North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Shower Enclosures’ Category

Not all showers are created as equals. In fact some of them are far superior to others and the best are walk-in shower cubicles. If you have never seen one of these shower cubicles before, prepare to be impressed when you first get a look at one. The tray forms a rough P shape, with one end giving access to the shower, leaving the rest of the cubicle free to shower in.

Some of these shower cubicles are more ornate than others and they often have a sweeping design to the entrance, which makes the whole thing look like a teardrop.

One thing you need to think about with these shower cubicles is whether you want a left or a right handed one. Decide which would fit in better given the space you have in your bathroom? Think about where the cubicle will be and then consider which end the door should be to give you the best and the easiest access. Be sure you measure up properly before you commit to buying anything, as you don’t want to find that the unit will not fit in the space available.

Normally, when you buy a shower cubicle, you will be supplied with a complete package, which will include your choice of tray as well as the shower itself. This simplifies the entire process, as you don’t have to remember to add any optional extras.

A lot of individuals are now opting for a walk in shower when they remodel their existing bathrooms. There are many good reasons for doing so with each depending on personal circumstances. Smaller spaces are ideal as wet rooms due to the fact there is no defined shower cubicle. This makes a small room look more spacious.

People with mobility problems usually choose the wet room design, as there is more space for manoeuvring items such as a wheelchair around the room. The shower area has no raised shower tray so the occupant can wheel themselves in and out with ease. The floor area of the bathroom is normally covered in bathroom tiles, again making moving around the room simple.

Wet rooms are commonly fitted from floor to ceiling with ceramic bathroom tiles. This makes cleaning the area extremely easy. Some people opt to have a shower cubicle in their wet room although this is uncommon. Those that wish to define their shower area may find that using a shower curtain is easier. This is also a better option for those who are less mobile as curtains are easier to slide back and forth than many of the solid shower doors available on the market these days.

Bathroom accessories such as bathroom cabinets should ideally be raised off the floor or at least have waterproof bases. Wall mounted bathroom cabinets are ideal in a wet room, especially for those who have no wish to use any form of shower enclosure or curtain. There is inevitably a lot of splashing or spraying of water and so bathroom accessories that will rot if continually wet, such as wooden items, are not ideal.

For those who prefer a more solid option to the shower curtain, shower doors are ideal.  They come in a range of styles and fittings and there is one to suit every bathroom. 

There are numerous advantages to using a shower door instead of a curtain.  They are better designed to keep water away from the bathroom floor and last for a much longer period of time.  They range from a simple partition which can be fixed to the side of a bath in place of a curtain to a full shower enclosure.

Some shower enclosures will come as one unit with the door incorporated.  Some of these will swing open on a hinge while others will slide open or work on a pivot.  There are styles that are bi-fold, so moving neatly out of the way when you do not need to use them. 

If using a shower over a bath then it is a good idea to try a bi-fold partition, which can rest flat against the wall while the shower is not being used.  They are usually made from a toughened glass or plastic and are easy to clean and care for.  The traditional shower curtain easily sustains damage, and once dirty is difficult to keep clean. 

As with most other bathroom fixtures and fittings, you can choose from a basic budget brand or a designer name for your shower door, it is easy to choose a style that fits in well with the rest of your bathroom.

When deciding how you want to remake your bathroom there are a number of options available. You can choose to just refurbish one aspect of your bathroom or you can choose to redo the whole bathroom according to a certain theme – such as a tropical paradise.

If you choose to make your bathroom look like a tropical paradise you need to keep this theme in mind when looking at bathroom accessories. Choose bathroom furniture that maintains this theme, such as a bathroom cabinet that is made of natural wood. You can change your floor tiling so that it is a terra cotta or bamboo colour so that when walking on the bathroom tiles they appear like sand. You can paint murals on the walls, such as waterfalls or tropical birds. Use bright and warm pastels that are accented by more neutral colours such as soft blues and dark greens.

