Glass sink for bathroom: types, pros and cons

When you are thinking about the future design of the bathroom, every detail is important. Including, you need to carefully approach the choice of the sink. Previously, most of the shells in the houses were ceramic or cast iron. However, now designers offer more and more daring design solutions, including shells made of materials such as steel, wood, stone and glass. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on a review of the recently popular glass shells.

Since glass shells in our country have appeared not so long ago, not everyone has yet managed to figure out how such shells are practical. Let's try together to understand their advantages and disadvantages.

X The fragility is not a disadvantage.

This common belief is mistaken. The fact is that for shells is used a particularly strong tempered glass. It is not afraid of scratches and chips. Of course, such a shell can crack, but the chances for this are not any higher than with the use of a ceramic sink.

Another common concern is often that parts of the mixer or rusty water pipes can be seen from beneath the glass sink. However, there is no reason to worry either - the glass sinks are mounted together with special chrome-plated pipes and accessories that perfectly complement the glass sink and give the bathroom a modern look.

Cons of glass sinks:

• the need to wash and rub the glass sink frequently, , so that there remains a divorce on it. This is really so - the stains on the glass sink are more visible. However, such sinks are usually chosen only by those who carefully monitor the fact that everything in their house looks modern and stylish. If you decide to buy a glass sink, we believe that wiping it with a rag again after use will not be a big deal for you. As they say, beauty requires sacrifice.
• The price can scare off of some potential buyers, as it is an order of magnitude higher than that of the usual sinks of sanitary ware or metal. However, when buying a glass sink, remember that you are acquiring an elite sanitary ware that will serve you faithfully for many years.

Pros of glass sinks:

• Appearance of .Nobody will argue that the glass shells look very stylish, elegant and beautiful. Just imagine how the stream of water sparkling along the shiny glass surface sparkles.
• The design of glass shells is universal - they fit in any interior and in any style, from classic to modern. In addition, they are ideal for an interior, in which several colors are simultaneously used.
• There are many variations of colors and shades of , in which your shell can be made. You can order a fully transparent, and a matte washbasin. In fact, the color range of such shells is limited only by your imagination and mastery of the manufacturer.
• they are absolutely not afraid of sudden changes in temperature. This is achieved by a special glass quenching technology.
• Such shells weigh much less than standard cast iron or porcelain sinks, so they are easier to assemble.

Depending on which design is used to install the sink, the following types are distinguished:

• hinged( floating) sinks;
• sinks on the stand;
• built-in sinks.

Hinged sinks allow you to save space and are therefore ideal for small bathrooms. When using such shells, it is very important to carefully hide all fasteners and utilities. One of the varieties of hinged shells are corner sinks, which many still call hand wash.

The sinks on the stand can be either monolithic or separate from the sink and stand to it. Some models are attached in addition to the wall. In the stand all communications are hidden. Such shells look reliable and durable.

Built-in sinks can be mounted in a simple table-top, or in a special bedside table in which all pipes are hidden. Such shells can only be used in bathrooms with a large area, since they are in themselves quite large.

Glass sinks can be of a variety of shapes. Oval and rectangular shells are standard. There are also their varieties: square and round shells. However, glass is such a plastic material that some companies are engaged in making custom-made shells. For example, you can find a shell made in the form of a waterfall or a flower.

The color and texture of the glass sinks largely depends on the technology of their manufacture. At the moment there are three ways:

• Melting and quenching. With this method of production, the glass pieces of the desired colors are first melted together and then quenched by a sharp temperature drop. As a result, a layer of glass is obtained, which is then given the desired shape, first heating it up again, and then abruptly cooling. According to this technology, both matte and transparent and shells of the most diverse colors and shades are produced.
• Blown or blown for shells is fundamentally different in manufacturing technology. It is first "blown out" with the help of special equipment and tools, and then tempered at high temperatures for 48 hours. As a rule, the blown glass is transparent, but it can have various blotches.
• In the mosaic shells of the , pieces of colored glass are first glued tightly to the inner surface of the already hardened glass thick layer of fine glass, and this is all re-burned. After that, the space between the pieces of glass is filled with a special mixture of sand and painted cement, from above all this is covered with a sealant and a protective layer of varnish.

As for the color scheme itself, the choice here is huge. The master can achieve absolutely any color of the glass. In some shells manufactured by the first method described above, several layers of multi-colored glass are used. Particularly should be noted glass marble sinks, which are made using special technology from glass of three or more different colors.

The criteria for choosing glass shells are the same as when choosing any other type of shell.

• Determine the type of glass sink by type of installation. The best way to proceed is from what type of shell your communication systems are designed for. If you plan to do a complete renovation of the entire bathroom, including replacing pipes and laying a new tile, this point is not so important. However, if you plan to replace only plumbing, for example, this item is the key.
• Thoroughly review the product before purchase. It should not have any chips or bubbles of air inside. If any, this indicates a low quality product.
• Ask the seller in the store for warranty. For many glass shells manufacturers provide a warranty of 1 to 5 years.
• Decide on the size and shape of the shell. The size of the sink depends on the total area of ​​your bathroom, as well as on what functions the sink should perform in your home.
• Finally, do not forget that the washbasin should fit in your bathroom in style and colors.

• Every day your shell is exposed to a lot of chemicals: toothpaste, little, shaving foam, etc. Meanwhile, on the glass sink, various pollution, plaque and divorce are much more noticeable, compared to other types of shells. Therefore, they need to be washed more often and wipe from drops of water.
• Despite the fact that glass shells can withstand temperature changes of even 70 degrees, it is not recommended to subject them to liquids with a temperature of more than 120 degrees, so as not to increase the risk of cracking in the sink.
• Wash glass sinks by any detergent, except abrasive.
• Very often breakage of glass sinks is the result of improper installation. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not do this yourself, and entrust the installation of the sink to a professional plumber who will be familiar with the subtleties of working with glass. For example, a drain on a glass sink can only be tightened manually.

See the next video about glass shells.