Shower trays: a comparative overview of different types and designs

The shower tray is an integral part of a functional shower cabin. This sanitary ware is widely used in homes, apartments, hotels, saunas and pools. The compact box takes up a minimum of space and allows you to comfortably take a shower. In the plumbing market, shower trays are available in various configurations.

Due to the diversity, consumers can choose the best option that harmoniously fits into the design of the room. Before purchasing a product, you should familiarize yourself with the information on the available variations of pallets of different materials of manufacture, dimensions, shapes and other parameters.

Purpose of shower trays

Universal trays are an integral part of shower cabins and corners, and can also be used as an independent sanitary installation. The main purpose of the shower tray is to protect the flooring and walls of the sanitary-hygienic premises from water splashes.

The intense pressure of water can cause deformation of the external facades of furniture and cosmetic decoration of the bathroom or the bathroom.

In addition to direct functions, the shower tray contributes to the hygiene and safety of the bathroom. In sanitary rooms with high humidity, in which there is no pallet, the joints of the walls and flooring are filled with stagnant water. It creates a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria and harmful microorganisms.

Installation of the design will eliminate the possibility of the formation of fungi and the reproduction of microbes. When equipping a separate area for showering, the owner of the room will have to choose the most comfortable and convenient equipment and facilities in operation and maintenance.

It is especially important to choose the optimal model for the shower tray for your sanitary and hygienic premises, suitable for all parameters - height, width, depth

First of all, shower trays perform their direct functions - they ensure the collection and discharge of running, used water.

A pallet is a basic boxing element for taking a shower, performing a number of functions:

• plays the role of a "foundation" for the installation of fences and acts as a connecting link between doors and walls;
• excludes mechanical impact on the drain system installed in the shower;
• due to the tightness and reliability of the design allows you to safely take water procedures;
• acts as a heat insulator between the legs of a person and a concrete floor;
• an extensive selection of sizes and shapes will satisfy any taste of the buyer;
• You can choose the optimal pallet model in a small bathroom and in spacious apartments;
• the pallet can harmoniously fit into the interior or become an accentuating design element.

Due shower tray installation you can significantly improve the initial indicators of practicality and functionality of the sanitary-hygienic premises.

A modern shower with a tray will allow you to create a trendy room interior in which it will be pleasant and absolutely safe to take water procedures

The tray of a modern shower cabin must be safe and durable.

Form as one of the characteristics

In the process of choosing plumbing equipment, it is important to choose the dimensions and shape of the shower tray correctly. A wide range of products of different configurations will satisfy any consumer preferences.

The imagination and possibilities of homeowners are limited only by the area of ​​the bathroom, which in most modern apartments requires much to be desired.

For small-sized bathrooms, manufacturers have developed compact corner pallets, which are presented in different forms:

• rectangular;
• square;
• Radius
• pentahedral.

Having studied the market offers, you can choose the best option for a small and spacious room.

Standard forms of shower trays are particularly popular and in demand among consumers - they are compact and go well with the configuration of the room

For consumers who prefer non-standard solutions in the interior, in the plumbing equipment market, an extensive assortment of original shower trays is presented.

Such designs require significant free space and can be oval, polygonal, round and asymmetric. It is possible to manufacture pallets on order for individual projects.

Shower trays in the form of a snail and other complex shapes do not serve for the rational use of free space, but they look non-standard and original

Exclusive models are designed to meet the aesthetic requirements of the owner of a spacious room. They are used in unique interiors of premium rooms.

The ratio of the size of the bathroom and the cabin

When choosing a shower cabin, one must take into account not only the technical characteristics of the structure, but also its dimensions. Firstly, shower box size must match the total area of ​​the bathroom. Secondly, in an effort to save space, do not give preference to the most compact model.

Consider the physical characteristics of all family members and make sure that taking a shower in the booth, you can feel comfortable - bend your knees, move your hands freely, etc.

Pallet selection begins with an assessment of the bathroom. It is necessary to decide which form will impress you and harmoniously fit into the interior of the sanitary room. And also you should decide on the optimal size of the pallet, which is planned to be installed in the room.

Each manufacturer of sanitary ware produces a line of shower trays in standard sizes. They can easily pick up fences and doors of shower stalls of any brand. The minimum dimensions of standard designs are 70 x 70 cm, the maximum are 130 x 130 cm. Shower trays of this size are in great demand among consumers.

Buyers of standard plumbing equipment will not have difficulties with the selection of the remaining boxing elements for the shower of the same manufacturer

Unique shower trays of non-standard sizes allow designers to successfully implement exclusive projects for wealthy customers.

It should be noted that when choosing custom designs, the choice of fences will be limited.

