I love to sit and soak in my tub when it’s cold in the winter and on weekends when I have a little more time. And like most women, I love to put bubbles in the bath, light some candles and relax with a glass of wine and good music when no one is home. But on hot days I prefer a cool shower, and when I awaken all groggy and sluggish but have to leave quickly for work, a shower wakes me up but gets me moving.

I also love to shower with my husband because he scrubs my back. The problem with showering with a partner is that few home showers are big enough. Someone ends up shivering in the corner while the other hogs the water, or if it’s a shower over a bathtub, I usually end up being the one who slips.

Walk In Shower For Two

So, when my husband and I began planning our house renovation here in Spain we unanimously agreed on two things. 1. We must have a bathtub AND a shower. 2. The shower must be one of the walk in showers designed for two.

Because we were creating two areas, one for bathing and one for showering, we needed to keep the costs down. We wanted cheap walk in showers without them looking cheap. We wanted natural materials and a little glass, but most importantly good drainage because the shower was to be in the basement and we didn’t want water to collect and create mold.

Here are some things we discovered.

Plan the area well by going to the space you have selected for the walk in shower. You and partner should move around in the area to be sure you have selected a big enough space. Remember that a corner can be ideal and still save space.

Once you know the space is adequate in size, consult a plumber to be sure the drainage is near enough and will flow out well. The most annoying thing about showers is that the water doesn’t go down fast enough and you end up standing in ankle deep water that spills beyond the tray or shower area and takes a long time to dry. There are several ways to avoid this.

1. A walk in shower wet room. For those of you not familiar with a wet room, it is a an entire room that doesn’t matter if it’s wet all over because there are several drains in the floor, not just immediately under the shower, but in strategic places like corners or low areas where water may otherwise accumulate. The entire room is tiled or has stone or wood from top to bottom that is appropriately treated and water-resistant so it doesn’t matter if water splashes everywhere. It’s great for two or more because there are many nozzles or showerheads or hoses with sprayers so no one need stand shivering in a corner. Wet rooms are great for families with children or fun for couples.

2. A tray is a molded plastic (or similar material) unit that is installed on the floor under the shower. Since they are quite deep and beveled toward the centre, they catch the water and it flows down the drain, usually without overflowing. The small inexpensive trays are often not adequate for the amount of water and may overflow. They also may crack or break which may cause other flooring and plumbing problems later. Use a large enough tray, select a strong material and don’t jump in the shower.

3. A walk in shower enclosure is a type of shower that is spacious yet doesn’t permit water outside the enclosed area. The newest models that are prefabricated come sealed and are watertight. They are modular units that have a floor, back and usually transparent doors of glass or plexi and also have the showerheads and taps and all controls preinstalled. There are small models for one or styles that are spacious enough for two or more.

4. A tray and a built up second level is a third option that helps with drainage problems that sometimes occur with just a tray alone. This technique involves building up a walk in shower onto a platform so that below the platform there is room for a tray and the normal drainage system. Where you stand can be made of anything, usually it is treated wood, stone or tile. Its advantages are that you needn’t create a entire wet room out of stone or tile, just the area that is elevated, but the water ends up lower and so it doesn’t overfill and spill out as easily.

My husband I decided on a walk in shower wet room with stone tile from top to bottom and two shower heads. We also included a wooden bench and an area with small pebbles to massage our feet. Our walk in shower was left without an enclosure except for a large sheet of glass known as bespoke shower doors that actually was hung at the entrance to the entire wet room. I keep towels in baskets just outside the door beside a small sofa that’s great for relaxing on after showers.

It doesn’t matter if you choose a walk in shower cubical or a walk in shower enclosure or a stall; just remember to design your walk in shower big enough for TWO.

Kohler shower panel overhead rain models; Vigo massage shower wall panels, Hudson Reed stainless steel shower panels; and for the UK….shower paneling for enclosures, walk in style glass shower panels; mosaic and other waterproof sheets for renovating walls; Mermaid wall panel system – where to shop online for power shower systems in the United States and for shower enclosure panelling in the UK – at Home Walk In Showers we have the information you need to plan and build your unique bathroom wherever you live…from new York to London…and anywhere between.

What is a Shower Panel?

It depends. Here are the three main products that the term describes:

1. A type of contemporary shower console that often has the capability to offer a variety of built-in extras that may include massage via adjustable jets, and/or a rainfall showerhead, as well as a hand held shower spray all from one central unit. The panel, usually a flat, sleek, maintenance-free stainless steel wall-mounted apparatus, will feature things like a thermostatic mixing valve for temperature control, versatile swiveling nozzles, simultaneous pulsating massage jets and rain-style shower settings, as well as flexible hoses that are part of a complete self-contained center that can be easily installed in a shower area with brackets. These are sold worldwide by some of the biggest shower manufacturers like Kohler, Hudson Reed and others, and although they have gained most popularity in the United States, there are online distributors who ship to many destinations.

