Installing the right shower can make all the difference in helping you get your day off to a good start or wind down completely at the end of it. Assess your space, consider all the options, and don’t forget to check that your preferred choice will work with your water supply before you finalize your decision.
CHOOSE
YOUR SHOWER ARRANGEMENT
There are plenty of ways to create
a stylish, practical showering area. Depending on the space available, you have
the choice of installing a shower over your
bathtub, installing a stall shower or walk-in enclosure, or creating a dedicated
wet room.
STALL SHOWER
If you have a shower enclosure separate from your bathtub, a stall shower with a prefabricated base is usually the simplest and most cost-effective way of doing it. A separate shower, without a bathtub, is fine in an en suite or second bathroom. Still, removing the household’s only bathtub is not advisable to accommodate a stand-alone shower unit.
WET ROOM
Ideal for bigger areas, walk-in showers and wet rooms have become very popular in recent years and are contemporary, stylish, and spacious. A wet room needs to be waterproofed, with a shower drain set into a sloping floor.
TUB-SHOWER
If your bathroom is tiny
with no space for a separate shower, you
may need to install a tub shower above the
bathtub and add a shower curtain or screen.
DECIDE
ON SIZE AND SHAPE
While a wet room will be custom-fitted
to suit your space, there is a finite range of stall shower shapes and sizes to choose
from. Here are the main options. (If you
are combining your shower area with your bathtub, see pages 90–91 for bathtub shapes.)
SQUARE
Square shower bases are very
versatile since they can be positioned in a corner, along a wall, or in the centre of a large room.
They are available in a range of sizes, although
it is worth picking the largest size your bathroom can accommodate, to make your showering experience less cramped.
RECTANGULAR
A rectangular-shaped shower is
a perfect choice if you have a bit more space to play with in your bathroom. The benefit of these
shower bases is that they give you more room
to move around while you’re showering. Like square shower bases, they are available in many different sizes.
PENTAGONAL
Essentially square in shape, but
with a triangular section on one side of the base sliced away, this type of shower is a space-saving
solution to suit a smaller bathroom. The
shower is designed to be tucked neatly into one corner of the bathroom to take up minimal floor space.
QUADRANT
Also suitable for compact areas,
this type of shower base is curved rather than angular at the front. It requires a matching curved
shower screen, and the base and
screen give a smoother look to a bathroom. Offset quadrant bases provide a little more space in which to shower than a regular
quadrant base.
CHOOSE
A SCREEN
A shower screen can add a touch
of class to your bathroom, as well as protect the surrounding area from water
damage. What you go for will largely be dictated
by your choice of shower arrangement, but there are still things you need to consider.
SHOWER CURTAINS
Shower curtains, designed to hang
over a bathtub, can be hung on rings from a straight, L-shaped, or circular shower rail.
Made from polyester or PVC, they are inexpensive
and are available in a huge range of colours and prints. Some versions have a second layer, in a more attractive fabric,
that hangs outside the bathtub.
TUB SCREENS
These transparent screens are attached
to the wall at the end of a bathtub where the shower is positioned and sit flush against the
long outside edge of the bathtub. Made from
tempered safety glass, they may be straight or curved in shape and hinged for easy cleaning. Folding screens are also
available.
SHOWER DOORS
There are several types of doors you can choose for a shower cubicle. Pivot and hinged doors require some space in front to swing open, whereas sliding doors and bifold doors can be folded inward, and so are perfect for small bathrooms. For a more contemporary finish, consider a frameless style.
SHOWER SCREENS
A fixed, full-height straight
or curved glass screen—or a combination of both—will make a stylish statement in a wet room or for a
walk-in shower. Opt for a frameless design,
complemented by sleek chrome fixtures, if you want to create a chic, minimalist look in your bathroom.
CHOOSE
YOUR SHOWERHEAD
The showerhead you choose is
very much down to personal preference but, in making the decision, consider who
will be using the shower and their needs,
as well as the look you want to go for and how spacious or cramped the shower enclosure
is.
HANDHELD HEAD
A handheld showerhead rests in
a bracket attached to the wall or a riser
rail so its height can be adjusted. Installing
this type of versatile showerhead makes it easy to wash hair and small children, so it’s a
sensible choice for a family bathroom.
FIXED HEAD
Set into the wall or ceiling with
the plumbing hidden in the wall, fixed
showerheads provide a slick, polished look
and won’t spray water all over the bathroom.
Opt for a large rain head if you’re after
a rainfall effect.
MULTIPLE HEADS
AND SPRAYS
For a luxurious head-to-toe showering experience, pair one or more showerheads with horizontal body sprays. The self-contained units are called shower panels or shower towers, but you could also consider a custom install.
CHOOSE
YOUR CONTROLS
Besides finding the functionality
you like best in terms of knobs and/or levers, the most fundamental question when
choosing valves to regulate the flow and temperature
of your shower is “concealed or exposed.”
EXPOSED VALVE
Surface-mounted on the wall, these
are used in conjunction with a handheld showerhead.
Choose a traditional or modern design, depending on what will best complement your other fixtures.
CONCEALED VALVE
A concealed valve is recessed into
the wall so that there is no visible plumbing. This gives a clean, minimalist look that suits
a contemporary bathroom with a fixed showerhead.
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