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This showers and shower accessories guide aims to provide you with information about choosing the right type, design and style of bathroom shower and accessories including heads, controls, doors, trays and enclosures.

If you are designing a showering area, you will find useful information about the various types including; power, mixer, electric showers, enclosures, bath showers, wet rooms, steam showers for bathrooms and commercial fixtures, with further information on shower accessories; heads, controls, doors and tray bases, by clicking on the links below.

 

Shower Heads

If the shower valve is the work horse of the shower, then the head is the peacock. Here design is king and you can let your imagination run free.

While fixed head showers recessed into the wall undoubtedly create the most luxurious and streamlined look, there are practical considerations to take into account as well.

Do you have a separate bath with a bath shower mixer that can be used for washing your hair? If not, perhaps you need a supplementary shower head on an adjustable riser or to substitute your fixed shower head for an adjustable head.

Water delivery is another important factor. If you want a shower that falls like summer rain then a larger shower rose is the ideal choice. Remember though, this type of shower can discharge a large volume of water, so make sure your water system can cope with it. There is a perception that with shower heads, the bigger the better. A bigger head does not necessarily mean a more powerful shower, this is governed by the shower valve.

Perhaps you want a shower head that can be adjusted for different types of water delivery to suit your mood. For this you will need a multi-mode shower head as opposed to a single mode shower head. A champagne flow is ideal for a relaxing, luxurious shower, but to have the option to switch to a pulse motion to massage away your tension is often important.

Finally consider the practicalities. Everyone hates cleaning so look for shower heads that have a rub clean finish. This will help prevent the build up of unsightly lime scale. Simply run the shower head under the tap and it is clean.

 

Shower Hoses

While the shower hose may not seem like a very important part of your decision making process when purchasing a shower, it can have an impact on how the shower performs. For example, if you have a low pressure water system (with a water tank in the loft) then you need to create the least friction as possible for the water to flow through in order to deliver a powerful shower. In this instance a large bore hose which has a wider diameter for the water to travel through is better.

Small bore shower hoses are usually used on high pressure systems where the water is pumped under pressure to the shower head. Always check the quality of the finish of the hose before buying, as good quality hoses are usually made of stainless steel or brass.

 

Fixed Shower Heads

Go to any four star hotel or into the homes of the style-conscious on the Continent and you will undoubtedly find a fixed head shower in the bathroom. Why? Because it gives a neat, clean finish, which is recessed into the tiles, or wall.

You can complement your fixed head shower with a supplementary head on an adjustable riser if you want to use it for washing hair or rinsing the shower cubicle, but this is really a practical concession to a stylish look. For the ultimate fixed head shower look for a large, 8” or above, shower rose, which creates a rain-like flow. This type of head looks as stylish in a contemporary setting teamed with mosaics or limestone as it does in a faithfully restored period bathroom.

 

 Shower Bodyjets

For a ‘full assault’ shower you can’t beat a model with directional shower bodyjets. These can be aimed at areas of the body so that the water flow is not just falling from above, but is reaching the body from all angles, making it much easier to rinse soap and shampoo and creating a truly invigorating experience.

When installing a shower with body jets, however, make sure that you also install a diverter valve so that the shower head can be used in isolation if required. Sometimes, there’s only so much water the body can handle!

 

Shower Handsets

Shaped like a telephone receiver and sporting a ceramic handle and circular chrome spray head, this look is the most instantly recognisable shower handset which hangs neatly on a bath cradle. This shape is still very popular and ideal for a more classic bathroom look.
For the best in contemporary chic, however, a simple, conical, microphone-shaped handset is the pinnacle of modern style.

 

Shower Door

The development over recent years of shower enclosures and shower screens means that leaky shower doors, moldy shower curtains and shower rods which fall down every time you touch them are long gone.

There are now so many ingenious designs for a spacious shower enclosure or compact shower model to fit every home and requirement. For example square or rectangular shower enclosures which make the most of some very unusual spaces in cupboards, loft conversions and bedrooms.

