Finding The Perfect Shower

Finding the right type of shower for your installation depends entirely on your home water system. A mixer shower tends to be the most economical option, when both hot and cold water is supplied from storage cisterns. I would not worry too much about water pressure, as most showers are designed to cope with various levels of pressure. If you connect you shower directly to the mains water, as you would with an instantaneous shower, be sure to fit a double seal check valve. This will stop back siphonage, which is a common problem. If hot water is delivered to the shower via a multi-point heater, as specially designed system will have to be implemented. It’s important to check with the manufacturer before implementing such a system. Being one of the top bathroom suppliers Northern Ireland have used for a number of years, I have came into contact with these units on a number of occasions.

Bath/Shower Mixer

A very cost effective approach, these showers are as inexpensive as fitting a regular tap. The reason for this being that no extra plumbing is required to fit these showers. The temperature is controlled directly through the central heating system which supplies water to the hot and cold taps. This is not the most convenient approach but does represent a hassle free fitting.

Power Shower

An all-in-one shower which incorporates an electric pump, designed to boost the pressure of the hot water as it leaves the shower head. If the water is supplied from a combination boiler, you will have to consider another shower system, as this will only work when the water is supplied from a hot and cold water cistern. Another problem associated with power showers is waste removal. Removing the waste fast enough can be difficult and it takes a lot of careful planning to resolve this issue. On average the shower tray needs to be able to cope with 30 litres a minute.

Instantaneous Electric Shower

This type of shower is fed directly from the mains, with the water heated by an electric powered element. The higher the temperature the less pressure the water can be pushed through at. This can be an issue in cooler climates, where mains water supply can be sub-zero temperatures. Some models have a winter/summer setting, which can be set depending on the season. Designs fitted with a temperature stabiliser are a popular choice, as they cannot run too hot and they are not affected by other water use in the household. The unit must be wired to the electricity supply, so hire a trained electrician to fit the shower.

Manual and Thermostatic Mixers

These units have the hold and cold water supplies connected to a valve in the shower. In a manual mixer the temperature for hot and cold water is controlled separately, usually by hot and cold taps. Thermostatic mixers have a built in stabiliser, preventing the water from running too hot or too cold. Computerised versions of these showers have an LED display where the temperature can be set to the degree and the flow-rate can also be controlled. This type of shower can linked to a pump, to provide power shower services.

Shower Tower

This consists of a thermostatic shower that has a number of jets that spray water in a line. The shower unit also has a showerhead like conventional showers. The jets can be adjusted to vary the flow of water. These are designed to be placed in a corner unit or on a flat wall. In some instances they have been installed over a bath or in wet rooms. Most require a minimum ceiling height of 2.2m but this can vary depending on the manufacturer.

Showerheads may be fixed but are mostly connected to a flexible hose. These can be in single spray or multi-spray showerhead varieties, with the later offering a choice of spray patterns. They also come in large diameter spray options but these can be difficult to fit.

Choosing the right showerhead is as important as choosing the right shower. Acrylic trays are lightweight and durable but are relatively expensive. Stone shower trays are often heavy and difficult to install plus the floor must be perfectly level for these to be installed. Low-level trays are a popular choice, as they created easy access, walk-in showers.

Safety Warning

A showerhead that has a hose attached must be fed through a holding ring secured to the wall. This stops the showerhead hanging down in the water, which has the potential to contaminate the water. With a wet-room no shower tray is required, as the whole room is the shower-tray. A slanted floor to a drain with sealed edges helps contain the water within the room.

How to Keep Your Bathroom Looking Great

Keeping your bathroom fresh and up to date can be a difficult task but if you follow a few simple principles you’ll be able to achieve this with relative ease. The process of fitting a new bathroom can be long and laborious, with multitude of tasks having to be carried out. Carrying out this process more than once in a ten year period can be a step too far for most people, so it is important to make small amendments to your existing bathroom to keep it modern. It is very important that you buy a bathroom suite that will stand the test of time, when designing your bathroom but this can be a lot easier said than done. This remains the only solution for those that do not want to pay out large sums of money and cause massive upheaval in their home life every couple of years. I can’t stress how important it is to get a bathroom suite that does not adhere to what is the current fashion at that time.

