Shower cubicles — a better choice

mANY house builders while planning the construction of their house, dream of adding a nice bath-tub to the master bathroom, while for many others shower cubicles are a more practical choice. If you are facing this dilemma of getting the right fit for your bathroom then do keep in mind the size of your bathroom and the availability of water. Bath-tubs look enticingly luxurious, but these are high maintenance  fittings and not ideal for small areas. It is very usual to see buckets and showers being used in bath-tubs after a few years. Shower cubicles, on the other hand, give that luxurious feel also and can be fitted with latest water faucets and shower panels, while saving on space. Here are some pointers to help you make the right choice:   

Shower cubicles are always created in a corner and are mostly rectangular. The size of shower cubicle may vary depending on the space available. The minimum size in these is 3 ft x 3 ft, while bigger sizes can also be there.

Advantages: The biggest advantage of having a shower cubicle in the bathroom is that it helps in keeping the balance floor space dry. Moreover, the mirror installed above the wash basin doesn’t get fogged during winter when hot water is used for bathing. 

Glass cubicles: In order to avoid constant maintenance of shower cubicles, it is important to choose good quality glass. The glass to be used in shower cubicles has to be of the right thickness and of a quality that can withstand extreme heat and moisture conditions. The thickness of glass should be a  minimum of 8 mm or more. It should be an easy-to-clean glass that resists deposits of dissolved impurities in water. The glass should be durable, scratchproof, toughened or tempered. These days, reputed glass manufacturers conduct heat-soak test on the glass manufactured for shower cubicles. This quality should be checked while buying glass. 

Other fittings: A shower cubicle should be fitted with a shower head with the diverter in the wall to adjust the temperature of water. In addition there should be corner soap and shampoo tray, a towel rack and possibly some hooks. The shower can be an overhead shower with body shower or hydro massage shower as an addition. 

Variety of glass: Fully transparent or translucent or extra clear glass can be chosen for the shower cubicle. Even mirror finish glass can be chosen to add a feel of more space. 

Door choice: Shower cubicle door can be openable or sliding type. In case of openable doors, only one door should be provided along with fixed glass panel. However, in case of sliding doors, two sliding doors meeting at a corner can be provided with each door sliding towards a fixed panel. Top of the shower cubicle should always be kept open.

------------------------------------------------------------

Assemble or order

A shower cubicle can be created at site or ordered readymade as per the size requirement. Reputed companies provide customised cubicles which are less cumbersome to install than the ones ‘built’ on site. The cubicle should be noise free, corrosion free, leakage free and vibration free.  Be extra careful about the choice of hinges. The door, unless it is of the sliding type, is always heavy. Poor quality hinges may let the door come off and fall. Look for self-closing, double acting hinges that have been certified as tested by the manufacturer. Check their maximum weight tag and see that door weight on hinges is within their capacity.

Why bath-tubs are not a prudent choice

- The quantity of water consumed is much more in these.  

- A shower bath is more hygienic than a bathtub one. 

 - The space occupied by a bath-tub is also much more.