Whether it is for a second bathroom, en-suite or separate shower room, with the addition of so many options for shower controls, stimulating body jets and hydro massage for example, the shower enclosure in many cases may even replace the bath altogether.

 

Shower Enclosures

You don’t necessarily need a lot of space to install a shower enclosure, but it is important to plan it properly.

You need to have enough space to move around, hang towels and store toiletries as well as having some privacy and easy access. The size of your enclosure will generally be determined by where you want to install it and the size and shape of shower tray you purchase. The most common shapes are square, quadrant (quarter-circle), offset quadrant, pentagonal and rectangular. If you have the room, all of these can be installed separately to your bath, or you may decide to replace your bath entirely with a larger walk-in enclosure. A shower-bath, which is wider at one end than the other gives you a generous showering space when you need it but means you can also have a long soak.

A shower enclosure can be purchased ready-made and is made up of several different components, generally a shower tray, glass shower door and side panel which need to be assembled and installed together in whichever location of the room you choose. A popular option is to position the enclosure in a corner of the room in order to make use of two existing walls, which you would tile, and then use a glass shower door and side panel to act as the third and fourth walls.

A different approach is to build your shower into an alcove or recessed area which already has 3 walls, which means you no longer need the shower side panels. This may give you a cost saving on the shower products, but may be more labour-intensive to construct, particularly if you are creating the alcove with stud walls.

A walk-in enclosure typically consists of a larger, rectangular shower tray, with a fixed curved screen at one end which does not return completely to the wall. You take your shower behind this screen and can step back into a drier area within the enclosure to dry yourself. There are no moving parts with this type of enclosure which makes getting in and out quick and easy, and with no door opening out into the room, you don’t drip water every time you open it.

Alternatively, you could go for a wet-room look, which is a totally waterproof room, or part of a room, where the floor is your shower tray and is fitted with a shower waste outlet for the water to drain away.

 

There is quite a lot to do to make a wet room work and you should seek professional advice before you begin. The floor must be rigid and raised by about 5cm to make room for the waste fittings and needs to slope towards the waste outlet. You will also need to tile all the walls (ceramic or stone tiles are best) to make the entire room waterproof. If you don’t have a defined showering area, you may decide to add a glass screen instead to protect the rest of your bathroom fittings from getting soaked every time you shower, and in any case, a wall-hung toilet and sink may be your best choice of suite fittings since they will allow any surplus water to drain away and make cleaning the floor easier.

 

Shower Screens

If you don’t want to give up your bath but still want the convenience of a shower, the easiest and quickest option is to fit your shower over your bath. In order to protect the rest of the room from the spray and water from the shower, you could, as an alternative to a flimsy shower curtain, install a shower screen. Bath and shower screens are made from toughened safety glass and are typically fixed to the wall at the end of the bath where your shower controls and shower head are located.

In all cases, you should check your bath is suitable for a shower screen because the force of the water from your shower may move the screen and therefore leak. A slight ridge along the edge of the bath is ideal, but as a minimum the top edge of your bath should be flat right up to the wall.

If your bath is recessed with walls on 3 sides, a screen which is designed to fit to a track along the edge of the bath and on the ceiling and slides open will give you a completely closed in showering area the full length of the bath.

 

Shower Controls

A shower control valve is a unit that controls the temperature and flow rate of water to your shower.
The water flow you wish to achieve will play an important role in the shower control. The power shower, mixer manual showers, shower panel, shower towers, electric shower or venturi shower offer alternative approaches to showering.

There are many considerations you will need to make alongside choosing your shower control:
What type of shower head can you use with the shower control? What type of water installation system do you currently have, or can you have? What showering experience you wish to achieve i.e. shower cubicle, wet room, steam shower etc. Do you need a shower that requires a shower pump?

Refer to our installation and maintenance section for advice on some other considerations you may need to make.

 

Power Showers

‘All-in-one’ or integral power showers, combine a mixing valve with a powerful built-in pump, all in one unit. They mix hot and cold gravity fed water, whilst the pump boosts the flow to give a forceful, invigorating shower.

