Acrylic shower trays: the highlights

The arrangement of bathrooms, due to the choice of shower cabins instead of stationary baths, is a fairly popular solution for a modern home. A similar trend is relevant both for country houses and city apartments.

Various materials are used for the manufacture of shower cabins, but acrylic pallets are rightfully considered the most attractive and striking options. They are lightweight and reasonably priced compared to other cab surfaces.

Acrylic is a group of polymeric materials produced on the basis of derivatives of methacrylic and acrylic acids. In appearance, it bears some resemblance to ordinary plastic.

Like any other raw material, acrylic has individual characteristics.

Products made from this material are very susceptible to falling., therefore, during the installation of the structure, care must be taken. Careless handling of the acrylic pallet is fraught with the formation of holes and cracks on the surface. And when you hit it with a heavy object, a scratch is sure to form. However, such a defect can be easily sanded down.

The material cannot be called particularly durable, but this characteristic is largely determined by the thickness of the raw material - the larger it is, the higher this indicator. To exclude the possibility of deformation of the structure, it is recommended to install a metal frame, which will act as a support.

In addition, the following material properties can be distinguished:

• hygiene of the surface;
• environmental Safety;
• resistance to aggressive chemical compounds for household use;
• an attractive glossy surface that retains its original appearance for a long time.

Similar characteristics of sanitary acrylic make it possible to use it for the production of kitchen countertops, sinks, etc.

Acrylic shower trays are relevant today due to a number of advantages that they have:

• Uniformity due to the lack of enamel on the surface. The design is not susceptible to the formation of stains and streaks, which often form over time on other types of materials due to contact with water and various hygiene products. In addition, scratches do not in any way contribute to the destruction of the coating itself.
• Thermal conductivity. During the contact of the pallet with hot water, the material heats up quickly, making it much more comfortable to be in the shower stall. Deep bowls, measuring 80x80 and 90x90, 70x90 and 100x80, are very convenient to use as a bath for bathing children.
• As a result of the ingress of jets of water on the pallet, it, in contrast to enameled products, does not make noise, which is important for small apartments. The most noisy, according to consumer reviews, are pallets made of steel or artificial stone.

• Resistant to high temperatures... Such a characteristic of the material has a positive effect on the operational life of the product.
• Acceptable cost of bowls.
• Light weight, due to which the product is easy to transport and install.
• Serious defects formed during mechanical action on the acrylic pallet can be easily repaired - glue or repair the crack using a special repair kit. This possibility increases the service life of the product and allows the product to have an attractive appearance for a long time.
• Large variety of bowls, presented on the modern market, offers the consumer products of various shapes and sizes that can withstand loads or can be installed on a metal frame. Thanks to this, each customer can easily select a product that meets their individual preferences.

Acrylic sanitary bowls have some disadvantages. Among them, the following points can be highlighted:

• Since the material is similar in some way to plastic, its surface is easily scratched. However, this disadvantage is very easily eliminated.
• There are models that bend under the weight of a person inside. But even this drawback is not difficult to eliminate - such bowls are supplemented with fasteners, due to which they acquire the necessary strength. Reinforced coated products are absolutely not subject to deflection during use.

Evaluating the above properties and features of acrylic pallets, we can conclude that the products have no significant drawbacks.

Various types of acrylic shower trays are now available. Products are classified based on shape and size.

In addition to the main parameters, namely the shape and dimensions, the height of the side is considered a rather important characteristic. It is he who provides such important conditions as the functionality of the product and its comfortable operation.

The most popular option is flat-sided pallets. This design provides easier access to the cab.

Depending on the height of the side of the structure, acrylic products can be divided into three groups:

• with deep sides, where the average height of the walls is 18 cm;
• medium - the size of the walls reaches 8 cm;
• small sides, the size of which is no more than 4 cm.

The optimal and comfortable during operation is considered to be the depth of the plumbing bowl no more than 10 cm.

The dimensions of the pallet are the main parameter of the entire product, in particular, it concerns the area of ​​the structure.