2. A shower wall panel or the term “shower paneling” will likely refer to a waterproof plywood or laminated wood surface that is decorative and can be placed on the sides and back of a shower area instead of resurfacing the walls with stucco, paint, tile or other materials. They may mimic the look of tile, mosaics, stone, or simply be a smooth surface that’s easy to clean and seals off moisture from entering corners and edges. An example would be the beautiful waterproof wall panel systems offered by a UK company called Mermaid. Their panels can be used to create an enclosure that can get totally wet, as in a shower, or can be used to decorate and cover the entire wall surface of a bathroom.
   

   They may be used in small cubical showers in flats, or large elegant bathrooms. Another online shop that has a huge selection of panel colors, styles and textures is called The Bathroom Marquee. It seems they offer almost every color, texture and faux stone or tile design you might have in mind. Using wall paneling for shower or bath areas is most popular in the UK, although there it’s also available in the US.


3. The term glass shower panel may be something completely different altogether. For example when building a walk in shower area or a wetroom, a panel of glass may be used to separate the otherwise open showering area from the rest of the bathroom. In both the UK and the US, glass doors and glass panels are sold, however in the UK they often referred to as bespoke shower doors or panels and in the US they are custom sheets of glass or simply glass panels. The shower panel UK residents can purchase easily online, may be found through a company called WD Bathrooms. They offer the Cascade walk in panel that can be used in a wet room or walkin shower design that you can customize to your specific needs.

In the US, you can order the Kohler designs, which are panels of glass that create a square, round or curved style enclosure. One is called the Focal Framed Crystal Clear Custom Bypass Shower Door, which in fact is made up of several panels of glass. The entire unit, with all the panels like in the image we present, costs over $1,000, but can be ordered online through efaucets and there’s no extra shipping charges on orders within the US.

Now that it’s clear what these three items are, it should make searching for exactly what you need easier. However, it appears that the panels most searched for are the high-tech console units that give massage and rainfall showers, so we offer….

A Brief Shower Panel Review For Kohler, Hudson Reed and Vigo Product Lines

1. Kohler – The newest Kohler shower panel is unique because it is not a wall mounted unit but a ceiling mounted rainfall shower. It’s actually called the WaterTile® and is a square plaque, or panel that causes it to rain over your head. Sounds fun! It may look as if it just dumps water on you, but in fact it has a complete built-in system of 4 adjustable nozzles with twenty-two spayheads. This contemporary means of getting rained on isn’t cheap, in fact the system starts at over $670. If the basic polished chrome finish doesn’t match your décor, then you can spend a little more and get whatever finish you desire, like the polished or brushed nickel design for over $970 (or for a similar price you can also order the brushed bronze, however, the polished gold tile we can only assume is so expensive Kohler won’t tell us how much it costs, so you’ll have to contact an authorized dealer, although the French gold model costs just $905. Anyway, it’s not a cheap option, but it’s very chic!

2. Hudson Reed – For about $895, you can get the Hudson Reed design, which is a unit that is wall mounted, called the Lustre Shower Panel. It comes with everything except a beautiful woman to scrub your back, but you don’t need a shower companion because the system comes with six body jets to scrub and massage, not just your back, but all over.

   The showers panel design is sleek and slimline but has a bit of teak wood elegance mixed with the durable stainless steel unit. It has lots of other features like easy clean nozzles and anti scald control. There’s one thing that this design doesn’t offer, and that is: you can’t use the fixed showerhead mode while simultaneously using the body jets. You have to choose one or the other. There are models that allow both if that’s an important feature. The Hudson Reed thermostatic shower panel that’s a tower system and costs just over $700, allows simultaneous jets and shower functions.


3. Vigo – For under $400 you can get a high-tech Vigo Shower massage panel that has received rave reviews by satisfied customers. In part the price makes people happy with their purchase, since it can retail for as little $360 through places like Surplus Decor, but it’s also a high performance model. It’s aluminum, lightweight, yet very durable and resistant to corrosion. It has 6 jets, thermostatic control, adjustable showerhead, and also can be installed in conjunction with a bathtub or even a whirlpool. The controls are brass with a chrome finish and it includes a no-fog mirror so you can watch yourself shower.

