Walk in showers combine style with practicality. Seen as the cutting edge of modern bathroom design, walk in showers promote an open-plan style of bathroom, with the shower enclosure blending seamlessly into the rest of the room. A walk-in shower is a fresh, contemporary and luxurious addition to the home.
As well as looking attractive, wet room showers are designed with ease, comfort and safety in mind. They are great if you need to access your shower area in a wheelchair, or would struggle to step over the side of a bath into a shower. Offering step-free entry and being easy to clean, walk in showers can greatly benefit elderly homeowners, and people with impaired mobility.
How Do I Make A Walk In Shower?
So what exactly is a walk in shower? And what do you need to make one? Well homeowners across the country are adapting their existing bathrooms into modern wetrooms that incorporate a walk in shower and open plan layout. Here are the component parts you will need to get going;
Walk In Shower Screen
Fixed shower screens provide a modern and unobtrusive walk-in shower solution, with no effort required by the user to enter and exit the shower enclosure. Not only do bath shower screens offer protection from splashing water, they also add a modern and practical touch to your bathroom, helping to complete your bathroom suite. Fixed screens are set in place, so the user can simply walk into the shower enclosure, without having the open and close a door or curtain. Or depending on the size of your bathroom – you may opt to have no shower screen at all!
Shower Doors
Full height shower doors keep heat and splash inside the showering area, and provide privacy. These can be a preferred option if your bathroom tends to be chilly most of the time, or if your bathroom is fairly small and you want to limit splash around the room. Shower doors can create an enclosed shower cubicle, whilst still offering seamless step-free access. Simply swing the door open and walk in to your shower! Depending on the layout of your bathroom, you can opt for single fold, or bi-fold stable shower doors. These can also be combined with fixed shower screen panels – to make a modern shower cubicle.
Half Height Shower Doors
Half height shower doors provide some protection from splash, whilst maintaining an open wetroom feel. Half height doors are perfect if carer assistance is required, as they allow carers to access the shower enclosure, without getting soaked by overspray. The open and airy ambience of a half height shower enclosure also makes showering a pleasure if a wheelchair or shower seat is used, when compared to the claustrophobic environment of a full height enclosure.
Shower curtains make the perfect companion to half height shower doors and screens, offering the best of both worlds – access for a carer and total privacy as and when either are desired.
Walk In Shower Tray
The shower tray is the unsung hero of your walk in shower enclosure, because it directs the water flow to the drainage point in your bathroom. The size of the shower tray is an important factor you need to consider. If the tray isn’t of the right size, water will spill out as the tray will fail to hold all the water inside. Water will then escape from the shower, resulting in water damage. As well as the right size of shower tray, you also need to choose the right shape of shower tray that delivers a perfect fit. Shapes of trays include square trays, rectangular trays, and quadrant trays that fit into corners, with a curved front.
Choosing the right size and shape shower tray will allow you to maximise space of the shower enclosure in your bathroom, particularly important if you have a smaller bathroom where space is at a premium. It is usually advised to choose as large a shower tray as possible for your walk in shower; to give the user and any carers lots of space to move around. There are a number of types of shower trays to choose from, suited to different user requirements and property specifications;
• Wet Room floor former trays act as screed floorboard replacements with a pre-formed gradient to a square or linear drainage point, which allows for the creation of a level access showering space. They sit below the floor, so you can finish the wet room floor with bathroom tiles or vinyl, to suit your taste. These offer an entirely lip-free walk in shower.
• Level access shower trays sit just below the floor level, to allow trip free access perfect for wheelchair or shower chair users.
• Combi Shower Tray can be recessed into the floor to create a level access walk-in shower, or alternatively it can be surface mounted to provide a low profile shower tray threshold of 32mm.
• Easy Access Shower Tray are surface mounted from 24mm ramped edge to provide easy shower chair access.
• Step In Shower Tray are surface mounted, above floor waste shower trays with a 70mm high step. Designed for bathrooms in high rise apartments or floors that are non-accessible.
