Shower cabins for summer cottages: types, materials and selection

Showers for summer cottages are one of the most practical options for organizing washing places in a country life. These structures are very easy to use and are in high demand among summer residents.

The simplest and most common way to equip a country shower is to install a cabin. Such a structure can be made independently from scrap materials or be purchased ready-made.... Most of the factory cabins are equipped with hooks for clothes, a thermometer, shelves for bathroom accessories and a mirror, and more expensive samples consist of two compartments - a changing room and a wash box.

On the floor of the cabins there is a wooden lattice or a pallet with an anti-slip surface that prevents feet from slipping and ensures hygienic water procedures. Finished models are often equipped with hinged doors and a roof, although the latter may not be available.

The advantages of country cabins include the following points:

• installing a shower cabin will be much cheaper than building a bath or organizing a full bathroom;
• the structure does not need a capital foundation and can be installed directly on the ground, which significantly reduces costs and simplifies installation;
• suitable for the construction of cab walls absolutely any material at hand, from rubberized fabric to sheet metal;
• most cabins do not need to be connected to the sewerage system, since water is drained directly into the drained soil;
• in the absence of hot water supply, you can purchase a model with a tank, where the water is heated naturally due to solar heat.

The disadvantages of country shower cabins include the need for soil drainage and the arrangement of concrete piping necessary for water drainage, as well as the impossibility of taking a shower in cold weather. The latter applies to street models that do not have a water heater and are not insulated. In addition, cabins with a top tank, in which the water is heated by solar energy, can only be operated on clear summer days.

In gloomy rainy weather, washing under such a shower will be extremely uncomfortable and dangerous to health. The same applies to cabins with slatted or too short walls, as well as to models in which blown-through material is used as a fence, since areas unprotected from the wind can cause colds in households.

The classification of country shower cabins is made according to such characteristics as the type of construction, the method of installation and the method of water supply. According to the first criterion, the models are divided into open and closed samples.

These models are very simple structures consisting of two or three fences. They often have no ceiling or doors. The walls of the house, lined with a moisture-proof material, often act as the walls of the booth. Such designs are the most budgetary option for shower stalls, however, they require the arrangement of used water drainage away from the foundation of the building.

On the second wall there are hooks for towels and shelves for accessories, and the third decorative partition serves as protection from drafts and prying eyes. In addition to attached ones, there are also free-standing open cabins, which also do not have a ceiling or doors. Such models have a round or square shape and are represented by lightweight structures designed for use in warm weather.

Enclosed shower stalls are full-wall detached structures with a ceiling and a door. They are quite sealed, often insulated and suitable for use in windy conditions. Many of them are equipped with capacious tanks with water heating heating elements.

By the method of installation, country shower cabins are subdivided on portable and stationary.

Such samples do not require the arrangement of the foundation, have a collapsible structure and can be transferred to any place. For the winter, such models are often disassembled and stored in a barn, and with the onset of the summer season they are easily assembled and installed in a prepared place.

Such cabins are often erected on a foundation and equipped with a drain into the sewage system. In most cases, they are capital insulated buildings that echo the design of other buildings on the site and fit organically into the landscape. They are equipped with a ceiling and doors, often have a window, a changing room and are suitable for use in any weather. Many of them are equipped with an electrically heated water tank and can be operated until mid-autumn.

According to the method of hot water supply, shower cabins are divided into two types - capacitive and plumbing.

• The first equipped with a tank or barrel, which are located above the cab and are supported by a metal frame. A shower head is screwed to the bottom of the tank, and the water is heated by means of sunlight or heating elements.

• Second connected to the water supply, water in which heats up thanks to a gas water heater or an electric boiler.This method of supplying water is justified provided that the shower stall and the residential building are located close, as well as in open-type models closely adjacent to the wall of the building.

For the manufacture of country shower cabins, wood, plastic, metal, polycarbonate and soft materials are used.

A few decades ago, wood was considered the second most popular material for the construction of shower cabins and was second only to sheet metal. but from constant contact with water, it quickly darkened, moldy and became unattractive.

