| TAPS:There are four main finishes for taps and | | | | The difference between the two is the number of |
| showers:Chrome, the hardest wearing finish, usually | | | | doors used to gain access. The double sliding door |
| last over 20 years.Antique Gold, used more on | | | | has less framework and as such has a more |
| traditional style suites, is generally a soft finish which | | | | minimalist appearance, whereas the triple sliding door |
| will last approximately 3 years with day to day use | | | | creates a wider opening when the doors are pulled |
| but in a rarely used second bathroom could last as | | | | back.Shower shapes:There are a myriad number or |
| long as 10 years.Nickel (either brushed or polished) is | | | | shower door shapes. The most common are the |
| the softest finish and would normally be for | | | | square, rectangle, pentangle (penta- or five-sided) |
| decorative house bathrooms that are rarely | | | | and the quadrant (quad of quarter round). The most |
| used.Powder coated, not as common in taps but still | | | | common type of shower tray size is 760mm x |
| used on showers, is where the product is coated | | | | 760mm. This is not the smallest square tray size but |
| with a layer of coloured plastic. | | | | is the smallest that is still usable by most people to |
| There are many types of tap configuration for | | | | shower. |
| baths, basins and bidets. Each type has its own | | | | You are able to obtain square trays of both 700mm |
| advantages and disadvantages. This next section | | | | x 700mm and 600mm x 600mm. The 600mm tray |
| outlines the different types of tap arrangements that | | | | size is normally used on caravans and boats. The |
| are generally available.Bath Taps:There are several | | | | best square tray size if it can be fitted is the 900mm |
| types of tap arrangement you can put on a bath. | | | | x 900mm. |
| They are as follows: A pair of taps, a bath filler deck | | | | Rectangular shower trays come in a variety of sizes |
| mounted, a bath filler pillar mounted, a three-hole bath | | | | from 700mm x 800mm to 1700mm x750mm. The |
| filler, | | | | most common size is 1200mm x 760mm, whereas |
| a deck mounted bath shower mixer, a pillar mounted | | | | the optimum size is 1200mm x 900mm. Tray sizes |
| bath shower mixer, a four-hole bath shower mixer, a | | | | larger than this normally incorporate the ability to dry |
| five-hole bath shower mixer, wall mounted filler and | | | | oneself in the cubicle. |
| an overflow filler.Pair of bath taps:The most common | | | | A pentangle cubicle is the same as a square one but |
| form of taps for baths, one tap for hot water and | | | | has the comer cut off. This results in the saving of |
| one for cold. The cold tap is normally on the right and | | | | floor space in the bathroom ensuite. A quadrant |
| the hot on the left.Bath filler deck mounted and bath | | | | cubicle has a rounded front edge designed to save |
| filler pillar mounted.This type of tap has the hot and | | | | space as with the pentangle.SHOWER TRAYS:There |
| cold-water taps combined onto one mixer block.The | | | | are four main types of material used to make |
| deck-mounted type is normally contemporary in style | | | | shower trays. These are steel, acrylic, stone resin |
| whereas the pillar-mounted type (this is where the | | | | and acrylic capped resin.Shower shapes:Steel is less |
| mixer is held above the bath rim on two pillars) is | | | | common in domestic use and is generally used in |
| normally traditional in style. | | | | commercial applications such as retirement homes and |
| The advantage of a mixer over a pair of taps is the | | | | hotelsAcrylic trays used to be very common but |
| ability to mix the water to the desired temperature | | | | received a bad reputation due to the poor build |
| whilst the bath is filling.Three hole bath filler:This is | | | | quality of trays in the past. The use of poor |
| where the spout is separate to the bath tap valves. | | | | frameworks and minimal reinforcement meant that |
| In this case you have a hot and cold valve and the | | | | the trays moved when in use and often leaked. |
| spout is mounted either in the centre between the | | | | Modern acrylic trays are generally built to a very high |
| two valves or mounted in the corner.Bath shower | | | | standard and are fully reinforced. All acrylic trays are |
| mixers:This is the same as the bath fillers but has a | | | | on adjustable legs and so are ideal in applications |
| shower hose and handset attached. These types of | | | | where a solid floor such a concrete is on site. The |
| taps are not designed to be used as showers for | | | | result of this higher built quality is that acrylic trays |
| standing under and washing your whole body. | | | | are not an inexpensive option.Stone resin trays are |
| The reason for this is that there is the real risk that | | | | by far the most common trays available. The low |
| is another person in the house switches on a tap or a | | | | cost of producing the moulds for the trays makes |
