Whether you call them bathroom stalls or partitions, the need for privacy and a sanitary environment in any public restroom is important. If you have a public restroom that contains more than one toilet, it needs a form of partition for its users.
Deciding the type of stalls that you will need can be a very tricky process. Bathroom stalls come in a plethora of finishes, materials and mounting options. Just like every building, every restroom is different. This means that, in a sense, every bathroom stall is custom-made to fit that particular bathrooms dimensions. That is what can make choosing the proper bathroom stalls, or partitions so very difficult.
There are so many decisions that must be made before placing an order and selecting the bathroom stall that is right for you can be a bit intimidating. In order to make the best decision one first must decide their particular needs and wants for the restroom. On bathroomstalls.com we will provide you with the information you need, so you can make an informed decision and choose the stalls that properly fit your needs.
Here are some of the topics we will cover:
- Materials
- Mounting Options
- Understanding Sizing
- Terminology
- Filling Out Forms Of Placing Orders
First let's take a look at the different types of materials used to construct bathroom stalls.
Here are the materials that they are commonly constructed from:
- Powder Coated / Baked Enamel
- Plastic Laminate
- Solid Plastic / High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Phenolic
- Phenolic color-thru (solid color core phenolic)
- Stainless Steel
Powder Coated / Baked Enamel
Baked enamel or powder coated steel is a very durable choice for a bathroom partition material. It is also a great economical choice because it generally costs just above that of the plastic laminate type. This material is made from two sheets of galvanized steel that is formed under pressure to form a sheet. This type of steel provides for a strong adhesion for a smooth powder painted finish.
Powder coated steel has remained a very popular choice for many years and was once considered the standard in toilet partitions. Toilet stalls constructed from this material most often avoids the doors and can last for a very long time.
While this type of material has proven to be very durable and can stand the test of time, it also has some disadvantages. Baked enamel can get in scratch much more easily than other types of partition materials. This material is not recommended for areas that have a high traffic volume or that are considered vandal prone areas.
The metal can also be damaged and worn by environments that have a high moisture level.
Strengths:
- Constructed from a very durable and long-lasting material
- Very economically priced
- Comes in a wide variety of colors
- Good impact resistance
Disadvantages:
- Dents and scratches more easily than other materials
- Not recommended for high moisture areas
- Not recommended for high-traffic or vandal prone areas
Plastic Laminate
Plastic laminate is crafted from a high–pressure impact resistant laminate with a particleboard core. This material is most commonly seen in countertops, kitchen cabinets or drawers. Due to the inexpensive and versatile nature of this material, it is commonly used for designing bathroom stalls.
This material can be created efficiently and can be readily available in hundreds of colors. The overall low-cost combined with limitless design possibilities and color variations make this one of the most popular full install materials on the market today.
While plastic laminate is inexpensive and very easy to work with, it is not recommended for certain types of areas. Any areas with high moisture, such as pull restrooms are public seaside restrooms are areas you want to avoid with this material. Even though plastic laminate is impact resistant it does not hold up well in vandal prone areas. If your restroom is considered to have heavy traffic or vandalism, you might want to consider another material for your restroom stall.
Strengths:
- Very economically priced
- Wide array of color options
- Quick construction time
Disadvantages:
- Not recommended for high moisture areas
- Not recommended for high-traffic or vandal prone areas
Solid Plastic / High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Solid plastic bathroom stalls can be found in almost every major stadium and in the majority of schools. This material is considered ideal for areas that are both high-traffic and prone to vandalism. Solid plastic is a polymer, which is crafted from extruding polymer resin.
What is so great about this material, is that it is resistant to moisture, scratching, denting, chipping and delamination. It is also resistant to water, oil, forms of bacteria and will not rust. Solid plastic has many great qualities and is quickly becoming the standard for areas that have showers or toilet partitions that can be hosed down.
While there are many advantages to using solid plastic in your restroom there are a few disadvantages. Solid plastics generally are used in restrooms where design aesthetics are a high priority. The amazing durability of solid plastic bathroom stalls comes with a drawback of a limited color selection. If you compare solid plastic to plastic laminate are phenolic, the choice in colors will be much more limited. The look of solid plastic bathroom partitions is considered by some to have an "institutional" look, which isn't a desired look in many establishments.
Strengths:
- Resistant to water, oil, bacteria
- Ideal for showers
- Great for high-traffic areas
- Resistant to graffiti and impact
- Will not dent, chip, deteriorate or oxidize
- Almost maintenance free
Disadvantages:
- Very limited color choices
- Not recommended for high-end restrooms
Phenolic
Phenolic is a lot like solid plastic in that it is produced using resin. They use a very interesting technique to create this material. Layers of decorative papers are fully saturated with phenolic resin to create the base. They then take the resin base and laminated under high pressure and heat, this generates material that is very resistant to both moisture, stains and graffiti.
One of the great advantages of phenolic is that it can come in a huge variety of finishes. The durability combined with the sheer variety of this material makes it worthy of a recommendation for almost any type of building even areas that are both high-traffic in vandal prone.
If you are considering ordering phenolic bathroom stalls, you probably have the need for high durability in vandal resistance. If your public restroom will place an extremely high volume of traffic and almost certain incidents of vandalism, you may want to consider ordering your phenolic bathroom stall with a custom thickness.
Most phenolic bathroom stalls feature 1/2 inch thick panels, with 3/4 inch thick doors. While these dimensions are recommended and provide greater ability, it is sometimes necessary to go even thicker.
Strengths:
- Very resistant to water, oil and bacteria
- Ideal for high-traffic in vandal prone areas
- Vast array of color options
- Impact resistant
Phenolic Color-Thru (Solid Color Core Phenolic) phenolic
The difference between Phenolic Color-Thru and standard phenolic is that Color-Thru is the same color on the edges of the material as on the surface. Basic phenolic materials are the intended color on the surface while the ends of the partition they are the color of the original sheets of paper that are used to create the material.
Strengths:
- Low Moisture Absorption, ideal for wet or humid areas
- Chemical Resistant
- Heat And Wear Resistant
- Great Stability
- Superior Strength
- Lightweight
Stainless Steel
Most people think stainless steel as having a certain uniform appearance, this is not necessarily always the case. Stainless steel can come in a variety of finishes and textures. Some of the most common finishes for stainless steel are the satin finish and the diamond finish.
Regardless of the finish you choose stainless steel bathroom stalls create a high–end quality to your restroom. Stainless steel was once the go to choice for bathroom stalls and toilet partitions, but as advancements in the market progress, many establishments are choosing other materials.
Stainless steel is very beautiful and has an unmatched appearance. The flaw of this material is that it dents and scratches easily. This is the case even in low traffic areas. Stainless steel requires a great deal of cleaning to maintain and is the most expensive material you can choose for your bullet partition, this makes damage even more costly.
Strengths:
- The most beautiful surface for a bathroom partition
- Unmatched appearance
Disadvantages:
- Dents and scratches more than other partition materials
- Most expensive material
- Requires more cleaning and upkeep
