Finitura vetro piumato su box doccia scorrevole in nicchia

Glass finishes for shower enclosures

Selection guide Glass finishes for shower enclosures
Finitura vetro piumato su box doccia scorrevole in nicchia

The shower enclosures have glass panels, also called crystal, mostly tempered, sometimes laminated, with variable thicknesses and numerous finishes. Almost always linear, they exist also of curved shape.

Shower enclosure with coloured glass

A modern shower enclosure with coloured glasses can choose between different opportunities. For example, Relax offers the elegance of bronzed glass, for an industrial or luxury effect depending on the collection chosen and the accessories combined, and the sophistication of Grey Europa glass, perfect for a minimalist style. In both cases the glass is coloured during the processing of the plates in paste.

To better adapt to the look of the bathroom, the hinges, the shower handle and the profiles used can also focus on the colour.

The shower enclosures with coloured glass allow you to create stained glass windows with spectacular effects because, in combination with the light that crosses them, the colour can take on a particular beauty and intensity.

Shower enclosure with decorated glass

The shower enclosure with decorated glass can only be chosen on an aesthetic or even functional basis. The decoration in fact can be a screen printing with an unalterable and transparent effect or can be combined with a satin so as to ensure a practical function of privacy.

Shower enclosure with satin glass

The shower enclosures with satin-finished glass have an opaque surface so they are ideal for protecting privacy. They are in fact treated with a permanent chemical process, carried out on whole plates, which eliminates transparency, but not light transmission, and gives the glass a velvety and soft aspect to the touch. The satin finishing can be done through:

  • hydrofluoric acid, hence also the name “etched glass” with which many refer to satin glass; the process of satin consists in making a wide variety of decorations and designs on all or part of the surface of the glass
  • sandblasting allows to create special decorative effects on the glass ranging from the simple opacification of the surface to the realization of artistic engravings on one or both sides of the glass

Shower enclosure with silk-screened glass

The shower cabins with screen-printed glass have fixed doors and/or panels with the external face covered with decorative motifs unalterable. The effect is obtained by depositing a glaze that vitrifies during the tempering process. The screen-printed glasses are characterized by bands decorated in the central portion of the glass, usually placed horizontally. The screen-printed shower is the favourite of those who want a middle way between the satin, for greater privacy, and the transparent, which passes the maximum amount of light.

Shower enclosure with transparent glass

The shower enclosure with transparent glass is the simplest: it lets the light pass perfectly so, especially in a small bathroom, it gives a feeling of depth and open space. Transparent glass requires more care when cleaning. In addition, there is also extra clear glass, capable of maximum transparency, without the possibility of glimpsing greenish reflections, but for this also more expensive than the standard one. For this reason, for example, Relax makes it available to its customers, but only on request.

Shower enclosure with feathered glass

In a shower enclosure with feathered glass or chinchilla a relief drawing is printed on one side of the plate. With time, “feathered” has become synonymous with “printed” even if it actually indicates a particular design. The printed glass is obtained by a special rolling procedure of the hot glass strip, inserted between two metal cylinders.

Acrylic shower enclosure

The shower enclosure with acrylic glass is usually inexpensive as the material is less valuable than glass. The plastic material that makes up this particular type of finish is very durable, although little lasting over time.