The cost of a wooden structure was quite high due to the high cost of timber. Today, for the manufacture of shower cabins, boards treated with a special composition are used. It reliably protects wood from the damaging effects of moisture and prevents the appearance of mold and mildew. Modern wooden models are practical and very attractive structures. They often act as a central design element and blend harmoniously with other wooden structures.

To extend the service life of wooden cabins, wood additionally covered with antiseptics and special varnishes, preventing decay and loss of color.

Outdoor plastic shower enclosure is a very common option. Such models are strong and durable, often have a collapsible design and are relatively inexpensive. An aluminum or steel profile acts as a frame, and opaque plastic, plexiglass and PVC are used for the manufacture of partitions. Ready-made plastic cabins are often equipped with a water tank with a volume of 170 to 200 liters, an overhead shower and hooks for towels and things. The weight of plastic models rarely exceeds 75-80 kg, which greatly simplifies their movement around the site and transportation.

In addition to plastic samples, booths have become very popular. made of extruded low pressure polyethylene. These models are often equipped with an anti-slip acrylic base, which makes showering more hygienic and safer. In most cases, the tank is included in the kit and is equipped with heating elements.

Metal showers are considered an echo of the past and are very rare in summer cottages. The materials used were sheet steel and aluminum... The installation of such structures often required welding, and the structure itself needed constant anti-corrosion treatment. The advantages of metal cabins are considered high strength and durability.

Polycarbonate shower enclosures can be found quite often. This material costs relatively little and is available to a wide range of consumers. It is often used for assembling prefabricated structures, giving them a wide variety of shapes.

Shower cabins made of soft waterproof materials are open structures and are the most affordable way to equip a shower at a summer cottage. Such models can be bought ready-made, or you can make yourself. For this, a frame is built from an aluminum profile, plastic pipes or wooden bars, on which a plastic film or rubberized fabric is pulled. The structure is placed under a plastic tank or barrel mounted on a steel rack.

When choosing or building a shower cabin for a summer residence, it is necessary to focus on the dimensions of the tallest member of the family.To do this, draw a square on the ground measuring 90x90 or 100x100 cm, in the center of which a person stands. He is offered to straighten up to his full height, bend over and turn first in one direction, then in the other direction. If parts of the body will go beyond the limits of the marking, then its size should be increased. Next, the area of ​​the dressing room is calculated and, based on the calculations obtained, a project for the future structure is drawn up.

The most optimal dimensions of a two-section booth, consisting of a shower and a changing room, are considered to be 100x180 cm with a height of 2.5 m.As for the factory models, they are produced in sizes 90x90x230 cm, 100x200x230 cm, 120x90x200 cm, 110x110x230 cm and others, depending on the material of manufacture and design. There are no strict rules on this matter, therefore on the modern market you can see models of absolutely any size.

At the place of installation, shower cabins are outdoor and indoor.

When choosing a place to install a shower cabin it is necessary to be guided by the method of heating the water. So, if the model is equipped with an upper tank, the water in which is heated by solar heat, then such samples must be placed in open, unshaded areas, even better - on hills. It is also necessary to take into account the distance from the shower to the house - it should not be too great so that in case of bad weather you can quickly run to your home.

A lot of controversy is caused by the installation of the cabin close to the wall of the house. Adherents of this installation method consider it the most convenient due to the close location of communications and easy connection of a shower stall to them.

Opponents argue that the wall of the house will be constantly exposed to moisture, which is why it must be tiled with ceramic tiles or any other waterproof material. In addition, the wall arrangement of the cab requires the obligatory drainage of dirty water into the sewage system. Otherwise, flows will begin to accumulate near the foundation and cause its destruction. For free-standing cabins, drainage is arranged: for this, they dig a hole 30-40 cm deep, put rubble in it and make a circular strapping of concrete.

If the dacha is intended for living in the winter, then the shower are located in the bathroom or in the bath. Such samples have a large number of additional functions, have a stylish appearance and are very convenient to use.

