Quadrant Shower Enclosures

Guide to Quadrant Shower Enclosures

All examples are available at discounted prices; in fact we cannot be beaten on price for the same product anywhere. Quadrant showers are our most popular style of standalone showers. Easily fitting into a corner in your bathroom. Quadrant shower trays come in a range of sizes and quadrant shower enclosures are therefore sized to match. Enclosures come in a range of styles with the option of pivoted or sliding door openings.

In keeping with most of our shower enclosures, easy clean glass is available which ensures your enclosure retains it's new and unused look without the need for constant cleaning. Where a shower tray is specified, these will be of the low profile type and are guaranteed to fit perfectly within the quadrant itself. Many of the enclosures can be used in situations where non slip tiles have been fitted to the room so a tray would not be needed.

Top tips for preparation:

• Measure your space carefully
• Decide whether you’ll need to budget for extra plumbing or work to the electrics
• Budget for your tray, waste, and fittings like your shower head
• Decide whether you want a quadrant shower suitable for a tight corner, or an offset quadrant which might give you more showering space

Which thickness of glass?

Toughened safety glass is used in all shower enclosure doors and they have to pass the British Standards test.

It’s important that if someone slips on a wet shower tray or floor and falls into it, the glass won’t shatter into shards and become a serious hazard. Instead, safety glass shatters into droplets.

Every enclosure which passes the safety test should have a kite mark and a British Standards number on it.

There are, however, a number of thicknesses which can be used – from 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm to 8mm and 10mm.

Which thickness should you choose?

It depends on the shower enclosure fittings and the weight of glass which they can take, and whether you’re going to be fitting a power shower. There’s nothing worse than your shower doors rattling because they can’t take the force from a power shower.

A number of manufacturers recommend 5mm or 6mm glass as their minimum standard. That thickness gives a solid feel while allowing you to easily slide back a sliding shower door, for example. Sliding doors are popular when showers are slotted into a space between two walls. The Kudos Original bi-sliding doors have 5mm glass thickness.

The thicker the glass you use, the more luxurious the look.

The Roman Desire frameless enclosure also uses 8mm glass for a sleek, contemporary look.

The Merlyn Vivid Eight 1 door offset enclosure uses 8mm glass with an easy-clean coating to help keep your bathroom sparkling.

Framed, semi-framed or frameless?

The shape and size of your bathroom, and the look you want to achieve, will decide whether you opt for a shower enclosure with a solid frame, one which is semi-framed, or one which is frameless.

Framed shower enclosures sit well in traditional bathroom schemes, while frameless enclosures are perfect for en-suites or any bathroom where you’re trying to make the most of the space. A heavy frame makes a room look slightly smaller, a frameless enclosure allows the eye to look through your shower making your room feel larger.

The Merlyn Series 8 single-door enclosure, which has a quiet door closing feature to allow you to shower in blissful peace, also has an attractive frame to create a distinctive look.

Which finish?

You’ll need to decide on the finish for your shower and fittings. Do you want shiny chrome? Would you like a more luxurious gold look – or something more specialised?

Chrome is an excellent choice for all kinds of bathrooms – from traditional Victorian and Edwardian homes, to 1930s houses and ultra-modern new-builds.

Its durability is another selling-point. A chrome finish in your bathroom will last for many years.

For those fitting more unusual finishes, it’s worth considering whether you’ll be selling your home in the near future. Unusual bathroom finishes may be to your taste, but will they affect your ability to sell or the price you could ask for your home?

The Matki New Radiance curved corner surround’s chrome gleams – it also offers an auto-assist mechanism allowing the shower doors to slide gently open. There are minimal fittings, too, helping you to appreciate those clean lines.

The Merlyn Series 8 single-door offset quadrant shower enclosure also gives you the sort of style which wouldn’t look out of place in an Art Deco home – with its chrome frame and fittings.

Sliding or pivoted doors?

If you have a limited amount of space, sliding doors are perfect for your project. They don’t encroach on other bathroom fittings and give your new enclosure a neat look.

The curvaceous lines of this Kudos Infinite peninsular sliding enclosure bring a touch of understated luxury.

Pivoted doors might be the better option for your project. If you have a larger space where the footprint of your enclosure isn’t an issue, for example, you might choose a pivoted door.

The Simpsons Design curved glass single-hinged door is a good option for those who prefer a pivoted door, also showing that doesn’t mean you have to have flat planes of glass.

Do you need right-handed, left-handed, or reversible doors?

How will you be using your space? It’s important to actor this in during the planning stage. If you make a mistake, it could cost you dearly to put it right.

Your doors need to allow you easy access to your shower and they need to keep water off your floor. They also need to fit neatly with the doors of your room and the other bathroom fittings. A bathroom designer could help you find the best fit for you.

Many people prefer the flexibility of reversible doors to ensure all options are covered.

Right or left-handed shower tray?

It’s all about where the curved part of the shower tray in an offset quadrant enclosure sits. If the curved part of the tray is to your left, that’s a left-handed shower enclosure and you need to choose the doors and frames to fit it. If the curved part of the tray is to the right, that’s a right-handed shower tray, and you need to choose the rest of the enclosure to fit that.

You need to decide how you will be using the enclosure and where you’d like to enter it. Many manufacturers offer both options with their shower enclosures when you order.

A reversible quadrant shower tray has either a rounded edge all round or lines or curves of equal length. This allows you to choose doors which open on either side, and it allows you to fit the enclosure into a corner.

What’s your budget?

The Sommer 6 quadrant enclosure comes in eight different shapes and sizes, and in regular and offset. It has 6mm toughened glass and is recommended for use with Zamori shower trays. It’s ideal for smaller spaces and won’t break the bank. Perfect for hotels and guest houses.

A great mid-priced option would be the Roman Desire frameless luxury quadrant enclosure. With handles which are easy-grip, a spacious enclosure, and sliding, curved doors, this would be an excellent option for a bathroom where space is tight. Its 550mm door radius fits most shower trays, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The Kudos Original curved sliding enclosure comes in white or silver, and three sizes, from 810mm by 810mm to 1000mm by 1000mm. You could choose centre or slide door access, and comes with or without a tray, with 5mm toughened glass, and with or without a riser kit and tray. The curved enclosure door handle can also be used as a towel rail. It’s simple and elegant, and would be ideal for bathroom refurbishments.

For those looking for top-end style, the Matki Colonade curved corner shower enclosure has timeless elegance. It comes in two sizes – 820mm by 820mm or 920mm by 920mm. You can order a right or left-handed version and a standard or raised tray.

The Merlyn Series 10 single-door quadrant shower enclosure offers you six size and style options – including one with smoked black glass. It’s durable and features 10mm toughened glass with Mershield. Its hidden fixings give it a clean look – perfect for modern, stylish bathrooms and en-suites.

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