JOIN USTo shower in a stall
Tired of your shower splashing water all over your bathroom and making it slippery? Here’s a charming solution — install a shower stall. Now what’s that, you ask? Also labelled ‘shower enclosures’, these are cubicles in the bathroom containing a shower-attachment with space for a person to stand and shower in, thereby separating the dry and wet spaces in the bathroom.
But why would anybody want these? Because, spouting water from the shower splashes all over the bathroom, the door, shelves, towel-holders and knobs not only rendering the bathroom slippery, but breeding insects, worms and mould too. Imagine the discomfort it can cause to energetic kids and the elderly, who are prone to falls.
Restricting the splashes to one portion of the bathroom can turn it into a safer place to tread, easier to clean, and hence, a healthier place. Of course, curtains that seal off the shower area from the rest of the bathroom can also be used for this purpose, but a shower stall is more stylish and adds to your bathroom’s aesthetic value.
Plus, with our current hectic lifestyles, a leisurely bath in the tub every morning is a distant dream. Stepping in for a quick shower is what a stall can offer us. Moreover, a shower stall smartly tucked away in a little corner can be a svelte space saver. An opaque stall also frees up the rest of the bathroom space for use by other family members whilst you shower. For a more spacious bathroom, a larger stall is feasible and will look lovely, too.
Your pick
But wondering what your options are? First, stalls are made of materials ranging from glass, glass blocks, glass tiles, fibreglass and tempered glass to plastic, acrylic and granite. Fibreglass is preferred for its durability, especially when it is gel-coated. Long lasting sheen, besides ease of maintenance and repair are other merits.
Though not as resilient as fibreglass, acrylic also works as a durable and flexible shower-stall material with the added bonus of numerous colour options to gel with your bathroom tile colour. Tempered glass is also tough and offers many choices like block, clear and etched glass.
Frosted or diamond-patterned glass blocks score high on aesthetics while providing greater privacy. Coloured glass blocks or glass-block murals appear exquisite if properly coordinated with the bathroom’s overall colour scheme. Good old robust granites are also available in myriad colours to match your bathroom’s decor.
A shower stall sans a roof helps vent humidity from the stall. But roofed enclosures are also available. Shower stalls can be framed, semi-framed or frameless. In the latter, panels are connected through unobtrusive hinges and are usually opened with a single handle to create an elegant, seamless appearance. Frames can be of stainless steel, aluminium or chrome. Doors could be regular or sliding. The latter is suitable for small bathrooms. Walk-in stalls with or without curtains are trendy. A curved glass-wall or enclosures with say, 3 or 5 walls are interesting variations. The latter is recommended for larger bathrooms.
Enclosures can either be pre-fabricated or custom-made. The former can be easily and quickly installed (they can be DIY projects too) and offer less opportunity for mould/mildew formation. But, the design choice is limited. Although free from this restriction, custom-made ones are more expensive. Shower stalls can also be either single-piece or multi-piece units. If you’re getting a stall for an under-construction dwelling, there’s the possibility of planning the design to accommodate either of these. But, if it’s for an already existing bathroom, a preliminary stall-size check reveals whether your bathroom door dimension permits it’s entry inside.
As for the shower itself...
Select a simple-styled or the rain-shower type showerhead. Showerheads with multiple jets or steam feature are hugely popular. Steam shower cabins, where humidifying water vapour is released from a generator, are, in fact, the current rage. They can also incorporate multiple body and foot massage jets with artistic lighting for a pleasurable spa-like atmosphere right at home. Though moisture management is a demanding process, exhaust fans and improved vapour-proofing technology dilute this disadvantage. Steam cabins need to be well-sealed and are expensive to install. Any tendency to cut costs will depreciate durability.
For placing toiletries like shampoos, soaps and bath salts in the stall, glass/marble shelves, a shower caddy (a trolley-like feature to organise your vanities) that can be pushed around or the space-saving soap basket (which will hold just the soap) can be included. Towel bars, foot ledges, benches and loungers are other comfort features. A shower seat, grab-bars and low threshold (facilitating wheelchair
access) are safety features for senior citizens. Walk-in stalls are ideal for the elderly.
Whichever design you may choose, regularly rid the stall of fungus growth using cleansers. Treat marble shower stalls with extra caution. Strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. Turn the exhaust fan on when taking a shower.
(Remember, it shouldn’t be installed inside the enclosure). Open the windows/ ventilators later to reduce moisture accumulation. It’s now time to turn bathing into an exhilarating experience.