Sliding shower doors: pros and cons

When installing a shower cabin in a bathroom, it is important to choose the right doors for it. There are swing and sliding types of door systems.

If the bathroom is small, it is advisable to install a shower cabin in it. Usually it is made in sizes 90x70 or 90x90 cm and may differ slightly in height. Usually it is located in a corner niche, but the cabin can also be retractable. Semicircular shower enclosures are the most popular today. In any case, it is necessary to determine whether it will be more convenient for the consumer to use hinged or sliding doors.

The cab can consist of the following elements:

• fencing;
• pallet;
• doors;
• additional elements (mixer, shower head and others).

Sliding doors are framed, held on a metal or plastic profile, and frameless, mounted on fasteners. Frame structures are stronger, look more stylish, and can be made in different colors, such as chrome, bronze and others.

Shower cabins come in different shapes and sizes. In some cases, it may be necessary to install non-standard doors.

Sliding door systems can be made from the following materials:

• strained glass;
• acrylic;
• triplex;
• polycarbonate.

Let's consider the pros and cons of each material in more detail. Tempered glass is fireproof and non-toxic material, it will not burn. If the door is accidentally broken, the glass simply shatters into large pieces. They are not sharp, the possibility of cutting themselves is minimal.

Acrylic doors are among the most commonly used and belong to the lowest price category. They are very lightweight and durable and also thinner than glass. In case of damage, they leave pieces without sharp edges, which cannot be cut. The disadvantage of acrylic is its toxicity when burning.

Triplex doors are fireproof and non-toxic. The material is covered with a special film that prevents fragments from scattering when the element is damaged.

The disadvantage of polycarbonate doors, as in the case of acrylic, is toxicity when burning. However, in general they are resistant to high temperatures.

If the shower cabin is located in a niche, you can install two-, three- or four-section doors. Two-section door structures have the smallest size in comparison with the dimensions of the booth (40-43 percent) and the minimum thickness of the leaves.

Three-section doors have up to three movable elements. They are the largest of all of the listed, can occupy from 55 to 57 percent of the total size.

The four-section doors also have very thin walls. Their width ranges from 43 to 45 percent.

There is a wide variety of shower cabins currently on the market. They differ in decor elements and design.

Here are some of the options:

• matting - coating with a special composition that gives the surface a matte finish;
• application of patterns - most often the pattern is repeated on the entire door;
• coating with ceramic paint;
• photo printing and others.

Sliding door designs are practical to use, functional and very convenient for the consumer. They are easy to open without additional effort. They do not interfere and do not take up unnecessary space, unlike swing structures. In addition, such solutions look impressive and modern.

Doors made of glass and plastic tolerate high humidity, which is relevant in the typical conditions of their use. It would be inappropriate to use wooden structures, which, under the influence of moisture, are susceptible to the spread of fungus and mold, and metals in such conditions will be covered with corrosion. Water does not have the same effect on polymers and glass.

The material from which the doors of the booth are made is very durable and safe. In case of mechanical damage, it does not crumble into small and sharp fragments, thus avoiding cuts and other possible unpleasant incidents.

Water does not splash when using the booth due to the fact that the doors are equipped with magnetic seals and fit tightly to the structure, thereby achieving high tightness.

Elements of such a design are usually quite fragile, and during long-term operation they will have to be periodically replaced with new ones. A door adjustment is required, which can cause difficulties for a person who does not have the experience and special skills of such work. In addition, the doors are fairly easy to break.

Features of the choice of shower cabins with sliding doors for a niche

If the booth is installed in a niche, you may encounter some difficulties when choosing doors for it. Product parameters play an important role.

Depending on what the customer likes and what technical features the cabin itself has, it is necessary to choose the correct number of sections for the door structure. The height of the nut can also be different, ranging from 1 to 5 centimeters.

Sliding doors must be properly maintained, which will help extend their life and save money on repairs. The mechanism of the movable structure requires the most attention - it is due to it that the doors are opened and closed. Do not pull the flaps and loosen them, you need to try to avoid unnecessary mechanical stress.

The cabins must be washed. To do this, use a soft-coated sponge. The detergent must be selected depending on the material from which the booth is made. To avoid scratches and damage on the surface, it is not recommended to use abrasive products.

In the corners, as well as in the area of ​​the profile and glass connection, the greatest amount of dirt and bacteria collects. Accordingly, they need to be handled especially carefully.

If you properly and competently take care of the shower stall and its door structures, their service life will increase significantly, and there will be no special problems with operation.

First of all, when buying, you need to try to choose a booth that will be made with high quality and from solid materials. Such a thing will certainly last a long time and will not create problems during operation. However, it will be useful to pay attention to individual structural elements.

One of these elements are rollers - due to them, the sash and move. Metal parts are more reliable, they are resistant to abrasion, while plastic parts can deform quickly enough.

If the structure is firmly fixed, small gaps in the doors are allowed. However, in an ideal scenario, they should not exist at all.

The door frame is made of plastic and aluminum. The aluminum frame is light and solid, while plastic parts are moisture resistant and very durable. A steel profile in a plastic structure is a good solution.

For the pros and cons of sliding doors for a shower stall, see the following video.