Choosing the right shower tray shape is vital; it's arguably the single most important consideration of installing a shower enclosure. Shower trays are available in a number of shapes, from regular square to rectangle shower trays, through to newer styles such as the quadrant and neo angle/pentagonal shower tray.
Varying in price range from budget to ultra luxurious, there is one to suit every taste, budget and design scheme. At the initial stage getting an idea of the different available shapes and configurations of shower tray will help you to plan the best layout and achieve the desired look for your bathroom.
There are a number of different shower tray shapes to choose from:
Square: As its name suggests, this shower tray is square shaped and measures the same length by width. It's a standard tray and one of the most popular. Square shower trays are generally quite versatile in size and range from around 700mm through to 1200mm. The square shower tray's placement is also notably flexible - it can either be positioned in a recess/alcove, corner, next to a wall or in the centre of the room (although this is far less common!). Small square shower trays are usually popular in cloakrooms and small bathrooms as they generally require less floor space than other types of shower tray. The 700mm shower tray is usually a best seller amongst many bathroom suppliers for this reason.
Rectangular: The rectangular shower tray is a popular standard tray, with measurements varying between the smallest, at 900 x 700mm all the way through to the largest, at 1700 x 700mm. It's ideal for narrower bathroom spaces, as the design allows a longer, thinner shower enclosure, saving space but maximising the showering area. The rectangular shower tray's configurations can be altered to suit both small and large bathrooms. This tray can also be placed virtually anywhere in the bathroom, whether it's a recess/alcove or corner.
Quadrant: This shower tray has a curved shaped front and generally measures between 800mm, 900mm and 1000mm. Its "quarter circle" design means that it is best positioned in a corner. The quadrant shower tray takes up less space than a similar sized square tray and gives a sleek, minimalist look in the bathroom. We suggest purchasing a quadrant with sliding shower doors, to save even more space. If doors slide across rather than swinging outwards, you'll have fewer drips and need less room in your bathroom to accommodate the doors.
Offset Quadrant: Varying in shape of the quadrant, offset quadrant trays are a rectangle shape, which curves in at one corner. This is one of the most spacious shower trays, and these measure from 900mm x 760mm through to 1200mm x 900mm. These trays have a right or left hand configuration. People choose this shower because often, instead of requiring a compact, more space-saving enclosure (such as a quadrant shower), some have contrasting desires; they want to fill up space in their bathroom and/or prefer a larger, more roomy showering experience.
Pentangle: This shower tray is also known as a Neo Angle shower tray or Pentagra shower tray. If you're not familiar with a pentagon shape, the best way to describe it is a square shape missing one corner. This shower tray measures 900mm x 900mm.The tray fits well between two walls (corner) and its shape means that it can be placed in a number of positions in the bathroom, often between other fixtures if working with a smaller bathroom. This shower tray is a great space saver and can either be fitted with hinged or bi fold doors, and bi fold is best if you're space conscious due to its inward-folding doors.
Offset Pentangle: This shower tray differs from a standard pentangle as its shape is rectangular based (missing a corner), rather than square-based. The offset pentangle shower tray measures 900mm x 1200mm and 900mm x 1400mm. It also fits in a corner and is available in a right or left hand configuration. Longer and covering more floor space than the standard pentangle, this shower tray is ideal for those with larger bathrooms wanting a more spacious shower experience.
Where can I purchase a shower tray?
Some well known UK manufacturers of all the shower trays we've just described above are MX Group, Manhattan Showers, April Bathroom Products and The London Water Closet Company (LWCC). These trays vary from slimline to standard and these manufacturers' products can be found in online bathroom stores such as BathroomTrade.co.uk (now one of the fastest growing online bathroom stores in the UK).
About the Author: Lindy Holman - High Flying Media.
For more information about choosing the best shower tray shape to suit your bathroom layout, visit Bathroom Trade, the UK Online Bathroom Store. Visit today for 20-60% off all shower trays and other bathroom products.
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