Your shower accessories should also reflect this theme. Choose a shower curtain that makes you feel like you are bathing in a waterfall. Or if you have a shower enclosure make sure the shower door is decorated appropriately (you can paint more murals or get bathroom stickers). Your shower tray could be in the shape of a banana leaf and the faucets should also be appropriate for the theme.

Essentially, use your imagination to turn your bathroom into your own little slice of paradise. It may seem silly to spend so much time on decorating the bathroom but you spend more time in this room than you think. And if it is decorated up nicely chances are you will enjoy the time you spend in here more.

The shower cubicle can be as simple or as extravagant one wishes; choosing the correct shower enclosure to suit the bathroom can help to really make the bathroom the centrepiece of the whole house. The shower enclosures comprise of not only the enclosure walls, but also the shower tray, doors and of course the shower unit itself. Some shower enclosures can go from floor to ceiling, and can become almost like a steam room when being used.

Using a shower enclosure rather than shower curtains is preferable as an enclosure is completely waterproof, easier to clean and of course, solid. For added privacy the shower enclosure walls can be frosted and not just clear glass. For an already enclosed unit, for example, a shower in a recessed area, shower doors can be used to make the area waterproof. The shower doors can be one complete piece or bi-folding with hinges.

A shower enclosure with sliding doors can be an excellent space saver in a smaller sized bathroom. Another way to save space in a small bathroom is to add enclosure walls and a sliding door to a shower already situated over a bath.

When choosing a shower enclosure it is important to make sure that it is suitable for the whole family. High bases may not be suitable for those with mobility issues, and there must be plenty of space to turn around safely.  For those who have difficulty standing too long, there must be room to place a small chair or stool, so that they can shower in comfort.

Not everyone has a big bathroom. Some must settle for just a shower, and even then it needs to fit compactly into a corner for there to be any room whatsoever left to move around in the bathroom. If you are planning a bathroom remodel, and this sounds like the amount of space you have to work with, then consider going with a quadrant shower cubicle.

Not only do quadrant shower cubicles sit tightly in the corner, but they have a curved front to take up less space than the traditional square or rectangle shower cubicles. You can also opt for an offset quadrant shower cubicle, which has one side longer than the other and adds a bit more room to the shower area. Both types of quadrant shower cubicles sit in a shower tray, which raises it up off the floor, allowing for easy installation and access later to pipes.

Quadrant shower cubicles also come with a variety of door options. Choose a quadrant shower cubicle with one shower door or two, sliding or fixed. If you decide on one shower door it can often be adjusted so that it opens left instead or right, or the opposite. That kind of flexibility adds to the appeal of quadrant shower cubicles.

When deciding which size of quadrant shower cubicle will work best in your bathroom space, take the measurements from one you like then use tape or string to mark where it will sit, then take into account opening doors and getting in and out. If it’s too tight, or you have plenty of room, adjust accordingly and choose a different size.

The beauty of the Roman shower enclosure range is that you can have an enclosure designed to meet your exact requirements and specifications. With the Roman wet-room and collage options, customers have the opportunity to make their dream bathroom a reality. Roman also has the skills and experience to create a shower enclosure to fit in the most awkward space or the smallest space. The bespoke service requires customers to provide the measurements and Roman will provide the expertise. They actually promise that no space is too small so if you have spent years wishing that your bathroom was big enough for a stylish shower enclosure, you should see what Roman can do for you. It is fair to say that you will pay for the quality and design of this bespoke service, so budget will be an important factor.

However, Roman shower enclosures are not only made to measure as they also have a standard product list with standard specifications. Even if you have a small bathroom you may find one of their standard enclosures would fit in your space. They make the most of small spaces by utilising clever design features such as inward opening doors.

