Showers are so quick to use and so easy on the household budget they have become the most used facility in the bathroom. The shower unit comes in many different shapes and sizes with accessories to meet the individual need of the consumer, so before venturing into the local showroom check out the points below to ensure you are going shopping fully armed and will buy to meet your exact need.

Can you install a shower in your home?

This may seem a bit of a strange question as most homeowners assume in this age where everything comes at the push of a button or the click of a switch, that all basic creature comforts can be installed into any house. But some types of shower need an appropriate environment. This is a question of water pressure, and depending on how your water is supplied will determine whether the water pressure is high enough for a shower to be installed. If the hot water is stored in a tank in the airing cupboard while the cold water is stored in the loft (low pressure gravity fed water system) then you need to make sure there is at least 1 metre between the cold water storage and the top of the shower head. Otherwise the power from the shower is not likely to be strong enough. This can be rectified by placing the cold water tank on a platform or you can add a pump to boost the water pressure.

How much space will I need?

There needs to be ample space for your family to get in and out of the shower safely and allow room for other bathroom facilities. So now you need to be thinking about what form this shower will take. Will it be a unit within its own enclosure or will it be set within one end of the bath? Bear in mind that there will need to be room to open and close doors on enclosure showers and room for a tray within the drying area. Units are designed now to fit snugly into a corner of your bathroom to save space.

Types of enclosure showers

There are basically two types of "enclosure" shower. There are those which are raised slightly above the bathroom floor and self-contained - ready-made cubicles - and walk-in showers. Another name for the latter is "wet rooms" and because of their ease of use, maintenance, and cutting edge design they have become very fashionable. There is a specially designed floor that ensures all water remains in the shower area and is dispensed with after showering.

Ready-made cubicles can equally make your bathroom look stylish. They offer a variety of shapes and sizes to meet the needs of your available floor space and stunning shaped glass help to give it that contemporary feel. When choosing your enclosure take into account other in-built features such as storage shelves, seats, massage jets and aroma therapy facilities.

Shower trays come in many different designs to meet your needs. It is important to consider the deeper tray if you are buying a power shower as they will allow for the gathering of more water.

Also take into account how the doors will open on your preferred choice of shower. Sliding doors or bi-fold doors are perfect for a small bathroom but be aware when buying with pivot doors which way the door will open within your bathroom.

Fitting a shower over your bath

A bath shower can be a great choice when looking to save space, money, and still give a stylish finish with a glass panel. Coming in numerous different designs shower panels are usually manufactured from toughened safety glass, they are available framed or unframed in a range of finishes, in a choice of clear or patterned glass. Like the enclosure doors the panels can be fixed or they can be hinged to allow easy egress from the bath. Useful accessories are integrated towel rails or shelves.

Loads of showers, advice and bathroom products.

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