Modern manufacturers offer an extensive selection of compact and oversized shower trays. The photo shows the most popular design variations.

Exclusive plumbing can be made on an individual project, have any shape and size.

Pallet height classification

When choosing a shower tray, such a parameter as depth is important.

Modern manufacturers offer products that are classified as follows:

• Deep pallets. The height of products in this category is 250 mm or more.
• Shallow shower trays. The height of the structures in this category varies between 100-180 mm.
• Flat pallets. This category includes products with a height of up to 100 mm.

Deep shower trays often have a semicircular or angular shape. They organically fit into the corner of the sanitary zone and occupy the minimum amount of free space. Deep designs look aesthetically pleasing with polystyrene or glass doors.

The use of a deep pan in the shower is considered practical and optimal in baths. Such places are visited by people who not only prefer healing steam, but also love water procedures.

If you purchase a very deep pan, it can be used as a small bathtub or equipped with additional elements, creating a jacuzzi with hydromassage and other functions

Flat pallets are the best option for arranging public or individual sanitary zones that are visited by children, people of respectable age and with disabilities.

The built-in flat tray is a universal design that successfully combines the functions of a small bathtub and a full shower.

The flat pallet looks stylish and compact in a spacious and small bathroom, it is more convenient, but requires a quick drain

Such designs are convenient to use, since they do not have a high side that you have to step over each time you take a shower.

Materials for the manufacture of pallets

Trays for practical shower stalls on the modern plumbing market are manufactured by manufacturers from a variety of materials.

All designs share common characteristics:

• resistance to mechanical stress;
• heat and sound insulation;
• wear resistance of products;
• ease of operation and maintenance.

Acrylic - the most popular material, widely used for the manufacture of shower trays and bathtubs. The unique technology for the production of sanitary products using the popular acrylic makes it possible to produce aesthetically pleasing shower trays of various configurations, sizes and shapes.

Acrylic structures designed for installation in shower cabins can be equipped with additional elements and devices. The material is easy to maintain, while the life of the acrylic pallet is from 10 to 15 years. Acrylic pallets are aesthetically pleasing and easy to repair.

Minor mechanical damage can be sanded or repaired effortlessly with a special paste, but work should be done with high quality.

Cast iron It is characterized by high rates of wear resistance, strength and durability. Cast-iron shower trays will last 2 times longer than acrylic structures. Cast iron is heated more slowly than acrylic, but it retains heat much longer.

The disadvantages of cast-iron shower trays include a significant weight of products and a small selection of shapes. The cast-iron tray should have a corrugated bottom or a special anti-slip coating.

Thanks to the relief coating, the product will be less slippery and as safe as possible. Product quality does not suffer from uneven pallet texture

Pallets made ceramichave an attractive appearance, which allows them to blend harmoniously into any interior. Ceramic sanitary products do not warm up immediately, but loud sounds are not heard when water falls on the surface of the pallet.

The service life of ceramic shower trays is quite long, but at the same time they require careful handling. The disadvantage of ceramic pallets is the relatively high price.

Consumers value sanitary ware made of ceramics for their attractive appearance: impeccable smoothness and unique gloss of the glazed surface

Pallets from qvar recently appeared on the plumbing market. The new material relates to polymer concrete, the binder is acrylic, and quartz is used as a filler. At the same time, quartz dust significantly increases the wear resistance, strength and durability of the product.

With proper care, the product retains its original gloss for many years. Manufacturers make quartz pallets in a unique way of casting, due to which they have sheer walls with clear lines. Kvaril is an advanced form of acrylic.

Natural stone shower trays are the choice of people who have an impeccable taste and strive to achieve excellence

Pallets natural stone - attractive expensive designs. They are characterized by excellent strength indicators, wear resistance and durability. The pallet made of stone does not change color under the influence of the external environment, it does not slip. Natural material provides excellent sound absorption, eliminates the sound of pouring water.

Most stone shower trays are made of marble. The most budget material is granite.

The best assistant to a doubting buyer will be a comparison of different types of shower trays in terms of thermal performance, service life and installation specifics. In order to make it easier to compare, we offer the following selection:

Useful tips for choosing

The selection of a specific model of a shower tray should be approached comprehensively, evaluating the available options according to a number of important criteria. If you have decided on the dimensions, shape and material of the product, you have to consider two more classifications of shower trays: in terms of external attractiveness, originality and ease of use.

External model selection

Modern manufacturers offer pallets for shower stall with several image options:

• repeating prints (floral elements, geometric patterns, etc.);
• laser engraving (practiced for inscriptions or phrases).

The relief makes the appearance of the surface of the shower tray more aesthetic. In addition to aesthetic benefits, the embossed texture makes the surface of the pallet less slippery. There are quite a few variations of the relief: from traditional “influxes” to decor stylized as sea stones.

