Bathroom Shower Remodeling-The Center Point to Any Bathroom Redesign

Despite being just small fixtures, showers play a big role in the overall layout of a bathroom. Bathroom assumes a distinct personality when showers are added.

Planning your Bathroom Shower remodeling

Bathrooms are one of the most expensive rooms in the house remodeling. Bathroom shower remodeling can change the entire design of the room. Your selection of materials has a big influence on the price of your project.

There are many options available right from standard to walk in shower. If you would like the luxury of steam shower at home, go ahead and choose one. Bathroom shower remodeling project can be completed in a day, thanks to the different options available including acrylic materials which can be used to cover the tub and shower walls. You can also eliminate the tub if you wish. However, it is cost effective and faster to leave fixtures in their current position, as moving them will require moving and draining the drain lines. This is a time consuming job and would add up to your expenses, unless you are considering a complete bathroom remodeling.

Acrylic and fiberglass overlays are available, and can be set in place over the existing tub. You can also try matching walls near the bathtub area. This would give an appearance of renovation of the entire bathtub area. Bathroom shower remodeling project can be a good DIY project for homeowners.

Consider Project with End Result in Mind

Plan the bathroom shower remodeling project in advance and sketch the steps involved in the project. Study the sketch thoroughly before starting the project.
Drains have to be matched with the existing ones or be routed, if you are installing a new tub or shower base. Water supply connections should be of little concern with the availability of flexible hoses. However, most drains are solid pipes and will have to match the outlet to which it will be connected.

The next major factor in bathroom shower remodeling is the walls. Using tiles on the walls is time consuming and would cost more, but will last long. If tiles are used wall backing will need special treatment. Using fiberglass or acrylic will make the job easier; it can have fewer joints through which water can leak.

Warning

If the bathroom shower remodeling project is extensive, it would last several days. Arrange for an alternate bathroom facility before starting the project.

By Chet Baker

Shower Tray and Shower Enclosure Installation

Making the decision to install an additional shower in your home takes some careful planning and the first consideration is where you plan to install the new shower unit.

If you are not using the existing space where the bath tub presently resides then the location of the new shower must facilitate the plumbing in order to leverage adequate water flow and waste, otherwise the project becomes two folded as new pipes will have to be installed and routed.

• Selecting the right shower tray

Depending on available space and budget there are numerous shower enclosure and shower tray options to choose from. Shower trays come in an array of dimensions from square, rectangular and quadrant for corner units with coinciding shower enclosures to ensure conformity in the bathroom. Purchasing a shower tray made from acrylic filled with heavy weight stone cast resin is one of the best choices, since they are durable and quality produced these trays are free from shrinkage and cracking. Their practical design offers a skid resistance base and provides ample standing room when showering.

Water drainage from the shower tray should also be taken into account at the design stage since the shower tray sits at floor level means the waste hole will need to be recessed. To make the installation less labor intensive it is recommended that you either seek the advice of a professional or hire a contractor to install the primary plumbing.

Keeping in mind when it comes to installing the shower tray it is always best to fit the shower tray first before purchasing the shower enclosure since tiles and sealants can alter the size of the shower tray. Furthermore, never comprise value and quality when it comes to sealing the shower tray. It is extremely crucial to use a watertight sealant around the shower tray; improper application of silicone sealant may cause your shower to leak causing extensive water damage in the bathroom. Also, depending where the shower is located, water can seep through the floor, destroying the ceiling to the room situated below the shower unit which could lead to expensive repairs.

• Installing the shower enclosure

Once the shower tray has been installed only then should you choose a matching shower enclosure. Today’s top trends in shower enclosures are easy to maintain frameless glass designs and since there is no frame there is less chance of lime scale or dirt build up in these styles of enclosures. Prior to selecting the shower enclosure, make sure proper measurements haven been take to allow for the additional height of the shower tray to balance out with ceiling space, this is extremely important especially if your have a low ceiling. Before the actual installation of the shower enclosure, carefully examine it for solid construction, placing the enclosure on the tray only to later find out there may be design flaws in the unit will lead to double duty and frustration. Testing the enclosure for leaks is suggested, according to shower manufacturers, spay bottle testing is one of the best methods to test for leaks. By simply spraying between the glass and the adjoining frames will determine if in fact there are any water leaks, at which time the unit is returned in exchange for a new one, preventive measures prevent additional work.

