How to choose high-quality plumbing fixtures for a cottage bathroom

For a newly built house or cottage, the question will arise about high-quality plumbing : which one is better to install, what to choose from the widest range offered by the market. Let’s consider the features of choosing a shower stall, sink, faucets and other plumbing fixtures.

Choosing a shower stall

For an ordinary cottage built according to a standard design, two shower stalls are needed. For cottage owners in their own bathroom, as well as for guests. In principle, all shower stalls can be divided into two classes - open and closed. The open type of shower stall is simply a tray, a fence with or even without a frame. There may or may not be vinyl curtains. The closed type of shower stalls consists of a tray made of acrylic materials, a back wall, a roof or top panel, as well as semi-transparent sliding doors.

The dimensions of the shower stall are determined by the size of the tray on which a person stands. The sizes of the bottom panels start from 80x80 and up to 90x90 cm, but there are also round, triangular and rectangular pallets. Russian-made shower cabins can be bought on the market for about 7-16 thousand rubles, and imported cabins for about 20-30 thousand rubles.

Showers have various additional capabilities. Of course, the more functions built into a shower stall, the higher its cost. True, it is not necessary to buy ready-made and assembled cabins; you can assemble an open-type shower cabin with your own hands. Having purchased a steel or cast iron enameled pallet and fencing, you can assemble the booth with your own hands. However, the best choice for standard cottages would still be to buy an already assembled closed-type cabin, both for the master bathroom and for the guest bathroom. The price when assembling it yourself and when purchasing a ready-made cabin are approximately equal, but the labor costs when installing showers are incommensurable.

Sink selection

When choosing a sink, the first thing to consider is the layout of the kitchen where the sink will be installed. It is also necessary to take into account the design and configuration of kitchen utensils, because the sink is an integral part of them. When choosing a sink, the number of people in the family living in the house is also of great importance. If there are more than 3-4 people, then you should purchase a sink with two or three bowls or simply install two sinks. It is also necessary to take into account the number of wings that are planned to be attached to each sink. It is important not to forget to take into account the location of the dryer, as well as the mixer.

Currently, sinks are produced in several types. Made of steel or cast iron, they are usually coated with enamel. The price of such products varies from 500 to 1000 rubles. Stainless steel sinks cost from 500 to 2000 rubles. Sinks made of composite materials cost from 3,000 rubles. The material for the manufacture of such sinks is sanitary acrylic, reinforced with fiberglass, filled with granite chips, as well as quartz sand.

The shape of the bowls is varied. It can be round, square or rectangular. The design of the bowls also varies. There are sinks with one or two bowls, with a right or left wing, and with or without a drainer.

For home use, enamel sinks are the least practical because they require very careful handling. Composite sinks have excellent resistance to alkalis that corrode the coating, as well as resistance to various chemicals. Plus, the composite sink has sufficient resistance to mechanical stress. However, their cost is much higher than that of cast iron or steel sinks. For middle-class people, the most ideal choice would be a stainless steel sink. The price of such a product is relatively low, and its properties are quite acceptable. The material has good strength, low weight and will last a long time. A plus is its high resistance to household chemicals, such as detergent, for example.

Faucet selection

Mixers in the standard version usually require 5-6 pieces. One for washing, three to four washbasins plus two bathtubs, this does not take into account the shower cabins in which the mixer should be included.

Mixers are manufactured in two types - single-lever and double-valve. In the first case, the temperature and water pressure are regulated by one single valve - a lever, the rotation of which occurs in four directions - left - right and down - up. In the second option, water is supplied using two valves: one for cold water, the other valve for hot water. The valves rotate clockwise and counterclockwise.

There is a very large selection of faucets on sale for ordinary people from the middle class and above. The price of mixers varies from 2000 – 2500 rubles and above. It is recommended to buy mixers at a price of 1000 rubles or more - in this case, a guarantee of product quality is possible. For kitchen work, it is recommended to take single-lever faucets with a long spout, which is equipped with a pull-out shower head, which initially simplifies tasks such as washing dishes. For bathrooms where the washbasin and bathtub are located close together, single-lever faucets with a long swivel nose are also recommended. It will be more convenient to use than two-valve ones.