Shower cabin with tray
Shower cabin with tray: two functions on one footprint
A shower cabin with a tray is a closed cabin that sits on a full bathtub. You shower standing up and bathe lying down, without your bathroom needing two separate areas for it. This is exactly why this design is so often the solution in small and medium-sized bathrooms: it occupies the area of a bathtub and still replaces both. At Seniorbad the category comprises 40 models in the K05, K50 and K55 series.
Everyday life with a combination cabin
A quick shower in the morning, a relaxed bath in the evening: in practice the cabin is usually used far more often as a shower than as a tub. The closed construction has a clear advantage here over the combination of a tub and a shower curtain. Nothing splashes onto the floor, and there is no draught.
The point you should honestly check beforehand is the entry. You step over the tub rim into the cabin. If climbing over is difficult, this design is not the right one. In that case the way leads to a bathtub with door or a sitting bathtub, which both have a side entry door.
What distinguishes this category from its neighbours
The difference lies in the tub. The models here have no whirlpool function, so the water in the tub stays calm, and there is no steam function. Back massage jets in the shower panel are indeed present depending on the model, but they are fed from the shower while showering and have nothing to do with a whirlpool.
For you this means: simpler technology, less maintenance and no water-carrying jet pipes in the tub that would have to be rinsed regularly. What exactly is fitted is stated in the equipment list of each model.
Anyone who additionally wants massage jets finds the suitable models at the shower with whirlpool. Anyone who beyond that wants a steam function will find it at the steam shower with whirlpool bath. All three variants together you will find under shower bath combination.
Dimensions, series and variants
The tubs come in the formats 180 x 90 cm and 170 x 100 cm, each in both orientations. Which you need depends on which side the wall is on and where the entry and fitting should be. The abbreviations L and R in the product name designate exactly this orientation, the number combinations after them the respective equipment variant.
The three series differ in the shape of the cabin and in the design of the rear wall. Within each series there are several equipment levels, which differ above all in the fitting and in the number of showers. Compare the equipment list of the specific model before you order, the differences are greater than the similar product names suggest.
When choosing the format, a simple rule applies: the longer tub offers more lying comfort, the wider one more standing room while showering. If you mostly shower, the wider format is the more practical choice. If you bathe regularly in the evening, length wins. In any case, measure the niche into which the tub is to go, and do so at the narrowest point.
Material, installation and sealing
Tub and rear wall are made of fibreglass-reinforced acrylic, the cabin of safety glass with aluminium profiles. Acrylic is light, warm to the touch and can be cleaned with standard household means. For transport the low weight is a real advantage, because an acrylic tub can be carried by two people.
During installation, the sealing between cabin and tub rim is the decisive point. It must be done cleanly, otherwise water runs down the outside. Take your time for this and let the silicone cure completely before the cabin is used for the first time. If you are renovating the bathroom anyway, the overview of the costs of a bathroom renovation helps with planning.
Frequently asked questions about shower cabins with a tray
A fixed cabin holds back splash water reliably, a curtain does not. On top of that, a curtain clings while showering and has to be cleaned or replaced regularly, because moisture lingers in its folds.
The cabin is also more pleasant, because it keeps out the draught. Anyone who has ever showered behind a curtain in a draughty bathroom knows the difference.
The step-in height corresponds to that of a normal bathtub and is thereby the actual hurdle of this design. Check honestly whether that works in the long term, and bear in mind that mobility changes over the years.
A fitted grab rail beside the tub noticeably eases the entry. If climbing over is already a struggle now, a tub with a side door is the more suitable solution.
No. The whirlpool jets and their pipes are permanently built into the tub body and are installed during manufacture. A later conversion is therefore not provided for.
If you are toying with the idea, it is better to decide right away on a model with a whirlpool function. The surcharge at the time of purchase is considerably smaller than a later replacement of the complete tub.
Position yourself in front of the planned spot the way you will later stand. The side on which the wall is determines the orientation. On most models the fitting sits on the same side as the closed rear wall.
Sketch the floor plan on a sheet of paper before you order. A wrongly oriented cabin cannot be turned, because the drain and connections then no longer fit.
The silicone joint between the tub rim and the cabin is the most sensitive point. Wipe it dry after showering, then considerably less settles there. A squeegee for the panels and a cloth for the joint are enough.
Silicone is a wearing part. If the joint darkens or comes loose after a few years, it is cut out and re-applied. That is normal and not a defect of the cabin.