Any embossed surface also has a healing effect. This is due to the fact that when taking a shower, the feet of a person are subjected to massage, which positively affects the condition of the whole organism.

The relief that adorns the surface of the shower tray imitates the natural roughness of the stone and has an anti-slip effect. Textured surface is safer than perfectly smooth

Original look shower trays without side walls. Fashionable design significantly increases the total cost of repairs to equip a modern bathroom.

In this case, the traditional bowl is replaced by a pallet that is mounted on the same level with the floor. The design without sides requires special care, while in the bathroom you must regularly clean the room.

Trays without sides - original designs that are perfect in cases where the installation of doors is not provided in the shower

Installation of such a design requires additional work:

• Raising the floor around the perimeter of the bathroom.
• Arrangement of water disposal with the help of shower drains masked by a decorative grill.

Today, on the plumbing market, you can find models of shower trays with effectively disguised water drain. They are equipped with an aesthetic tab, the dimensions are slightly smaller than the area of ​​the product.Thanks to it, the used water is discharged into the additional bottom of the structure.

If the decorative overlay has a composite structure, then the water will drain through the slots. The tab is often made of the same material as the shower tray.

On sale there are original models equipped with an aesthetic lining made of moisture-resistant wood. Over time, wood requires special treatment

An original solution is a shower tray with integrated LEDs. Such spectacular designs are quickly gaining popularity in the plumbing market.

Do not consider the lamps on the floor as full lighting. LEDs are a decorative element and provide an attractive overall appearance of the design.

Comfort and pallet safety

For most consumers, the safety and ease of use of a shower tray is more important than the aesthetic appearance and decorative design additions. If you are of the same opinion, when choosing a design, you must take into account the surface features, material safety and the heating rate of the product.

An important parameter of the pallet is the surface structure. Smooth pallets are traumatic, as they can slip on them. The safest products have a relief pattern or a rough bottom surface. The best option is a sanitary product equipped with an innovative anti-slip coating.

When taking a shower in a pallet with a smooth surface for safety reasons, put a special film or rubber mat

By type of material, the most safe products are acrylic, quartz and stone. When shower water falls on the surface of the shower tray, noise is generated, the severity of which depends on the material of the product. More noise comes from steel and cast iron pallets. Less noisy are products made of stone, quartz and acrylic.

The heating rate depends on the material used in the production. The shower trays made from the popular acrylic can be heated faster. Steel structures also heat up quickly enough.

Cast iron, natural stone and ceramic products heat up more slowly, therefore, shortly before taking a shower, it is necessary to warm the bottom of the pan to a comfortable temperature using a stream of warm water.

Convenience of operation and features of leaving

The most simple to maintain are acrylic shower trays. This material is durable and does not absorb dirt. However, if used improperly, acrylic can become covered with small cracks or scratches that can be repaired with paste or other improvised means.

Minor defects present on the surface of the acrylic shower tray can be sanded with putty and fine-grained sandpaper

Ceramic pallets are easy to clean and attractive in appearance, but they have the disadvantage of low strength. The ceramic structure may be damaged by mechanical shock, for example, if a shower head falls on it. Modern cast iron structures top special enamel, which is characterized by a relatively low strength. If the enamel is damaged, it must be completely renewed.

Steel shower trays do not require special care. Steel, unlike other materials, tolerates intensive cleaning using abrasive products. Steel shower trays are slightly colder than acrylic counterparts.

The lack of shower structures made of steel - they can flex over time under the weight of a person. Steel products are coated with enamel, which, due to careless use, can peel off.

To use the shower was comfortable for all family members, the largest tenant must freely bend, standing directly in the pallet. At the same time, the movements of his arms and legs should be free and not constrained.

Comfort lovers can choose a convenient shower tray with a seat. There are models with fixed or reclining elements made of wood or plastic

If the apartment has dogs, cats or other pets, it is better to give preference to deep designs. An important role is played by the plumbing equipment.

It is recommended to choose a shower tray equipped with a siphon. This is due to the fact that pick up new siphonSuitable for a particular model is quite complicated.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Before purchasing a shower tray, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the current thematic video.

Which pallet is better - a small overview of corner pallets:

How to choose the depth of the shower tray:

The modern market of sanitary materials offers an extensive selection of shower trays, differing in shapes, sizes, materials of manufacture, functional additions and various decorative elements.

A comparative overview of shower trays of different configurations will allow you to navigate in a variety of options and purchase a model that is ideal for your room.

Still can not decide on a shower tray? Or have questions about the topic of our article? Please ask them in the comments - we will deal together.