Based on the area, acrylic pallets are divided into three types:

1. Large bowls - a similar type of product, as a rule, has dimensions exceeding 100x100 cm.Accordingly, it includes pallets 900x900, 800x800, 120x90, 120x80, etc.
2. Average designs are presented in dimensions that vary from 90x90x15 to the minimum size of large products.
3. Small pallets grouping products with dimensions from 70x70 cm to 80x80. A pallet with dimensions of 70x90 cm is the most popular among the products of this group.

Most manufacturers produce products in the two most common forms:

• square (rectangular);
• corner.

The latter type, in fact, is a triangular structure, one face of which is a semicircle.

The fundamental points that you should pay close attention to when buying a shower cabin, in addition to the functionality of the structure and a number of additional features, will be the dimensions and the level of rounding of the pallet, as well as the quality of the raw materials used for production.

The optimal and versatile solution will nevertheless be the purchase of a corner pallet, thanks to which you can install both a semicircular and a square version of the product.

Today, on the market for these products, manufacturers offer ready-to-install kits.having curtains, shower, walls, the pallet itself or structures that will be completed with elements based on the preferences of the customer. Moreover, it is possible to form a composition without problems with products from different manufacturers. In the latter case, special attention must be paid to the dimensions so that all the components fit together.

From the point of view of saving money, assembling a kit based on your own preferences and tastes will be several times cheaper than purchasing an already equipped version.

Steel or white colors are very laconic and do not need additional decoration or decoration with color elements of other shades. Classic options for pallets, provided they are of high quality, will be durable and attractive, which will allow, if necessary, to carry out repairs in the room, use them in the future without resorting to purchasing new structures.

In order for the shower cabin to be harmoniously located in the room, it is important to choose the correct shape of the pallet, since the shower can be placed not only in the corner of the room, but also in the center. This option will be an original solution, but only if the area of ​​the room allows it and the owners of the living space decided to make a complete redevelopment or during the construction of the house.

Before proceeding with the installation of the shower tray, you need to buy all the accessoriesso that the structure after installation is completely ready for use. In addition to the pallet itself, you will need a siphon, a drain pipe and other required items.

The installation of a shower cabin in the opposite corner from the sewer system in the room requires its installation on a special frame to ensure the supply of all water supply and drainage systems.

The work must be performed following the step-by-step instructions that are attached to the product kit:

1. Having prepared the legs, guides and fasteners, it is necessary to turn the pallet over and fix these parts to the bottom. Semicircular models have an additional leg, which is installed in the middle.
2. Further, work is carried out to fix the siphon and pipes with the establishment of communications in the sewer, not forgetting about the sealing of the joints.
3. It is easy to check the correctness of the installation - if the work is done correctly, then the bottom will not have a slope, and the product will not crack if you stand on it. In conclusion, the joints are sealed and decorated. Very often, a plinth is used for such purposes.

As with any structure, the shower tray may need to be repaired.The reason for the formation of defects may be the presence of a factory defect, as a result of which cracks appear on the surface. Sometimes breakdowns occur due to careless handling of the product during operation.

Situations of the formation of cracks on the pallet as a result of errors made during the installation of products are not excluded.

For repairs, you will need the following tools and materials:

• degreasing agent;
• paint and brush.

First of all, the pallet is thoroughly washed, after which it must be dried. The area where the crack has arisen is degreased, the coloring composition is applied with a brush. After the first layer has completely dried, the second is applied. It will take about a day to dry completely.

Deep cracks will take a lot of effort and time to repair. Additionally, you need to purchase a hardener for the coloring composition, as well as arm yourself with a drill. The technology of work consists in drilling and expanding the crack to a width of about 2 mm. Next, the place is filled with the composition, after it has solidified, the surface must be smoothed with emery.

A through defect is eliminated by using paint, hardener and epoxy. Fiberglass is glued to the hole and processed with several layers of epoxy. Then the surface is painted over and a hardener is applied.

When carrying out any work with an acrylic surface, it is imperative to observe safety measures, in particular, work only in well-ventilated rooms, in some cases in the open air.

For instructions on installing the shower tray, see the video.