Shower options and designs

Whether you want a slice of luxury or just something efficient there are lots of options when it comes to selecting the right shower – find out more here.

There are four main aspects you will need to consider in order to find the perfect shower for your needs;

Does the shower fit your home?

Choose your shower carefully

Whilst the idea of a mini waterfall cascading you with perfectly heated water is a nice dream, reality is often different. Most of the time this is simply because the shower you have isn’t really suitable for your home, or more specifically, your hot water system. All you need to do is identify what type of hot water system you have and pick a suitable shower option for it. There are three main types of hot water system:

1. Combination boilers: these are found in most new homes, they work by heating pressurised cold water by demand, so should theoretically never run out of hot water. If you’re after a really powerful shower option you will need to look for a combination boiler that is capable of supplying hot water at a flow rate of at least 12 litres a minute. Obviously the bigger the shower head the more pressure will be needed. If you do have a combination boiler your best bet is to go for a thermostatic shower mixer valve, to even out any temperature changes.
2. Gravity system: these systems tend to be found in older homes and are comprised of a hot and cold feed as well as a cold water tank and a hot water cylinder. The cylinder can be heated by external means such as a boiler or an internal source such as an immersion heater. So what does all this mean for you and your shower? Well basically, the pressure of the shower connected to this system will solely depend on the distance from the bottom of the tank (probably located in the loft) to the shower head. So in short, the greater the distance the higher the water pressure, it should be roughly 3-4m. Gravity systems can also be fitted with a booster pump which will increase your showers performance.
3. Mains pressure system: instead of having a cold water tank, the pressure in the mains water supply in the road is used to pressurise the hot and cold supplies. A pressure valve which limited this from rising above 3bar is usually used. This hot water can be heated either via a combination boiler, a thermal store or a cylinder. Such a system will provide you with a very powerful shower, excluding the need for a pump. The balanced hot and cold water pressure also eradicates the need for a thermostatic mixer valve.

Have you got the right shower head?

It might seem quite a pedantic thing to consider but it’s worth thinking about what type of shower head to have, as it can make quite a difference to the performance of your shower. There are five options for you to choose from; handheld, handheld on a slider rail, fixed, ceiling mounted and those combined body jets.

The thermostatic tap will usually control both the temperature and pressure and will notice changes in the water and adjust it accordingly. With certain variations you can set the temperature so it is perfect as soon as you turn it on.

If you decide not to go for a hand held shower you should consider buying one anyway, as they’re great if you’ve got kids and also for cleaning the bath. Hand held showers can also be fitted into a slider rail so you can adjust the height of it very easily.

You should also look at special designs and features and they are endless; if you’re after a shower one step down from a waterfall it’s probably available!

Will it be an over the bath or tray shower?

If you’re going for an over the bath shower you won’t need to worry about a base. However, if you go for a tray you will. Some bases are designed to be flush with the floor, but some are designed for use with enclosures. As for the material, ceramic is generally regarded as being the most strong and stable option. You could also go for steel, stone, acrylic or even water resistant hardwood.

Walk in shower, shower enclosure or even a shower cabin?

Many people want to have a separate shower enclosure rather than an over the bath shower. This is fine if you have a large enough bathroom to accommodate it, there is nothing worse than a tiny shower! There is currently a minimum enclosure size but experts recommend no smaller than 900mm² as any smaller will feel too cramped. You can purchase an enclosure which is made up of panels, a door and a base; you can either fit these yourself or get an installer in to fit them.

Walk in showers are slightly different as they offer more area, and usually only have a panel separating them from the bathroom. This does mean that all walls and floors must be completely waterproofed.

Or, you could go all out in the name of luxury and get a shower cabin. Body jets, mood lighting, steam and music are just a few options available that will transform your boring bathroom into a mini spa! However, shower cabins – at their cheapest – will set you back around £5,000.

How much will a shower cost?

Below are some approximate costs for different shower options, it is worth shopping around for the best price though;

Walk in shower: £500+

Shower enclosure: £250+

Shower cabin: £5000+

Installation costs will vary as there is no specific charge, you should ring around a few local installers to get the best quote.