Power showers cannot be used if you have a combination boiler, but they are
ideal for homes that have a cold water storage tank and a readily available supply of stored hot water.

They are available in both manual and thermostatic versions; thermostatic showers maintain an exact temperature, even if water is drawn off elsewhere in the home.

 

Mixer Manual Showers

As the name suggests a mixer manual shower is quite literally a means of mixing hot water from your hot water supply and cold water from the mains to create the ideal temperature.

Typically mixer manual showers are relatively inexpensive in comparison to thermostatic models, but fluctuations in temperature can be expected.

 

Thermostatic Showers

We’ve all been in a shower when the toilet has flushed downstairs or the washing machine has come on and taken a sharp intake of breath as the temperature plummets!

To maintain a constant temperature without having to fiddle with the hot and cold water inlets, thermostatic shower valves are the only option. The temperature can be pre-set and the valve will ensure that the temperature is maintained to within + or – a degree. What’s more for a family bathroom a thermostatic shower is the only sensible option. You can rest assured that a child cannot scald itself when the water is being pre-mixed to a prescribed temperature.

 

Pressure Balanced

Pressure balancing valves are suitable for use on all plumbing systems and despite not being thermostatically controlled they help to maintain a constant temperature during pressure fluctuations. Available is an exposed and concealed option, the valve in controlled with a single lever for both flow and temperature

 

Bath / Shower Mixers

If you are trying to create a period look in your bathroom then a cradle style bath shower mixer valve is a must. With aesthetics similar to an old-fashioned telephone, you get the looks of a bygone era but with the technology of today’s brassware manufacturing techniques.
For a more modern look consider opting for a single hole bath shower mixer.

 

This neat little unit will sit on your bath and operate temperature and flow with a single lever. But before you decide to go for this ultra-modern look, make sure your bath does not have two tap holes. If it does, there are a plethora or two hole mixers which can give an equally contemporary look.

The classic shape of the Cardinal cross-head handles with their white ceramics indices add that touch of authenticity to all traditionally styled bathrooms and wash rooms.

 

Panel / Tower / Pole

Shower Panels, or Shower Towers as they are sometimes known, are multi-outlet showers – a luxurious combination of body jets and showerheads, in one complete unit.

Most shower panels are thermostatic and are pre-plumbed which makes them very easy to fit and they can be used in shower enclosures or over a bath with a shower screen.

They draw hot and cold water from your household supplies and are ideal for homes that have a readily available supply of stored hot water. They can also be used with some types of combination boiler (but it is always advisable to check with your boiler manufacturer first).

Most Shower Panels give best performance when combined with a separate shower pump of 1.5 bar. However, the Power-panel is an important exception to this as it has a shower pump already built in!).

 

Electric Showers

Most electric showers draw water direct from a cold mains supply and only heat the water as it is used. This makes them very economical, giving instantaneous showering, even in the summer when you may not have stored hot water.
Electric showers can be installed into homes where there is not a stored hot water supply and such flexibility means that they can be fitted into most domestic situations.

This stylish range of electric showers offer a selection of power ratings, starting with a basic, low cost unit, to a high performance model. If you prefer a more powerful shower, simply choose a higher kilowatt rating for a greater flow rate.

 

Venturi Showers

Simple technology… Made beautiful
A completely different concept for showers. A product that gives power shower performance without any electrics or pumps. Working on the venturi principle, the NewTeam Jetstream uses cold mains water, which passes through a jetpump with such high velocity and pressure that it creates a suction effect, pulling in hot water from your household cylinder.

Whilst other venturi showers suffer from disappointing performance and poor temperature stability, the Jetstream venturi is unique. By mixing the hot and cold water at the point of the showerhead, energy loss is minimal, giving a forceful, saturating shower that does not loose performance as it travels to the showerhead.

 

Ceiling Fed Showers

There is no need to chase out the walls for pipe work with a ceiling fed shower. This is especially useful for homes with a gravity fed water system, as the water can be routed directly from the cylinder to the shower, making installation a breeze. Existing tiles can stay put – saving both time and money - but the overall look is striking and absolutely perfect for creating a glamorous wet room style bathroom with minimum fuss.

