CrossTeam Properties Offers Advice on Home and Garden Improvements

If you do not own a shower enclosure but have a shower/bath combination in your bathroom you have probably at some point bought a new shower curtain, taken it home to hang in the bathroom and realised you’ve forgotten to buy either shower hooks or rings.

While they are items most of us never give a thought to, the range and styles of these important little fixtures is amazing and may be the difference between a perfect bathroom and a merely functional one.

To begin with, decide whether you prefer a shower ring or a hook. Although your budget may not accommodate power-glide rings, these are the favoured choice of most interior designers. Usually made of stainless steel, these are generally attached to tiny rollers, which makes for optimum smoothness of use and are guaranteed not to rust, an important consideration if buying cheaper snap-on wire rings.

Again, it is not crucial to buy the most expensive shower hook, but the more money you spend, the greater the quality and range of design. Most good-quality hooks have a high level of decorative workmanship and therefore make it that much easier to match up with the rest of your bathroom accessories.

Another good tip is to avoid the snap-on plastic rings, which are priced at the lower end of the market. Although they may look sturdy enough when initially fitted, prolonged use often results in them breaking, often at the most inconvenient moment.

Be careful to check just how many rings and hooks come in a packet. The vast majority of shower curtains are fitted with twelve holes. This is by no means the case with packets of either shower rings or hooks.

Once your new shower curtain has been fitted you can be safe in the knowledge that your next power shower won’t leave water all over your bathroom floor.

Installing a shower enclosure in your bathroom is rarely going to come cheap, but if you do some shopping around and a little research into fitting shower cubicles you could save a substantial amount.

Of course, the most basic designs come recommended for anyone on a budget and, if you are able to provide the space for a standard size shower tray (usually measuring around 100cm¬2), this will also help reduce the cost. Square shower trays are easily the best option and will also be easier to fit, therefore also reducing labour costs.

Both square and rectangular shower trays can be fitted with a standard open-and-close door, whereas curved trays will come fitted with a curved frame and door which could add more to the cost. Square shower trays usually measure between 75cm2 and 120cm2, but if you are stuck for room in your bathroom, another option well worth considering is a pentangle shape, which is not only able to fit into a tight corner, but can also be fitted with a regular open-and-close door. This is easily the best option if you are trying to fit your shower enclosure between the toilet and bathroom sink, and will also add a touch of style to your suite.

Also recommended is to install your shower enclosure close to the existing pipe work, as there could be increased fitting costs if the job takes more time than usual. Power-showers and heads will also vary in price and a bit and shopping around is sure to help you stick to your budget.

Electric showers heat shower water locally with electrical power. This negates the need for a central water heater or, if one has such a water heater, can lessen the energy demand one places on such an appliance. Electric showers, therefore, are practical solutions for those interested in energy conservation and homeowners without access to central water heating.

New Team electric showers come in a range of power options – 7.8, 8.5, 9.5, and 10.4KW – and two finishes: white and matte chrome. These showers have variable power settings, temperature control, and phased shut down. One uses a button to stop and start the shower and a three spray handset to bathe.

It also includes the functionality of popular shower accessories including a slide rail, integral hose retainer, and a soap tray. The plumbing can either enter from the left or right side because of New Team’s unique elbow pipe connection. And because no extra plumbing is required, New Team electric showers are perfect for historical property retrofitting and other forms of remodelling where antique plumbing may be involved.

Indicator lights alert the bather when the incoming water pressure drops and when his/her desired temperature is too high to allow sufficient water flow through the heating elements. In the interest of safety, New Team electric showers have a phased shut-down safety feature. This means the shower continues to run for several seconds after it’s shut off to allow the passage of excess hot water from the shower, reducing calcite build-up inside the unit.

There are basically three main types of bathroom showers. These are electric showers, power showers and mixer showers. Mixer showers get their water from both the cold water and the hot water supply mains. They are recommended for houses where hot water is easily available. Compared to electric showers, the flow rate of mixer showers is much higher.

Power showers are just like mixer showers with the only difference being that the flow rate is more forceful due to the fact that the water is mechanically pumped. Power showers provide the best shower experience. Before installing a power shower one needs to find out the number of litres per sixty seconds that is delivered by the shower.

Electric showers on the other hand have the advantage of economical use of water. Their installation is also easy and quick. The source of water for the electric showers is the cold main supply which means that the heating of water takes place as it is passed through the unit. Electric showers are therefore suitable for houses where hot water is in short supply.

Then there is the steam shower. As the name suggests a steam shower releases steam in the place of water. This is especially suited for those who believe in the healing properties of steam. For ages steam has been known to assist in the relaxation and purification of the body. It does so by relieving tension of the muscles and fatigue of the joints. It is also known to work in the relieving of stress and the cleansing of skin impurities.

Another type of shower is the multi-jet shower. A multi-jet shower is a shower system which releases water from the ceiling in a rain-like manner.

From steam showers to bath shower combinations, there are plenty of different options today that will add the convenience of a shower to your bathroom.  As you look around at the various options you will notice that the price tags on these showers can get very expensive.  In some cases it makes sense to spend the extra money for a fancier shower but it is not always necessary.

One of the more convenient options available is the bath shower combination.  This is a particularly good option if you have young children that require the use of a bath while still providing you with a shower as well.  Installing a bath shower combination does require that you have a bit of extra space in your bathroom.

If you simply want to add a shower to your bathroom, an enclosure with a shower tray is also sufficient.  This option is great for small spaces and is frequently less expensive than a bath shower combination.  For many, the versatility of a shower enclosure makes this a very popular option.

A notable feature that can be a downfall to the shower enclosure is that they do not have back walls.  This means you will need to prepare your wall with something like tile before installing the shower enclosure.  A way around this is to buy a shower cabin.  This provides you with everything you need including the shower itself and back walls.  The price tag is obviously higher but if you are not sure how to prepare your bathroom walls for a shower enclosure, this is a great option.

Adding a shower to your bathroom is almost essential these days.  Regardless of how many baths you might have in your home, having at least one shower among these can be useful.  If you are considering adding a shower to your bathroom, there are a number of things to consider before attempting this do-it-yourself project.

One of the most important steps for any DIY project is planning.  When planning for the installation of a shower, size should be one of the first things that you consider.  Not only does the size of the bathroom need to be taken into consideration but the size of the shower itself is also important.  If you have a small bathroom it might be difficult to install a bath shower combination but a compact shower enclosure might be just right. 

Once you have determined the size of the shower you want to install, the next step will be to find one that has the appropriate style to match the design of your bathroom.  Some shower enclosures include a walk-in area that is great for drying off.  This contributes to the overall size of the enclosure but it is a great option if the space is available. 

Another thing to keep in mind when preparing for this DIY project is usability.  Some showers might look particularly appealing but they might also be the least functional options as well.  If you know you store a number of items in the shower, pick an enclosure that offers a variety of shelving options for convenience.