Glass shower enclosures
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.
Types of shower panels
Tempered glass panels
The glass used for the panels of the Relax shower enclosures is tempered glass, obtained with glass sheets subjected to a heat treatment at about 700 degrees and then cooled instantly so as to become more resistant to stress, thermal shocks and temperatures (up to 250°). It is considered a safety glass because, if it were to be hit or hit and break, instead of going into a thousand scattered pieces, it fragments into many small pieces that are not dangerous for the safety of people because they are not sharp.
Laminated glass panels
Laminated glass panels for shower enclosures use a safety glass that does not split into multiple pieces when fractured. At the break, an intermediate layer intervenes to keep together the layers of glass that surround it. In this way, even if the glass breaks, it remains in place without risk to people and objects nearby and assumes the characteristic spider web shape. Relax also uses laminated glass panels on request.
Acrylic panels
Shower enclosures can also have acrylic panels instead of glass. It is a very durable plastic material, perfect for those who want a minimum expense. It is not as precious as glass and, above all, its finishes do not guarantee a long duration, which is why Relax does not recommend this choice to its customers.
Size and shape of glass panels
The glass thicknesses normally proposed for the shower panels are three: 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm. The value of glass grows with increasing thickness. The 4 mm is the cheapest, the 6 mm is the most used, the 8 mm the high-end.
Glass panels are linear, but some people prefer soft lines that require a bending process. It is obtained by heating the glass and then its shaping on a special mould. It is not an easy process because it must take place at low temperatures to ensure an aesthetically beautiful glass, but this does not allow a good fragmentation (safety) or respect of geometry (shape). The hot forming of the glass and the subsequent tempering, is done at an industrial level choosing the best compromise between aesthetics, shape and safety of the product. Relax found a solution and patented a collection of shower enclosures with curved glass, Bobox.
Glass finishes and treatments
The finishes for the glass panels of the shower cabins are numerous. There are satin glasses that lose transparency, but make the light pass, and acquire the typical velvety and soft to the touch. The screen-printed glasses have the outer side covered with unalterable decorative motifs. The feathered glasses are printed in decorations, while the coloured glasses are coloured at the time of processing in paste. The extra clear glass has the greatest transparency, but they are also more expensive, so Relax treats them on request. Discover all the finishes of the glass for shower enclosures.
Among the treatments that can be subjected to glass panels for showers, the antiscale is the most popular. The Crystal Protect treatment used by Relax is based on an advanced patented Italian nanotechnology. It forms a thin layer of protection on the surface that chemically binds to the glass, sealing it from dirt, limestone and impurities. It guarantees:
- ease of cleaning
- UV stability
- extra protection against deposits and soap deposits
- 20% increase in the gloss of the treated surface
- 5-year service life with proper maintenance
