What to Consider When Choosing a Shower Enclosure

There are lots of things to think about when it comes to designing your home. While you’ll spend a lot of time considering things like the colour scheme, the furniture, and the lighting, this shouldn’t come at the expense of other areas of your home.

The bathroom is an important interior space that needs to be carefully put together. If you’re building the bathroom of your dreams, we’ve put together a guide that will help you understand what you need to think about when selecting a shower enclosure. Let’s find out more.

What is a Shower Enclosure?

A shower enclosure is fairly self-explanatory; it’s the cubicle made up of panels that surrounds your shower, separating it from the rest of the room. The bottom of the enclosure is called the tray, this is where a drain will be placed for the water to run into.

Shower enclosure panels are generally made of glass or acrylic. They are in place to prevent water from splashing all over the bathroom, where it can soak things and cause damage.

Before you head off to a building merchants to choose a shower enclosure, there are a number of things you need to take into consideration first. Read on to find out more.

Different Types of Shower Enclosure

There is a wide variety of shower enclosure styles available, each of which offers something a little bit different and comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

When exploring the variety of shower enclosures on offer, considering modern style showers can add a contemporary edge to your bathroom, blending aesthetics with functionality for a more refined space.

Quadrant enclosures fit snugly into the corner of a bathroom and use curved glass doors. D-shaped enclosures are very similar, but these fit against a flat wall rather than in a corner.

Square shower enclosures are, unsurprisingly, shaped like a square. These offer lots of space within the shower and can be installed anywhere in the bathroom. Rectangular enclosures are similar but offer even more space inside.

Alcove shower enclosures are positioned in a pre-existing alcove, making use of the walls which form part of the enclosure. Walk-in enclosures can also be situated within an alcove. The difference with these is they don’t use doors, simply a large blocking glass panel to contain the water.

Will an Enclosure Fit in Your Bathroom?

The size and shape of your bathroom are one of the most important things you need to think about when choosing a shower enclosure. The last thing you want is to buy an expensive shower enclosure only to find it’s too big for your space or that you could have gone bigger and offered yourself a bit of extra comfort and convenience.

It’s vital that you measure your bathroom accurately before you start shopping for an enclosure. Measure the space your shower will be in as well as the rest of the room to see how the enclosure will interact with the larger space. Don’t forget to measure the height of your room, too, you don’t want to bring home an enclosure that’s too tall to even fit into the bathroom.

The size of your bathroom will determine what particular type of shower enclosure will be most appropriate. If you have a small bathroom where space is at a premium, quadrant and d-shaped enclosures are best, as these don’t take up too much floor space. If your bathroom is bigger, then you can consider a larger enclosure, such as a square or a rectangular shape.

Shower Enclosure Materials

Shower enclosures are typically made from glass or acrylic. Each material offers pros and cons, so it’s important you understand the benefits of each before you make a decision.

Glass looks great and is incredibly tough and durable. It’s also easy to clean and maintain. Some glass cleaner and a squeegee are all that’s needed to keep your glass enclosure looking good. However, glass can be expensive, so might not be best if you’re on a budget.

Acrylic enclosures are lightweight and affordable. They’re also easy to install and won’t pose as much of a hazard as glass if they were to shatter. However, acrylic enclosures aren’t as durable as glass and will display signs of wear and tear. They’re also more difficult to clean and can require specialist solutions.

There are a number of things you need to consider when choosing a shower enclosure. Use this guide to learn everything you need to know before making your final decision.