By Shelley Murphy

European Bathroom Design - Why Is it Becoming A Popular Choice

So, you got your eyes on those European bathroom designs and applications you see on the glossy papers of the magazines and papers? Thinking you cannot afford it? Now, it is not impossible at all. All you need to have is the right combinations of fine bathroom package and essentials. You can easily live in a house with a European influence by having your bathroom affixed with the right pieces of European-inspired furniture, equipments, devices, and storage cabinets.

To help you in conceptualizing European bathroom design, here are the following must-haves:

First, and the most popular choice, is having a frameless shower doors. This is typical in a European home. Frameless bathroom doors have in fact originated in Europe. These are great choice not only for aesthetical reasons but for safety as well. They emanate a grand, elegant effect because they make your bathroom look and feel so different.

Apart from that, a frameless bathroom shower door is easy to maintain. So, having one is also a way to keep your European bathroom spotless. It is usually constructed out of materials that have passed rigid safety tests. And this is the reason why frameless bathroom doors are sold widely in the US.

You can get a frameless bathroom shower door that come as package together with the new tub or shower unit. If you don’t want as complete package, you can have one that can be fitted over your standard tub.

When purchasing as a separate unit, it is important to consider mainly the sizing that matches your existing tub or shower unit. You don’t want the hassles of tripping back to the store where you purchased the wrong one to replace it, so make sure you have checked this issue.

Next must-have is a shower that has its nozzle stuck onto the wall. Floor drain is another vital European thing that must come with this shower concept.

Curtains are essential. While there are many kinds of curtains available, choose the right one. Curtains can actually pass as optional, but having those lovely designed curtains will surely push your new bathroom like it is into uniquely elegant place.

Half-tub and bidet are other must-haves. Half tub allows you to sit and not lie down. The bidet on the other hand is the kind that lets you clean some parts of your body that are not often tanned.

Having these essentials will make it easy to conceptualize your new European bathroom design. And since this is most likely new venture for you, always consult a professional.

By Anthony Lee

Tiled Shower Stall VS Prefab Stall

Adding a tiled shower stall or prefab shower stall to a half bath increases both value and utility in a home. Which form of shower stall you should choose will depend on your space and budget.

he two types of shower stalls are prefab or tiled or custom stalls. Prefab is short for prefabricated, meaning that the shower stall comes in a few large pieces that can be easily and quickly installed. Prefab shower stalls are made out of a few different materials, but most ofen you will find them made out of acrylic or fiberglass. Custom stalls are usually made out of tile or a stone as granite or marble.

While prefab stalls have long been shunned by the design world because of their limited colors and styles, new manufacturing techniques have widened the options available to a home owner considerably. There are a large variety of colors and patterns now available, although the standard white or ivory remain the most popular color choices.

One of the largest advantages of prefab shower units are the potential cost savings. A homeowner with some previous home repair skills can usually install a prefab shower unit in a single afternoon. This can be a very attractive option for a do it yourselfer looking to save money.

Also, prefab units are often much cheaper than the materials used to build a custom shower units. They can often be purchased at a home improvement center for only a few hundred dollars and only require some caulk and some screws to complete the installation. They come in single piece and multiple piece units. Multiple piece units are preferred because they easily fit through doors.

Prefab units have a few disadvantages. First of all, because they are made to standard sizes, it may be difficult to install them in an older house where most of the walls are not square. Also, if your prefab stall get damaged in any way, chances are you will have to replace it. Although spot repairs are possible, cosmetically they are seldom desirable as anything more than a temporary fix.

By Amy Whittle

Shower Door Leak

I have responded to a lot of calls to look at leaky showers over the past 13 years. Almost all of the showers that I have inspected have leaked at the door or metal track that holds the glass. The leak itself is not always noticeable, but the damage it causes over the years is obvious.

The result is rotted baseboards, water damaged Sheetrock, and mold where the shower meets the floor just outside the glass door. The good news is that when faced with signs of water damage isolated to outside the shower door, almost all leaks have been the result of an original installation error. The error is in the way the shower trim was sealed with silicon caulk. The mistake is compounded over the years by handymen and DIY’ers adding more caulk to the inside of the shower as a repair or part of home maintenance. Don’t worry, it is a common impulse to keep adding caulk to the shower in anticipation that the leak will eventually stop. Not only is this installation error common, I have witnessed it in 100% of showers with the same water damage pattern.

The most important lesson when sealing with caulk is “less is more.” As it is very important to thoroughly caulk the outside of the metal shower trim, it is equally important not to caulk over the “weep holes” inside the shower. These are little drain holes in the bottom of the metal track inside the shower and on pre-made acrylic shower pans. These holes allow the condensation and water inside the metal track to drain back inside the shower instead of being trapped and eventually finding an alternative escape route. For the system to drain properly, I also suggest not caulking inside the track at the corners. The faster the water can flow down the track and out to the shower drain, the quicker the shower will dry. This reduces the chance of mildew and mold growth tremendously.

