. For deep models, any are suitable, since there is a margin of the height of the side and if the water does not have time to leave, nothing bad will happen. But low models are better to choose with a wide siphon (90, 92 cm) so that they do not pick up above the level of the sides.

It is also worth considering the absence of any standards for holes in pallets. Because of this, it can be very, very difficult to select an analog siphon for some models. So it is better to give preference to a product with a standard diameter hole, for which after a while (when the siphon fails) it will be possible to pick up some “Chinese”.

3. Installation method

On high pallets, as a rule, height-adjustable legs and decorative legs are included removable screens. Both that and another very conveniently and significantly simplifies installation (you can put a high pallet almost anywhere).

But on low models, everything is much more complicated. Many of them do not have a screen, which creates additional difficulties during installation. In particular, you need to integrate the pallet into the podium, or raise and make the screen out ceramic tiles or otherwise. But there are models that can be purchased complete with a screen.

Before buying, you should determine how the installation will be carried out in order to choose the pallet model suitable for the selected method.

4. Nice little things

Shower trays have minor and insignificant additions, which at the same time can be extremely useful for some people.

• Decorative cover

It is installed over the drain hole, mounted on a siphon. It does not have a functional role, but with it the pallet looks neater and more beautiful. Typically, the covers come with a siphon, but there are universal ones that fit almost all siphons.

• Click-clack system

Siphon option that allows pressing the top cover to close it to draw water into the sump. To release the water you need to press the lid again. Successful cork replacement.

• Seat

It happens only on deep models of pallets and is located in one of the corners. The seat allows you to take a shower while sitting, soar your legs and perform all kinds of hygiene procedures. A very convenient option, especially for older people and women (for hygienic and cosmetic procedures).

We hope that our article will help you choose the right shower tray for fencing or a niche, taking into account all the important points!