| washing machine kicks in then the temperature on | | | | then the most versatile in size. They are available in |
| the shower will change radically. | | | | both legged and un-legged format (the most |
| These types of showers are designed for washing | | | | common being without legs). The two most common |
| hair or rinsing the bath.Four and five-hole bath shower | | | | problems with resin trays relate to the quality of |
| mixers:These are the same as the three hole mixers | | | | installation. The first is that if the un-legged tray is |
| but the four-hole mixers have a handset that sits on | | | | not bedded in properly it can cause the base of the |
| the bath with the hose under the bath rim. The | | | | tray to crack when in use. The second is that the |
| shower is switched on by means of a diverter button | | | | colour of the tray is applied as a thin spray finish. The |
| mounted on the bath spout. | | | | result of this is that if you scratch the tray when |
| The five hole mixer works in the same way but has | | | | installing it, it is extremely difficult to repair.Acrylic |
| a separate diverter mounted on the bath, not on the | | | | capped resin trays are becoming more popular. They |
| bath spout.Wall mounted filler:More popular on the | | | | combine the rigidity of the stone resin tray, but have |
| continent, this is where the mixer is mounted on the | | | | the added advantage of being capped in acrylic. This |
| wall above the bath and not on the bath | | | | produces a surface which is more resistant to impact |
| rim.Overflow bath filler:This is similar to the three-hole | | | | and can be polished if scratched. They are however |
| bath filler but whereas the three hole has a spout the | | | | more costly to produce and as such are not available |
| overflow filler has the hot and cold valves on the rim | | | | in the same number of sizes as the stone |
| of the bath and the filler is the overflow fitting which | | | | resin.SHOWER TYPES:There are four main types of |
| also doubles up as the pop up waste.Basin Taps:As | | | | shower, electric, manual mixer, thermostatic mixer |
| with baths there are several types of tap | | | | and pumped which can be either thermostatic or |
| arrangement that can be fitted to a basin. These are | | | | manual.Electric:This type of shower has a small kettle |
| a pair of taps, a mono-bloc mixer and a three | | | | type chamber within it through which the cold water |
| tap-hole mixer.A pair of taps:This is where you have | | | | passes and is heated electrically. The amount of |
| a separate hot and cold tap on the basin with the | | | | water that can be heated is limited to approximately |
| cold tap usually on the right and the hot on the left. | | | | one and a half gallons a minute, although the spray is |
| This is the most common configuration for taps on a | | | | forced out of the head at approximately 1.5 bar (45 |
| basin. | | | | feet head).In order to achieve an all over spray from |
| This type of basin normally has a plug and chain | | | | the shower handset the holes in the end of the |
| waste.Basin mono-bloc mixer:This is where the hot | | | | handset are drilled quite small. The result of this is |
| and cold taps are mounted on a single tap bloc in the | | | | that the droplets of water spray produced are small |
| centre of the basin. This type of tap normally has a | | | | and do not hold the temperature. This means that |
| pop-up waste supplied as part of the tap.Three | | | | whilst the water temperature on your head is hot by |
| tap-hole mixer:As with the bath arrangement you | | | | the time the water runs to your knees it has gone |
| have a spout in the middle and a separate hot and | | | | cold. One other difficulty with the small hole size is |
| cold valve on either side. This type of arrangement | | | | that the handsets are prone to scale build up in hard |
| has a pop up waste. | | | | water areas which results in the spray pattern |
| On a three tap-hole basin you can also fit a pair of | | | | diminishing.In order to maximize the amount of water |
| basin taps and in the central hole fit a chain stay | | | | produced modern electric showers use on average |
| basin waste - this is where the plug chain is attached | | | | 8.5KW to 9KW of power. This makes them three |
| to a disc which fits over the middle hole.SHOWERS: | | | | times more costly to use than the electric immersion |
| There are several types of showers available in the | | | | heater in the cylinder. My own opinion is that they |
| UK and the type you choose has a lot to do with | | | | are best used in applications where there is no stored |
| the type of hot water and cold water supply that | | | | hot water or where a combi-boiler is used for the |
| the client has in their house. So I will first tackle the | | | | first shower mixer and the client needs a second |
| types of domestic water systems most commonly | | | | shower in the house. Most electric showers are |