The type of caulk you use is also key to a long lasting sealed shower trim. 100% silicone caulk is the only caulk that has stood the test of time for me. It doesn’t shrink or crack unless it is in direct sunlight, and it stays flexible for a long time. Acrylic caulk hardens, cracks, and is less successful in keeping out mold and mildew. As a rule of thumb, it’s easier to match clear silicone to the metal trim and plumbing fixtures while white or grout color matched silicone is easier to match the corners of walls, shelves, and benches inside the shower.

Last but not least, check to see if all of the rubber seals are still in place and in good shape around the glass, the sides of the shower door, and the sweep at the bottom of the shower door. These are there to help shed water down the inside of the shower and help keep splashing through any gaps in the door to a minimum. These items can be inexpensively replaced at a glass supply shop.

By Chad Walker

Shower Curtains VS Shower Doors

The benefits and disadvantages of shower curtains or doors go beyond their outward appearance. While they contribute greatly to the overall look of your bathroom, they will also have an effect on the function. Some of the factors to take into consideration are your personal maintenance preferences, budget, and long term plans.

Shower curtains are affordable and easy to replace. They are available at almost all department stores and many other places. They come in a vast array of colors, textures, and styles. If you are looking to change the theme of your bathroom, the right curtain can definitely contribute to the look that you want. You can even custom make your own curtain to match the style of your bathroom fixtures.

If you want your bathroom to look neater when houseguests visit, the shower curtain can be closed to hide the bath tub or left open to show off the brilliantly gleaming porcelain. Unfortunately, curtains need to be thoroughly maintained in order to prevent mold and mildew from breeding on their surface.

When carelessly left outside of the bathtub, curtains can also drip on the floor and make a mess. They also aren’t considered to be as innovative or as fashionable in a modern bathroom as shower doors.

Studies also show that vinyl curtains that contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contain chemicals that are extremely detrimental towards human health and the environment. New vinyl curtains release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), DEHP (a suspected carcinogen), and organotins into the air. These toxins can cause headaches, nausea, respiratory problems, and damage to the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. Developing young children are especially sensitive to these chemicals.

While many major retailers have completely discontinued selling PVC curtains, some still stock them alongside non PVC alternatives. It is best to check the label or ask an employee before purchasing a shower curtain from any store.

Non-PVC curtains can be made out of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) which is healthier, but still made out of polycarbonate based plastic and detrimental towards the environment. Fabric curtains are an even better material. They are machine washable, so maintenance is fairly easy. Hemp is an ideal material for fabric shower curtains, for it is naturally resistant to mold and mildew. Glass doors are also a good alternative to PVC curtains.

Though it is not often seen, glass doors can still be used on combination bathtub showers. There are many advantages associated with shower doors. They are usually made out of extremely sturdy glass and don’t need to be replaced for several years.

This makes up for the cost and tedium involved in replacing glass doors. They are also easy to clean and don’t attract as much mold as curtains. When they do get dirty, shower doors can be wiped down with some window cleaner and a rag. While doors aren’t as colorful or as versatile as curtains, there are still different types and style available depending on your needs and tastes.

It is strongly advised that you use a complete enclosure if you have a steam shower instead of an ordinary one, for the heat and moisture from a steam shower can ruin paint jobs and wallpaper.

By Allison Ryan

Tips Regarding Having Shower Enclosures Installed

Shower enclosures have come a long way since the advent of modern showers, where many people started to have them installed - due to convenience as well as being stylishly modern. There ease of use makes the bath look pretty archaic - although many of us still enjoy a good soak in the tub.

For many of us, the shower room and associated shower enclosure has become one of the most important rooms in the house; if we’re having friends or relatives staying over for the night then we like to know that our shower facilities are pleasant and stylish to be it in. Modern shower enclosures are quite often dazzling in their modernity, providing quality workmanship and usability as well as giving a sense of contemporary design that is likely to make any visitor green with envy.

What can be most impressive about shower enclosures is the fact that you hardly notice them there - they simply provide a transparent barrier as you shower. They go hand in hand with other elements of the modern wet room - clean, contemporary tiles, and carefully installed wet-proofed flooring.

