Bathroom Design Ideas

When it comes to installing power showers it probably pays to opt for an all in one model with an integral pump. If you are merely unhappy with the performance of an existing shower, then it’s much cheaper and more convenient to plumb in a separate pump.

Whichever system you choose, check that your cold water storage tank is big enough – typically a minimum capacity of 115 litres (25 gallons). Some manufacturers of showers also recommend a hot water cylinder with a minimum 161 litre (35 gallons) capacity. This type of shower needs an electrical supply to drive the pump. The pump is wired to the ring-main by means of a switch fused connection unit installed outside most bathrooms, or you can fit a ceiling-mounted double-pole switch inside the bathroom. The shower pump switches on automatically as soon as the shower valve is operated.

To plumb showers with an integral pump, you can run dedicated hot and cold supplies to the shower, as when fitting gravity-fed showers. Alternatively, you can connect the hot-water supply directly to the cylinder by using a cylinder flange.

All-in-one showers are prone to vibration: on a timber-frame wall this can create considerable noise. Isolate the unit by mounting it on rubber tap washers slid over the fixing screws.

Always place the pump somewhere convenient for servicing as this will save time in the long run should the pump require any necessary repairs.

All tiling and grouting needs to be completed before mounting the shower on the wall. 

Shower heads are often a secondary consideration, coming in second place to the function or the design of the shower unit. The choice of shower head is important, because it will be the point which delivers the water, so you want one which will suit your particular style and needs.

Generally, the larger the shower head, the more water it will deliver, so look for a good sized item. It can also be very handy to have a second hand-held unit, which is great if you want to wash a particular area and gives you more directional control of the water as required.

Overhead shower heads are also becoming very popular, particularly with power showers. This is mainly because the shower cascades down from the above, rather than being directional, although this really is a matter of individual choice.

If you like a gentle and relaxing shower, but your partner likes a shower that really invigorates, then why not think about having a shower which does both, with the shower head being capable of delivering a low pressure shower or a really powerful jet. This is the perfect multi-functional device.

The choice of the shower head should not be made on aesthetics alone, but, instead, should take into account the type of shower you like; the amount of water to use (this is vital if you are on a meter) and what your needs are for now and for the future.  Once you have decided on these issues then you only need to choose the most appropriate shower head, which will fit your needs perfectly.

Choosing a pump to power your shower or water system, may not seem like a big issue. Perhaps not, but you need to find a pump which best meets your needs.  So you need one which suits your budget and your system.

If you have a water system which has poor water pressure, then you may need a pump to boost the water pressure between the shower head and the water system. Or it may be that you want to have more than one shower head, in which case you will possibly need a dual pump.

Pumps can vary in quality, size and noise levels, so try to acquire the best possible pump you can afford.  Whilst the initial cost may be slightly higher, you will find that you reap the benefits over time, with increased performance and the pump lasting for a long time. Cheaper pumps can soon burn out; can be noisy or even let air into the shower system, which affects the temperature of the water.

Stuart Turner pumps are generally regarded as efficient and they have been in existence for over one hundred years, enabling the company to enjoy an enviable position as one of the leading forces in the shower pump industry and one which deals with both domestic and commercial premises.

Pumps are available for a wide variety of applications and with Stuart Turner’s extensive experience their products have been designed to overcome most problems associated with either reduced water pressure or simply householders’ demands for increased pressure.

If you are sick and tired of your bathroom and want to give it a makeover, but you don’t have a lot of money to spend, then don’t despair, there are lots of little things you can do to make sure that it looks great, without costing the earth.

Firstly and most importantly, you need to set a budget and stick to it otherwise the whole project can become a nightmare.

Next, prioritise what you would like to do. Do you want to have a new shower and bath, or simply fit new taps and panel to the existing units? You need to carefully assess which parts of the bathroom are the ones which you don’t like and then research how much it will cost to replace them. For example, it is easy to specify ‘new taps’, but then you may find that the ones on your bath are very old. This often means that it may actually be cheaper to replace both the bath and taps. You should also try to think practically, so instead of replacing the bath or shower, could you simply brighten them up by installing a new shower screen or bath panel? Taking this option can make a significant improvement, yet will not cost very much.

Since flooring can often date a room, replacing it can transform the look of a tired bathroom and help make it feel more modern and contemporary. Updating the lighting can also help and is a cost effective way of making quite dramatic improvements.

Showers are increasingly becoming a hot topic, as more and more people become more environmentally aware of the implications of using too much water.  Most showers will allow you to control the flow of the water and the temperature, to ensure that a shower meets your own, very specific requirements.

However, from this very basic idea, the sheer variety and range of showers is simply immense.  Showers range from very basic ones, which deliver a good jet of water; are very competitively priced, but somewhat basic, to state of the art and extremely expensive, ‘wet rooms’ where the shower (or showers) are the key features.

Most people choose to have something in the middle of this range, so that they can have a shower and a bath in the bathroom, thereby affording the luxury of a bath, with the practical benefits of a quick shower.  So in other words, you get the best of both worlds.

Even if a bath is not ‘your thing’, you should be aware that properties which combine a shower and bath facility will sell much better than those which are fitted only with a bath or a shower.  Thus having both may ensure that your property is more appealing to a prospective buyer.
 
You should also consider your water pressure when choosing a shower (for purely practical reasons).  If your home experiences poor water pressure, then you should consider getting a relatively powerful shower, just to ensure that you get the maximum efficiency in terms of water output from the shower.

A power shower is not only a great way to wake oneself up in the morning it is also a fantastic way to unwind after a hard day’s work. The variety of power showers on the market also means that deciding which to choose is not an easy one.

You can have a power shower fitted if you have a water supply from both a cold-water cistern and a hot water cylinder. The power shower is actually fitted with an electric pump, which drives the water at you, but you can regulate both the temperature of the water and the pressure. You therefore have the choice of a cold but gentle shower, a very hot, extremely powerful shower, or any combination in between.

This flexibility makes the installation of a power shower a very convenient and useful addition to your bathroom. If you prefer, it can just be a normal shower, then you simply turn on the power as and when you please.

There are two main drawbacks to a power shower being fitted in the domestic bathroom. Firstly, if you currently have water heated by the shower unit alone, then it may not be possible to install a power shower easily. Secondly, you need to have a 50mm waste water pipe, which it is not always possible to retro-fit in an existing bathroom; otherwise the water simply won’t drain away quickly enough. 

If you have got the facilities to install a power shower, they really are well worth the investment.