 

Shower Trays

Shower trays, otherwise known as a shower base or shower pan, can vary in size, from compact square shapes to spacious rectangular models and 5-sided designs and are made from a variety of materials such as acrylic, glass, ceramic, wood and stone. The type, size and shape of tray you go for will depend entirely on the space you have available and the size of your budget, but choose the largest you can so that your showering experience is as comfortable as possible.

When you come to install a shower tray it is best to fit and plumb it in before you measure for the enclosure because tiles and tile adhesive can reduce the size of the tray by as much as 12mm. It is very important that you use a watertight sealant on all the edges of the tray and walls to stop any leaks.

 

Materials

Acrylic is probably the most common material used for shower bases, followed closely by stone resin, but these are not the only types available. Depending on your budget and the style you are looking for, you may like to choose something perhaps a bit more unusual, such as glass, ceramic, wood or stone.

Acrylic trays are relatively inexpensive compared to the other types, but may not be as sturdy as ceramic or stone designs. However, stone trays are far heavier and more difficult to install, particularly when it comes to making room for the waste trap – if you have a solid floor you will need to either make a channel for the waste pipe to run in or raise the tray off the floor, which is not a problem with the easily adjustable bases of acrylic trays.

Wood and glass trays, along with the ceramic trays, are certainly a stylish alternative to stone or acrylic, but may not be that practical for a busy family home. Remember that shampoo and soap suds can make the surface very slippery which may be dangerous for young children, the elderly or infirm.

 

 Shapes

The most popular shapes of shower base trays are supplied by many different manufacturers, but share the same characteristics.
Square tray ranges in size typically from about 75cm to 120cm2 and fits best into an alcove or corner.

Pentangle tray, which is a square shape with one corner missing is great if you have a tight corner to fit into since the fact that you enter the shower at one corner allows enough space either side for your toilet and sink.

Rectangle tray which commonly extends to about 120cm long by up to as much as 90cm wide allows you plenty of showering space.
Quadrant tray (a quarter-circle) is ideal if you want to put your shower in the corner of the room and works particularly well with sliding doors.

Offset Quadrant tray is rectangular but with a curved corner at one end.
Walk In tray is slightly different in that it is P-shape with a generous shower area at one end and narrower at the other

 

Accessories

There are lots of shower accessories to consider and choose from!
Even if you have opted for a fixed head shower, there is always the option of incorporating an additional shower head on an adjustable riser. Look for a neat design that is inconspicuous and that fits with the design of your bathroom.

Make sure the hose you select is the correct length for the purpose you want – there is nothing more frustrating than a hose that dangles down in an unsightly manner or a hose that simply won’t reach for the job! Also check the action of the riser rail – is it smooth and easy to operate?

 

Rails & Risers - Fixed & Adjustable

We all come in different shapes and sizes, so a riser rail shower is an ideal way to combat this problem. This way the shower head can simply slide up and down a fixed pole to position the shower above the head which is ideal in a household where the kids need to wash in the same bathroom as the parents!

 

 Shower Curtains

A simple and economic barrier for enclosing the shower area is the shower curtain. Shower curtains come is a variety of materials coated cotton, nylon and PVC and can be colour coordinated to fit with your colour scheme. Shower curtains are waterproof and are machine washable.

Curtains are obviously not as sturdy as shower screens and must be correctly positioned to ensure that they offer full protection from water spray. The advantage of the curtain is that it is easier to fit and costs less. Shower Curtains are suitable for use with electric and low-powered mixer showers but not recommended to be used with power showers. A heavier material is more likely to provide a more effective barrier and it is worth considering getting a curtain treated with a fungicide to prevent mould growth. A curtain with a weighted hem is more likely to hold its position.

Tracks and Rods
If you opt for a shower curtain then you will need to install a rod or track from which the curtain can be suspended. They come in all shapes and flexible ones can be purchased to be individually adapted to fit into difficult areas. Curtain tracks can be attached to the ceiling and this is often a popular choice.