There are many companies around the UK that provide this kind of contemporary shower enclosure installation. It is worth checking the credentials of any firm that offers this service - as deciding to have a shower installed can be an expensive affair, and you need to have the peace of mind that your money is being well-spent.

Waterproofing your wet room / shower enclosure is essential in order to prevent any unwanted leaks going into rooms beneath or adjacently. You should ask exactly how this process is carried out and how much experience the company involved has - you don’t want a leak to develop just a few years after having your shower room wet proofed. Often this process is referred to as ‘tanking’ - which does actually require a high degree of skill in order that it is done properly.

Foul air traps or simply ‘traps’ are also another very important aspect of making sure that shower enclosures provide the most satisfying experience for those taking a shower in your wet room. These devices are important because they, as the name suggests, prevent any undesirable odours from developing and ruining the showering experience.

These are just a few hints regarding shower enclosure and the apparatus and process of having them installed properly. Once you have your properly fitted, you can go about the business of having a luxurious shower experience.

By Gino Hitshopi

Working with Plastic Bathtub and Shower Enclosures

Some of these plastic shower enclosures use extremely thin materials and you will need to be extremely careful when handling them. I’ve seen them crack, chip and break and when this happens, you need to either return the damaged product, or purchase a new one.

Most home improvement centers have nice displays or nice pictures of plastic shower enclosures in their stores. Their displays, often look great and even the pictures on the boxes that the products are enclosed in, seem to give a look of elegance to most plastic bathtub and shower enclosures.

You go down to your favorite home improvement center and purchase one of these products that looks easy to assemble and requires very few tools. Before you leave the store, make sure that you have purchased the proper adhesives and bathtub or shower enclosure backing.

Most home improvement center representatives or house plumbing supply warehouse workers can help you, all you need to do is ask. I don’t recommend purchasing a gypsum based product that isn’t mold resistant or water resistant, for your backing board. For those of you who don’t know what a backing board is, it’s the building material that will nail or screw onto your bathroom wall framing. The plastic shower or bath tub enclosure will be attached to this backing.

One last thing I would like to say when working with plastic bathtub or shower enclosure products, would be, to be careful, if you have to cut them. Most of these products will suggest using a razor knife, but I have actually chipped off and cracked sections of these enclosures, when using a sharp utility knife.

I recommend using a pair of scissors, I have had great success and would suggest testing the scissors first, by cutting a section of the plastic enclosure that you won’t be using.

By Greg Vandenberge

Functionality of a Modern Shower Enclosure

The trend of the day is to bifurcate the bathroom into different parts having different functions. The function of the shower enclosure is to prevent other parts of the bathroom from getting wet by disallowing running water spill out of the shower area.

The shower cubicle consists mainly of three parts, namely, the shower cabinet with its attached faucet and spray, the enclosure along with the door and the water tray underneath to collect and dispose off the waste water. Due to the fact that there is no spill over, this enclosure can even be installed in the corner of a bedroom, if somebody likes it that way.

Available in all sizes and colors, shower cubicles have caught the fancy of the rich and the not so rich alike because its addition in a bathroom betters the aesthetic and visual effect of a bathroom.

The enclosures can be installed anywhere in the bathroom, but in order to save space and installation costs, it is advisable to have them tucked away at a corner of the room or a recess made for the purpose. However, it makes more sense to fit them along a flat wall, because it will be easier for the owner to shift the shower cubicle to another part of the room if installed in this way. “D” shaped and “U” shaped cubicles, purposely made for installation against a flat wall have made inroads into many a people’s bathrooms.

The walls of the cubicle are made of waterproof and easy to clean materials. Shower doors are also of equal importance. They usually come in two forms, the framed and the frameless types.

Shower cubicles can be installed easily. With proper care, they can be easily maintained too. Some cubicles even feature an inbuilt sauna facility. Even though they are more expensive than conventional modes of bathing, shower cubicles can compromise the additional expense with the ambience they provide and the long life and low maintenance costs they offer.

By Jitesh Arota

Shower Enclosure Buying Guide-DiVapor Shower Advice

A shower enclosure will be a part of your bathroom for years to come and buying one will be an investment into your house. Therefore, before buying a shower enclosure it is important to take into consideration the following, to ensure your new shower cubicle will last the test of time.

General Shower Enclosure Checks

Size, Shape and Height

There are many shapes of shower enclosures: square, rectangle, oblong and quadrant enclosures. Don’t make your bathroom feel like it is cramped, choose a shower enclosure which gives you the feeling of space inside while showering and one which gives your bathroom the sense of space.