Quality Showers
The jewel in the crown of the ultimate walk in shower cubicle. In order to choose the best shower for your home, you’ll need to understand what shower system will work best with your plumbing system. You will likely have one of the three different plumbing systems installed: a gravity system, pressurised system or a combination (combi) boiler system. Based on this, you can decide which shower to buy that will offer consistent water pressure and temperature.
• Mixer Showers mix hot and cold water supplies together manually. They are simple to fit, easy to use, and feature a thermostatic control which ensures the water doesn’t get too hot. Our best selling mixer showers are the Triton Elina TMV3, Triton Eden TMV2, and the Bristan TS1503 mixer showers.
• Electric showers have their own heating element meaning only a cold water supply is required. They have features to ensure constant water pressure & temperature for safe and comfortable showering. Our best selling electric showers are the Bristan Joy Care, and the Triton Omnicare Thermostatic showers.
Shower Seats
Shower seats are great for independence and safety whilst showering. They are an important and affordable solution for people with limited mobility, balance or physical strength. Shower seating can be achieved with the following solutions;
• Freestanding shower seats are height adjustable, strong and lightweight. They can be easily removed when not in use, making them the perfect solution for families and extended families when guests come to visit.
• Wall-mounted seats Fixing the seat to the wall provides extra support. Wall-mounted shower seats can be folded against the wall when not in use to allow for maximum space within the shower enclosure. Available in a variety of colours, shapes and materials that allow you to match the seat to the style of your bathroom.
• Mobile shower chairs with wheels Self propelled, or attendant propelled shower commode chairs are designed to make light work of uneven surfaces or ledges, even in wet conditions. The seats are well padded for added comfort, and are upholstered in a protective hard wearing material. If you would benefit from using a mobile shower chair – then it is also important to factor in lots of free space into your wet room design, and choose a shower tray that has only a minimal sized lip.
Grab Rails
Grab rails provide support for people with limited power and mobility, and boost independence and safety of the user. They improve user safety and help with mobility in a variety of tasks in the shower, bathroom and around the entire home. Grab rails provide positive grip in wet environments, and are available in a range of styles to compliment your bathroom. They are small but affordable bathroom adaptations that can deliver huge benefits.
Body Dryer
Here’s an optional extra, that is a popular addition to accessible walk in showers. An all-over body dryer is perfect for those with restricted mobility. They fit neatly into the corner of most shower areas, providing simple towel-free drying. They deliver an ambient outlet temperature of around 20°C, with an average dry time of approximately 3 minutes.
Doc M Shower Packs
If you’re feeling slightly overwhelmed by this shopping list – then you can opt for a Doc M shower pack. These are complete shower kit bundles that contain all you need; saving you time and money. These packs meet Building Regulation Document M; the inclusive provision and requirements for facilities for disabled people. They include a shower, multiple grab rails, hinged shower rails, shower curtain, shower seat and robe hook. Doc M shower packs are available in a range of different styles, colours and materials.
How To Build A Wet Room
If you would like to have a walk in shower cubicle designed and installed, then look no further than Sync Living.
Sync Living are bathroom and home adaptation experts. Founded in 1996, we work with trade professionals to provide specialist products and equipment right across Northern Ireland and Ireland.
We design solutions that work for everyone. We’re a leading supplier of specialist bathroom equipment for elderly and disabled people with restricted mobility. Our bathroom and living solutions help improve accessibility, prevent falls and future proof bathrooms for years to come. We balance practicality with style. Our bathroom products are designed to combine the support people need, with the aesthetics that complement the style of your home. With a wide choice of materials and finishes; we’ll help you design the bathroom of your dreams. We supply bathroom adaptations that work around you.
The devil is in the detail when designing and installing the perfect walk in shower or wet room – so talk to our team of experts and they will advise which equipment will best suit your vision.
Call us on 028 9074 5333 to speak to our expert team, or request a catalogue to see our extensive range of products, sizes and styles. Call Sync Living today!