If you have a tight budget you may wish to install a temporary shower curtain and consider getting a shower screen at a later date. If the shower curtain is only a temporary measure then you will not wish to drill through bathroom tiles and leave permanent holes. The perfect solution would be a telescopic shower curtain rod, which is spring loaded and can be secured between two walls. The curtain can then be simply attached with inexpensive curtain rings.

 

Shower Curtains

A simple and economic barrier for enclosing the shower area is the shower curtain. Shower curtains come is a variety of materials coated cotton, nylon and PVC and can be colour coordinated to fit with your colour scheme. Shower curtains are waterproof and are machine washable.

Curtains are obviously not as sturdy as shower screens and must be correctly positioned to ensure that they offer full protection from water spray. The advantage of the curtain is that it is easier to fit and costs less. Shower Curtains are suitable for use with electric and low-powered mixer showers but not recommended to be used with power showers. A heavier material is more likely to provide a more effective barrier and it is worth considering getting a curtain treated with a fungicide to prevent mould growth. A curtain with a weighted hem is more likely to hold its position.

Tracks and Rods

If you opt for a shower curtain then you will need to install a rod or track from which the curtain can be suspended. They come in all shapes and flexible ones can be purchased to be individually adapted to fit into difficult areas. Curtain tracks can be attached to the ceiling and this is often a popular choice.
If you have a tight budget you may wish to install a temporary shower curtain and consider getting a shower screen at a later date. If the shower curtain is only a temporary measure then you will not wish to drill through bathroom tiles and leave permanent holes. The perfect solution would be a telescopic shower curtain rod, which is spring loaded and can be secured between two walls. The curtain can then be simply attached with inexpensive curtain rings.

Wet Rooms and Steam Showers

The latest trend in bathroom design is the wet room. With today’s hectic lifestyles more of us are looking for opportunities to relax and unwind within the comfort of our own homes, perhaps too pressed for time to afford the luxury of a break away. Investing in the restyling of your bathroom and making it into your own private hideaway of course has the further benefits of adding real value to your home as well as making a stunning focal point.

The wet room has an open shower area which flows into the rest of the room, thus making them suitable for both small and large rooms, giving an illusion of space through their open plan nature.
Wet rooms look stunning; however, it is imperative that they are correctly fitted to ensure that they are fully water tight.  Due to the work involved it is not really an option if you are on a tight budget.

The Bristan Prism walk in panel is ideal for wet room situations. With it anti-calcium finish on the 6mm thick glass it deters limescale deposits therefore providing an easy maintenance product at 1950mm high and 1200mm wide.

Points to consider when fitting a Wet Room:
The whole room will need to be watertight; the technical term is “tanking”. This should be carried out only by a suitable professional
High quality motor and ceramic/carbon seals to ensure longer life and leak-free operation
The floor will need to be raised about 5 cm to accommodate the waste fittings. The floor will need to incorporate a slight slope towards the waste outlet

The room must have enough structural support to take the weight of all the material and products
Ventilation is important to allow the room to dry out; you may also wish to consider installing under floor heating
Position the shower fittings away from the door to ensure that the water drains only into the room
Consider installing a wall hung toilet and basin too or furniture, to add to the spacious feel and to free up the floor. Think about your floor covering carefully; opt for non-slip surfaces.

Choose a stylish shower to set off your room. Consider body jets and movable shower handsets as well as a fixed head.
You may want to add a screen to save all your bathroom fittings being regularly sprayed with water
If on reflection a wet room sounds to expensive or complicated maybe a simpler option would be a Walk-In Shower - a compromise between the wet room option and a fully enclosed shower cubicle.

For another relaxing alternative a steam room offer the same health benefits of a sauna. The steam works to remove dirt and toxins from the pores and the high temperature relaxes tense muscles. Steam rooms can be installed as a cubicle within your bathroom space to provide a real sanctuary from the stresses and strains of modern life.

 

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