You need to develop an approach for maintaining your bathroom that does not involve a large investment of money. You need to uphold the freshness and look of your bathroom, without modifying the core structure of the bathroom i.e. the bathroom suite. Changing the décor of your bathroom, without modifying your bathroom suite can be relatively cheap and it is usually something that can be done yourself. But changes like this are only possible when you have purchased a bathroom suite with real longevity in terms of style and robustness.

When choosing bathroom furniture and fixtures for you bathroom, take a simplistic approach to your selection. Choosing items that are non-obtrusive on the senses will help them blend easily in with whatever bathroom suite that is installed but will also give your bathroom a quiet elegance. Use items with straight lines that can be matched with any bathroom finish but also make sure that you go for non-patterned pieces. If you keep these values in mind when you are choosing your furnishings, you can give the impression of a new fitting with only minor changes to the room.

Another way of freshening up your bathroom is to change the flooring or tile work. A floor that gets a lot of traffic over time can quickly become tired looking and dated, without having an aged feeling to it. When choosing a suitable new flooring type for your bathroom, always choose a colouring that will compliment your bathroom suite but not over power it. Your new flooring does not necessarily have to be expensive, as you can achieve an expensive look with relatively cheap products. Laminate imitation wood flooring can be a great alternative to hard wood flooring when you are working with a tight budgetary constraints. Replacing tiles on a wall or a basing back-splash can be a bit more difficult but the results you will get from your work will more than compensate for the hard work you’ve had to put in.

Designing Tips For A New Bathroom

If you are deciding to update your bathroom, then you are going to need some advice along the way. You need to ask yourself the question; what is it you want from your bathroom on a style and practicality level? From a usage standpoint, is the bathroom an en-suite or a main bathroom? If you are fitting an en-suite, you can indulge in all the latest modern facilities but a main bathroom needs to be designed from a functional direction. I will detail here all the dos and don’ts when it comes to designing your bathroom and will hopefully stop you from falling into any of the usual traps.

I don’t think anyone can argue with the fact that a bathroom needs to be functional, stylish and a place you feel comfortable spending time. It is best to avoid carpet when fitting out your bathroom, as this will trap moisture and will be difficult to clean. Always go for tile or marble if possible but if you are looking for a cheaper alternative you can use laminate flooring. This type of flooring is available in a vast range of styles and colours, so it should be easy to find one that suits your style of room. Tiles or marble can be great for adding texture and colour to a bathroom but they are not always an option when working on a tight budget.

When it comes to choosing a bathtub there are many options available to you and again you have to choose a bathtub that not only fits your needs but also suits your style. Roll-top baths work really well with a more traditional bathroom but these bathrooms are not suited for compact spaces. Footed tubs are a new concept on the market, as they help to save space and can also provide some wonderful visual effects to the bathroom. Lights can be wired to these bathtubs to give an enchanted light scheme to the room and are especially suited to modern bathrooms. When choosing a basin, you should always put comfort before style, as this will be the most used fixture in the room. For a traditional effect, set your basin into the counter top or on-top of a free-standing piece of furniture. For contemporary styles, the basin can be sunk into the wall, saving space and improving the flow of the room greatly.

If this is to be the main bathroom of the household, you will have to consider the amount of storage you will require from the room. Overhead shelving and sunken cabinets can provide some much needed storage to a large family. Heated towel racks can be used instead of radiators, as this will provide an area to hang tiles. Many people overlook this area, when designing their bathroom and soon come to regret this once their project has been completed. It is best to include this in the initial design, as it is harder to adapt an original design to include storage.

My last tip for this article is on the natural flow of the bathroom. There is nothing worse than opening a bathroom door and immediately being confronted with the toilet. It is always best to have the toilet against the same wall the door opens from, as this will disguise it from initial site. If possible, omit the toilet altogether and have separate W.C. room. If neither of these options is viable to you, build a small wall to mask the toilet and this will disguise it from the initial view. If you stick to these simple effects and approaches, you will end up with a bathroom that meets all your requirements but is also a wonderful room to spend time in.