Open or closed shower enclosures
August 2022
A shower enclosure has many names. You can choose from models that take up a lot of space, and thus are the focal point and decoration of a spacious bathroom, and those that with their small size can be installed in a studio flat. Besides, the shower can be enclosed or doorless. Which of these two solutions is better?
Looking through the latest bathroom trends, it’s easy to notice that most elaborate designs feature a
walk-in shower enclosure. Unlike the traditional one, it doesn’t have a door and thus is economical in form, which makes it perfect for minimalist decor. On the other hand, no door raises controversy and concerns about splashing in the bathroom. Is this solution worth considering then? Or is it just a passing fad?
Contents
Open enclosure, what is it?
Many people still identify the showering area with a sort of enclosed cubicle, but with walk-in models this is no longer the case.
Depending on where we would like to place it and what are the investor’s expectations, it can have one, two or three screens, and that’s all. There are no doors or other moving elements here. A doorless shower enclosure is a good option
for families with small children, elderly people with mobility problems, and all those who appreciate the comfort of use and modern design.
The biggest advantages of open shower enclosures
First of all, an open enclosure has an
unusual and modern design. Choosing it, we can completely change the character of the interior. Glass is widely used by designers and architects, so its presence in the bathroom is desirable. It will make it look light, fresh and bright, and will enlarge the interior.
The comfort of its use is worth mentioning. There’s no door that needs to be opened, we simply enter the enclosure. Such enclosures either have a super flat and low shower tray, or have a linear drain, so we don’t have to lift our legs, which also increases convenience. More about suitable shower trays can be found in the article “
Types of shower trays”. Unlike prefabricated enclosed cubicles, the walk-in models can be adapted to our individual needs and to our bathroom dimensions. This means that, contrary to the worries of some investors, this solution can be used not only in spacious bathrooms, but also in smaller ones.
Another advantages are that it’s simple to assemble and the glass pane with support arm can be placed basically anywhere. Besides, a small number of elements makes the enclosure easy to clean. There are no doors, handles or crooks, meaning there are no hard-to-reach spots where dirt accumulates. To make daily cleaning even easier, SanSwiss enclosures are worth attention as each of them has the AQUAPERLE coating that protects against stains and scale build-up.
Do walk-in enclosures have any disadvantages?
It’s hard to find appliances that don’t have them at all, and it’s not just about bathroom equipment. So how is it with open enclosures? The biggest downside of this solution is that
because there’s no door, heat escapes more easily.
Ventilation problems can also prove to be one of the disadvantages. When taking a shower,
steam will escape outside the enclosure and rise throughout the bathroom. Thus, it is critical to look at the bathroom ventilation beforehand so that moisture and mold do not build up. If the bathroom has a window, then we should open it and ventilate the bathroom after each shower. Some people worry that no door will lead to splashing water all over the bathroom, but assuming that the whole installation is well measured, fitted and mounted, the
problem of splashing doesn’t have to be greater than in case of a bathtub.
Closed enclosure – pros and cons
A closed enclosure, as opposed to an open one, has a door. Among the advantages of this solution we can find the retention of heat inside the cubicle, which will be appreciated by those sensitive to cold. This is especially important in winter, when it is easy to catch a cold, and we often take a shower to warm the body up after a long day. A door helps keep moisture inside the cubicle, so if our bathroom doesn’t have good ventilation, this is a better option. Then there is the issue of splashing, which is often a concern with open enclosures. Assuming that the bathroom has a good quality enclosure, its door is watertight and water doesn’t escape outside the cubicle, then there is no need to worry.
Some of the disadvantages are the
limited comfort of use due to the door and design in cases where the enclosure has a massive bottom profile. It can also be troublesome to keep them clean. There are lots of hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, so you will have to use a small brush. Cleaning in this case can therefore turn out to be time consuming and arduous.
As we can see, both open and closed enclosures have their advantages. This means that before buying one, we should look at our needs and pin down what is the most important to our household, so that we choose the enclosure that everyone is happy with.
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