One of the new Roman ranges is the Embrace shower enclosures which can feature pivot or bi-folding doors, wet room panels or shower screens. The panels can be fitted to a shower tray or a wet-room floor. You can even choose between plain or patterned safety glass panels. For the ultimate luxury you can combine the Embrace shower enclosures with the Embrace Digital Thermostatic Valve, which is a ceiling fed shower with a loft stored valve.

Installing an independent shower enclosure as a DIY activity with its own supply and waste systems requires some prior experience of plumbing. But, if you use an existing bath as your shower tray, then fitting a shower unit can involve little more than replacing the taps.

If you do wish to install a proper shower enclosure it is easier to install a factory-assembled cabinet, complete with a shower tray and mixer, together with well sealed doors or a curtain to contain the spray from the sprayhead. Once you have run the supply pipes and drainage, the installation of your shower enclosure, complete with your choice of shower unit is easily finished. However, factory built shower enclosures can be expensive, yet there is an alternative – for the home improvement specialists amongst you with a taste for DIY, you can construct a purpose-made shower enclosure made to fit the allocated space.

When deciding upon the location of your shower enclosure, consider whether you can use the existing walls – or do you need new partitions that act as a shower enclosure for your shower enclosure?

Another consideration when it comes to installing a shower enclosure is hiding the plumbing. One solution for concealing the pipework that feeds your shower is to install a proprietary shower enclosure with a plastic pillar in the corner that is designed to hide the plumbing and also house the mixer as well as the adjustable sprayhead.

If your shower enclosure is freestanding with a shower tray, you can finish the inside with ceramic tiles, then seal the shower tray joints with silicone sealant.

After having finally installed that new bath or shower enclosure, bought new towels and bathmats, retiled the floor and painted the walls and ceiling, some final finishing touches will add your own sense of individuality and style to your perfect bathroom.

Why not display special memorabilia along a shelf along wall? This could take the form of anything, from framed family photographs to holiday souvenirs. Glass jars could be easily utilised as receptacles for bath salts or aromatic oils.

Fresh flowers or ferns make a wonderful addition to any bathroom. Hunt down some unusual vases in charity shops or market stalls. Even old window boxes make a delightful fixture.

Why not remove the door of the linen cupboard and replace it with a tapestry screen? Alternatively, cover it with a made-to-measure painting or embroidery.

Instead of paint, try staining bathroom cabinets. This way, you can recreate a genuine rustic feel. Wood stain comes in a myriad of different shades, so take your time while choosing.

Trailing light bulbs along a runner at the top of the wall produces a marvellously atmospheric tone. Perhaps add a table lamp, if you have sufficient space, with a specially designed lampshade.

Adding tiles around bathroom mirrors is another good way to highlight a focal point. Try painting the frame in a gold or silver finish or place the light so it reflects off the mirror.

Whatever you choose to do, make certain that the finishing touches do not let down the bathroom you have so lovingly and expensively created.

If you are planning to change your bathroom it will be cheaper to design your own, as that way you will also have a more unique and personal style to your bathroom. But with such a wealth of choice when it comes to different makes of bathroom furniture, accessories and shower enclosures, it can be hard to know what will suit best.

A good place to start – whether it’s a modern or traditional-style bathroom – is with the style of furniture that you want to use. A wood finish is proving very popular for the latest bathroom designs, and oak, pine and rosewood are a common choice. Of course, Scandinavian-style bathroom suites are always highly sought after and sleek minimal bath taps and basin taps will also be a good option to complement the plain and natural setting.

Fortunately, many of the major bathroom suite showrooms are great places to see what styles will go well together. For traditional bathrooms, different designs are often categorised by the fashions of the time periods they are trying to recreate, such as Victorian and Edwardian. Winchester bathroom suites are a popular display in many showrooms and will give you a good insight into what fittings and accessories will make the right combination.

And if you thought a free-standing roll top bath was only reserved for these traditional suites, there is a range of attractive modern designs that follow the same style as their older counterparts and will be a great way of adding a central feature to your bathroom.