| available.Gravity Feed, Vented, or Low Pressure | | | | manual mixers and have a tendency to vary the |
| systemsThis type of water system usually has a | | | | water temperature when other appliances such as |
| direct mains water cold feed. The hot water is | | | | taps and toilets are used.Manual Mixers:A manual |
| provided by means of a hot water cylinder (copper) | | | | mixer uses the hot and cold water supply to achieve |
| sited in an airing cupboard and a cold water cistern | | | | a shower. This is done by blending the amount of hot |
| (tank) sited either above the cylinder or in the loft. | | | | and cold by means of a lever valve, which either |
| To use a mixer shower with this type of system the | | | | uses an internal ceramic mixer cartridge or uses two |
| cold water tank needs to be sited at least three feet | | | | separate controls to achieve the desired temperature |
| (0.1 bar) above the shower head/handset. That is | | | | by turning simultaneously. This simple mechanism |
| unless you use a pump, in which case you need the | | | | makes the manual valve very cost effective. |
| tank to be one foot (0.03bar) above the shower | | | | However this type of mixer is prone to wild |
| head/handset.Combi-boiler, Multi-point systemsThis | | | | variations in temperature when other appliances such |
| type of water system has a mains feed cold water | | | | as taps, washing machines, dish washers and toilets |
| supply. The hot water is provided by an | | | | are used. Not a type of mixer to be recommended |
| instantaneous gas boiler. The boiler either does both | | | | for families with small children or older |
| the hot water and central heating ( combi-boiler), or it | | | | people.Thermostatic Mixers:A thermostatic mixer |
| does just the hot water only (multi-point). With this | | | | works in a similar way to the manual mixer but has |
| type of system the cold water is supplied at full | | | | an extra device fitted inside the valve casing which |
| mains pressure seventy five feet (2.5bar | | | | regulates the water temperature to within plus or |
| approximately) whilst the hot water is governed | | | | minus one degree centigrade. The result of this is |
| down by the boiler to a minimum of forty five feet | | | | that if another appliance is turned on the thermostat |
| (1.5bar approximately). With this type of system you | | | | automatically adjusts the flow of water to maintain |
| cannot use a pump to power the shower as this | | | | the desired temperature. If it is unable to maintain |
| would contravene the water by-laws. However as | | | | that temperature then it will temporarily turn the |
| the hot and cold water is supplied under pressure | | | | shower off until it is safe to allow it to function. |
| you have a power shower anyway.Pressurised water | | | | This type of mixer is ideal for families with small |
| system, unventedThis type of water system has a | | | | children and older people.Pumped Showers:This is |
| mains cold water supply. The hot water supply is | | | | where an electric pump is fitted to the shower to |
| from a hot water cylinder which is supplied by full | | | | increase the water pressure. This type of system |
| mains pressure of 175 feet (2.5bar approximately). As | | | | can only be fitted to a gravity feed hot water |
| with the combi-boiler system you cannot use pump | | | | system. There are two types of pumps generally |
| but you do not need to as the mains water pressure | | | | used:1. Inlet Pump (Twin Impellor)This type of pump |
| makes this a power shower.SHOWER DOORS | | | | is by far the most common is fitted to the hot and |
| (Cubicles, enclosures and surrounds):Shower doors | | | | cold water supplies before they go through the |
| and enclosures come in a variety of shapes and sizes. | | | | shower valve. Relatively inexpensive to purchase |
| As with pottery the cost and quality of the units | | | | they provide pressure to the shower of up to 3bar |
| depend on the materials used in the construction and | | | | (100ft head) at a flow rate of up to 3 gallons a |
| the design. Normally the thicker the glass the more | | | | minute. The most popular pressure is 1.5bar (45 foot |
| expensive the shower cubicle.Less expensive | | | | head).2. Outlet Pump (Single Impellor)This type of |
| enclosures generally use glass in the thickness range | | | | pump is fitted after the valve and pumps the mixed |
| of 3mm to 5mm. This thickness of glass will always | | | | hot and cold water. The advantage of this is that it |
| have a metal framework surrounding it to support | | | | can safely deliver a higher flow rate and higher |
| the weight of the glass. The mid to upper market | | | | pressure. The reason for this is that when you pump |
| enclosures have glass in the thickness range of 6mm | | | | water into the valve at pressure it can create an |
| to 8mm. | | | | imbalance of pressures at the valve. This is due to |
| This type of cubicle generally has very little | | | | the fact that the valve requires more hot water than |
