The Walk In Shower Enclosure
The majority of households have a standard shower set up in their bathroom. It usually consists of a bath and shower combined, typically with some sort of shower curtain blocking this area from the rest of the room. This is an issue for smaller bathrooms, as that area takes up a lot of space in the room, and since it is boxed in, can make your bathroom feel many times smaller than it actually is. Likewise, this closed in area can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew, as it traps in the moisture created from regular showering. There is an alternative out there, however, and that is to rip out that old bath and have it replaced with a walk in shower. You may be surprised at just how easy it is get a walk in shower enclosure installed in your bathroom, and the benefits of doing so are just incredible.
By installing a glass shower enclosure, you are opening up your bathroom tremendously; you will be astounded at just how much bigger your bathroom feels after installation. The crisp clean lines make it a very attractive option for modern style homes and certainly add to the comfort level of your bathroom. Aesthetics aside, a walk in shower also provides you with a safer showering environment. This is particularly true for elderly people, as the majority of accidents that happen in a shower happen while the person is scrambling in or out of the bath. Most shower enclosures are at the same level as the floor, meaning that there is no potentially nasty step up into your shower.
Once you’ve tried a walk in shower, it will be hard to go back to the more traditional bath and shower setup. You are afforded a lot more room in one of these showers, and you will find showering a more pleasurable experience as a result. Some people utilise this extra space by installing a second shower head, or even a shower bench, giving you the ultimate comfort while washing. There is nothing more relaxing after a hard day at work than to be able to enjoy a little peace and quiet in a shower that is designed to accommodate your needs.
One decision that you will have to make when deciding on a style of walk in shower enclosure is whether you want the drainage to be installed straight into the floor, or to utilise a shower tray. If your shower floor is level with the rest of the bathroom, this is commonly called a “wet room floor”. This type of floor is a little more expensive to install, but the benefits are that it is much easier to walk in and out of your shower, indeed your shower becomes an extension of the rest of your bathroom, rather than being something that is just tacked on like an afterthought. If money is an issue, then you will find that you can save a fair bit by opting for a shower tray instead. Shower trays will minimise the amount of water that is splashed out on your bathroom floor as well.
You may be used to having your showers drain hole in the middle of the floor, with the floor itself sloping down towards it. Another option that is becoming more and more popular is to have the drain installed in the far corner of your shower. This means that it is out of the way and that you are not constantly standing on it when showering. You may also want to consider a channel drain, which is long and narrow and runs along the length of the shower wall. Other accessories that will need to be considered when deciding on a walk in shower enclosure include lighting, grab rails to assist elderly people, and storage options. Some shower enclosures even provide heating underneath the floor, for those chilly winter nights when it’s difficult to get excited about stepping into a cold shower.
A shower enclosure is a great addition to any bathroom. There are many different materials that you can choose from, but by far the most popular choice is glass, quite often trimmed with chrome to give that neat polished look that is so attractive in the modern home. Glass shower panels open you bathroom up even more, however you need to keep in mind that you are sacrificing your privacy by utilising glass. If you share your bathroom with other members of the household, then modesty may prevent you from opting for this material. In this case, you could look at using glass blocks. These blocks will still give the benefit of light into your shower, but the frosted nature of these blocks guarantee that your privacy is kept intact.