Positioning

If your new shower enclosure can be installed where your old shower used to be then this will save a lot of preparatory work, hassle and money as the hot, cold and the waste water pipes will already be in the correct place making them easy to attach to your new shower cubicle.

Shower Enclosures: With or Without Tray?

It may be preferential to choose a shower enclosure that comes with a tray. Due to the fact that the tray has been designed specifically for the given shower enclosure it will fit properly and will have less chance of water leakage.
Tiling

The inside walls of the shower enclosure will need to be tiled. Therefore, plan ahead to what tiles you want and then tile the area before installing the shower cubicle.

Testing

Corrosion Testing - Have you ever seen chrome plating that has chipped or peeled off? It spoils the finish of your new showers. This is why it’s important to buy quality if you want your shower enclosure to look good. Buy from a company who has done anti-corrosion salt tests on all of their metal fittings.

Door Rollers - Maybe not one of the things you think about when buying a shower enclosure, but the shower door rollers are very important for the longevity and quality feel of the shower enclosure. The door runners which Di Vapor uses for their shower enclosures have been tested for over 100,000 consecutive uses: that’s a lot of showers!

Water Leakage - A good seal, often with magnetic strips on the shower doors is important to keep water inside the shower. Good seals also make the shower enclosure more aesthetically pleasing.

Door Handles and fixings - Door handles which are solid metal are much higher quality than their chrome plated plastic counterparts. These plastic handles are weaker and can give a cheaper feel to the shower enclosure.

Delivery and VAT - A shower enclosure may seem reasonably priced and of good quality, however it may not include delivery. Watch out for hidden extras like V.A.T and delivery. These extras can add a significant amount to the final buying price of your shower enclosure.

Acrylic Tray

Reinforcement - Ensure the shower enclosure tray you choose uses pure acrylic. Even if a company says the tray is acrylic it doesn’t mean it will be acrylic all the way through. The company may have acrylic PMMA sheets on the outside and ABS on the inside resulting in a poorer quality, less sturdy shower tray.

Check its Colour - Some acrylics have very bright white finishes. This is a tell tale sign of a poor quality acrylic. High quality acrylics are flame retardant and don’t have a brilliant white colour which often clashes with the other sanitaryware in your bathroom.

Acrylic Price - There isn’t just one grade of acrylic, there are many varying grades available. Some companies use a very cheap, low-quality acrylic to create and sell their products at low cost, therefore sacrificing quality and the longevity of the shower enclosure tray. Some factories use acrylic that costs £777 per tonne and others which costs £971-£1,035 per tonne. However, Di Vapor uses a very high quality grade which costs £1618 per tonne. The higher quality acrylic will make your shower enclosure tray last longer and will fade less over time.

Fibreglass and Reinforcement - On the bottom of most acrylic shower trays there is fibreglass for strengthening. Be watchful for companies who use too much resin and not enough fibre. This is low quality fibreglass that discolours and weakens over time. All the bases of Di Vapor’s shower enclosure trays use 3-4 layers of fibreglass whereas many manufacturers only use 1-2 layers of fibreglass reinforcement.

Tempered Glass

Thickness - In general it is best to have tempered safety glass of 5-6mm for your shower enclosure: the thicker the better.
Edge Protection - Glass which does not have a protective framing can be easily chipped and broken. A shower enclosure with strong aluminium framing will support the glass in the shower doors and keep it well protected.

Break Test - There are standards to which tempered safety glass must reach. A piece of glass 120mm by 120mm should break into a minimum of 45 pieces, less than this is deemed unsafe as the shards of glass are too big and could cause injury. Di Vapor’s tempered safety glass breaks into 60 little pieces; the more pieces the better.

Shower Enclosure Aluminium Framing

Are they aluminium? - Some companies use a profiling on their shower enclosures that looks like aluminium but is actually plastic. This framing not only looks and feels cheaper, it also doesn’t protect the glass on the shower enclosure as effectively as aluminium profiling.

What is the profiles thickness? - A shower cubicle may look the part with aluminium profiling, but it may not be the quality which you expect. To cut back on costs some company’s use aluminium profiling which is only 0.5mm thick. This is significantly weaker and more prone to denting than the 1.2-1.6mm thick aluminium which Di Vapor uses.
 
Aluminium Quality - Some companies use recycled aluminium or a composite of aluminium and other metals to cut back on costs therefore increasing its susceptibility to damage.
 
Structural Frame Support - Under the acrylic tray there is a frame which gives the shower enclosures strength and support. Ensure that this frame uses a metal such as stainless steel as opposed to a wooden support which is significantly weaker.