Many home cabins are equipped with tropical and hand showers, aroma and chromotherapy options, Turkish baths and hydromassages. The disadvantages of home structures in comparison with outdoor ones are their price and the need for hot water supply.

The modern market offers a large selection of shower cabins for summer cottages. Below are the most popular samples that occupy the top lines of popularity ratings according to the version of online stores.

• Country shower cabin without tank "Ariel-09D" produced by the Russian enterprise from St. Petersburg LLC PTK Atlantida-SPb. The model has dimensions of 90x90x230 cm, is able to withstand a maximum floor load of up to 150 kg and weighs only 34 kg. The frame of the product is made of aluminum profiles and painted with IGP atmospheric paint with Dura additive.

The door and walls are made of 8 mm milky polycarbonate. The floor is made of Karelian pine and treated with Tikkurila impregnation. The service life of the cab is 10 years, the cost is 23,730 rubles.

• A booth from the "Rotoplast" enterprise near Moscow equipped with a 200 l tank and made of light-stabilized polyethylene. The wall thickness is 3 mm, the height of the wooden pallet is 10 cm, the weight of the product is 70 kg.The model is produced in blue and green colors, has dimensions 117x111x235 cm, is very easy to clean and completely safe for humans.

The product is equipped with padlock ears, an internal latch and a metal coat hook. The cost of the cabin is 18,737 rubles.

• Summer cabin for the cottage "Electromash" from the company from Novosibirsk "Azbuka instrumenta" consists of a frame, a water tank with a volume of 128 liters, a shower head, a footrest and a waterproof curtain. The product has a modular design, is produced in dimensions 80x80x250 cm, weighs 34 kg and costs 6 600 rubles.

• Shower cabin "Ecostyle" from LLC "Alen Trade" from Volgograd equipped with a 200 liter tank and made of blue plastic. The tank is equipped with a built-in heating element with a power of 2 kW, which allows you to use the cabin in any weather. For 3.5 hours, the water in the tank warms up to 60 degrees.

The model has a translucent roof, a plastic tray, a watering can, a siphon for draining water, a latch and a hook for towels. There are padlock eyelets on the outside of the doors. The weight of the cabin is 80 kg, the cost is 26,100 rubles.

• Country shower without tank Rostok 202.0001.401.0 has a collapsible structure, consisting of a steel frame, a polymer waterproof awning and a rubber mat. The model is produced in dimensions 94x94x214 cm, weighs 14.8 kg and involves the installation of a plastic flat tank with a volume of 110 to 250 liters, which can be placed instead of the roof. The cost of the model is 7 354 rubles.

When choosing a shower cabin for a summer residence, a number of important points should be considered.

• If the model is purchased for a garden plot and will be used in the summer, it is better to purchase a mobile version, which can be disassembled and put away for storage in the fall. If the dacha is used as a country house and involves winter living, then the choice is made in favor of traditional shower cabins installed in city apartments.
• An important criterion for choosing a cabin is the way of heating the water.... In hot climates with lots of sunny days, you can opt for models with an unheated tank. In colder regions, you will have to draw electricity to the site and purchase a product with heating elements.
• Another significant parameter is the number of compartments. Dressing room models are much more convenient than single-section models. They allow you to change comfortably and can be used to store garden tools.
• As for the size of the cabin, you should not choose products smaller than 90x90 cm.... In a small space, it is very uncomfortable to get dressed after taking a shower, which is especially true for models who do not have a changing room.

In order for the shower stall to serve as long as possible, it is necessary to follow the operating rules.

• Models made of wood after each use, open and ventilate until the walls and floor are completely dry. Upon detection of the beginning of decay of the boards, they are immediately dismantled and replaced with new ones.
• Polycarbonate cabins it is recommended to disassemble or cover it with cardboard for the winter, protecting it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
• Plastic models and plexiglass should not be cleaned with abrasive products. Otherwise, they will quickly become covered with small scratches and become cloudy.
• In cabins with electric water heater it is recommended to use plastic ladders.
• Metal cabins to prevent corrosion, it is recommended to regularly paint it with waterproof enamel.

An overview of a do-it-yourself shower stall is presented in the video below.