| framework surrounding it or even none at all. The | | | | cold to achieve the correct temperature. The Outlet |
| build quality of ancillary parts such as hinges and seals | | | | pump pulls the water through the valve and sets up |
| is also important, as these are the parts that wear | | | | no such imbalance.TYPES OF MIXER VALVES:There |
| the fastest with day to day use and will result in | | | | are three main types of mixer valve: |
| leaks.With sliding doors the rollers for the doors | | | | 1. Fully exposed, where both the body of the valve |
| should be of ball bearing types. The reason for this is | | | | and the hot and cold water pipes to it are on the |
| that with a ball bearing roller there is little or no wear | | | | surface and on full view.2. Semi-recessed, where the |
| on the wheels. This means that with constant use | | | | body of the valve is on the surface and exposed and |
| they do not become elliptical and the glide of the | | | | the pipe work is hidden in the wall.3. Fully Recessed, |
| door is always smooth. | | | | where both the main body of the valve and the pipe |
| The thickness of the frame and the wall profiles is | | | | work are concealed in the wall.TYPES OF SHOWER |
| also a contributing factor to the price. As a rule the | | | | HEADS:There are three types of shower head:1. |
| thicker the frame and the profiles the more the cost. | | | | Fixed head, where the shower head is fixed on the |
| The profiles are the U-shaped channels that attach | | | | wall above head height by means of a shower arm. |
| the cubicle to the wall.Types of shower door:There | | | | This type of head cannot normally be moved lower, |
| are seven main types of shower door: Pivot, Hinged, | | | | but may be fitted with a ball swivel that allows you |
| Saloon, Bi-fold, In-fold, Double slider and Triple | | | | to turn it to the left or right.2. Handset, normally |
| slider.The Pivot and Hinged doors:These work in the | | | | supplied with a shower rail (sliding rail) which allows |
| same way, in that they open outwards as a single | | | | you to adjust the height of the shower rose and |
| piece of glass. With the pivot door the hinges are at | | | | remove it if necessary to wash a child or wall.3. |
| the top and bottom of the door. | | | | Body-jet, normally fitted with the fixed head type of |
| The advantage of this is that it makes the door well | | | | shower these are jets mounted on the wall below |
| balanced and put very little strain on the framework. | | | | head height. They are ideal for people who do not |
| The hinged door has the hinges on the side of the | | | | wish to wash there hair or face.SHOWER |
| door. | | | | SPRAYS:There are three main types of shower |
| This does mean however that when the door is | | | | spray:1. Standard spray common to all types of |
| open, the opening on the hinged door is wider than | | | | shower the water is supplied via series of small holes |
| that of the pivot door. These types of door tend to | | | | distributed evenly across the shower head.2. Pulse |
| be less expensive than any other due to the simple | | | | spray (massage spray) this can only be used on |
| design. | | | | showers which have power as the water pressure is |
| There can be a difficulty with the water running off | | | | used to spin a disc located within the shower head to |
| the door onto the floor when the door is opened | | | | pulse the water spray and so produce a massage |
| after a shower.The Saloon door:This is less common | | | | action. The greater the pressure the stronger the |
| and has two hinged doors which join in the middle. | | | | massage.3. Champagne spray (aerated) can only be |
| They tend to open inwards but are not as a rule | | | | used on power showers with a minimum of 1.5bar |
| very popular.Bi-fold and In-fold doors:These two | | | | (45 feet head). The water pressure is used to |
| doors both open inwards and so overcome the | | | | produce air bubbles in the water and so produce a |
| difficulty of water getting onto the floor by dripping | | | | soft foamy spray. This spray pattern is ideal for |
| water off the door. The bi-fold door is hinged in the | | | | children as it introduces them to power showers in a |
| centre and as the name suggests folds exactly in the | | | | way that is fun. Also ideal for ladies as the foam |
| middle. | | | | prevents the water from splashing up into the face |
| The in-fold door swings in as a single door by means | | | | and also expresses more water into wet hair for the |
| of a canter lever arrangement at the top and | | | | removal of shampoo.Written by Neal Baker on behalf |
| bottom of the door. You should be aware that if a | | | | of and |
| person faints or collapses in this type of cubicle it is | | | | |
| not possible to open the door.Double and Triple sliding | | | | online retailers of bathroom furniture, bathroom |
| doors:These doors work in the same way in that the | | | | suites and bathroom accessories in the UK. |
| doors slide on rollers back and forth to open or close. | | | | |