If you’re creating a personalized walk in shower or wet room, in the US or the UK, and need more ideas on how to incorporate showerheads, power showers, electric shower devices, choosing an enclosure, selecting some unusual extras like copper sinks or a stone vessel basin, or if you want to know where to buy unique vanity mirrors, heated towel bars or bathroom sets to decorate, or even if you just want to get more use out of your bathroom by organizing with better bathroom storage solutions, please continue exploring the related topics in this site. At Home Walk In Showers we’re here to help you plan how to get wet in style and come out refreshed.

]]> http://homewalkinshowers.com/bathroom-shower-panel-uk-and-us-shopping-guide/feed/ 0 http://homewalkinshowers.com/a-splish-splasher%e2%80%99s-guide-to-walk-in-showers/ http://homewalkinshowers.com/a-splish-splasher%e2%80%99s-guide-to-walk-in-showers/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:34:19 +0000 admin http://homewalkinshowers.com/?p=20 Perspiration trickles down my back and legs as I step out of the jungle onto the swinging bridge that leads to the dock and to my home. I’ve been photographing the rubber plantation and rain forest since 5:00am; it’s now 8:00 and too hot to continue. There’s a light sea breeze wafting over the dock carrying a scent of salty seaweed and shellfish. In the distance, on the other side of the bay, I can make out the fishing boats unloading shrimp and lobster for morning market. I reach the end of the bridge and the dock greets me with a creek. To the right is my bungalow, on stilts over the mangrove tangled water (where I hang my camera on a nail and leave my tripod in a corner), and to the left is my private walk in shower…

…I step from the bamboo flooring inside the bamboo enclosure and let the cool water spray over my skin. No bath or shower ever felt so good. I can smell the wood as the water sprinkles the walls, and an earthy freshness rises from the stone floor in a little cloud of vapor. I let myself drip dry for a moment, tie a sarong around my waist and plop into my hammock. Aaaahhhh, yes! This is what I think of whenever anyone mentions a “walk in shower”.

Walk in Showers Around the World

As a journalist I’ve had a few walk in showers over the years: in Indonesia with teak walls and marble floors, in Spain with mosaic tile and Moorish arches, in China with silken partitions and a foot massaging pebbled floor, and in Japan within a glass enclosure and digital shower controls. However my strangest shower experience was in a Taipei apartment where the landlord proudly presented me to the Taiwanese version of a walk in shower. Yes indeed, the tiny bathroom was a wet room. By positioning myself just right on the toilet, and balancing my elbow on the edge of the bathroom sink, I could in fact hold the hose that came out of the wall above the toilet tank and take a pleasant hot shower.

Why all the fuss about showers?

It’s simple. A shower isn’t merely a place to wash dirt off our bodies; it purifies and refreshes us within. It’s a private moment of renewal, a way to let things go, to watch the dirt of the day flow away with the water and disappear down the drain.

Practical and Inexpensive Walkin Shower Splish-Spalsh

You needn’t go to Bali for a marble-teak splish or to Tokyo to take a high-tech splash, and you needn’t live in the jungle to smell bamboo and stone as you scrub. You can have a walk in shower as Caribbean-tropical or as Asian-chic as you desire right in your own home. Don’t settle for squatting over a toilet or standing inside a tub when you can dance to your own beat in a walk in shower that’s both practical and inexpensive.

You can buy a walk in shower cubical or a modern walk in shower enclosure made of glass or you can build walk in shower stalls from wood, stone, mosaic tile or marble. The secret to a walkin shower is how well the area is sealed and how well the drainage in the floor has been designed. To show you how simple and inexpensive it can be here’s an example: One innovative gentleman who ran a small 2 room B&B on an island in the South China Sea, simply left the cement shower area open, painted the back walls with a water-resistant bright color and filled the floor (up to the outer cement lip) with about 4 inches of medium sized loose gravel (not sand)and seashells. The water ran between the gravel and shells, draining as normal.

The Chinese owner said he had been inspired to create this shower by one he had seen when he lived on Australia’s Gold Coast. He said it cost him the price of the cement to make the area, the price of the taps and shower head, and the cost of the water-resistant paint; the pebbles and shells he gathered from the beach.

Handicap Showers

Walk in baths and showers are not just for the artistic or modern shower-goers who want something exotic. They are also practical solutions to facilitate access to disabled showers and handicapped showers in walk in bathrooms. A walk in bathroom, deigned extra wide and with no steps, can be combined with manual or electric showers. Elderly people or anyone needing level access showers, without a cubical enclosure, should consider a wet room made entirely of stone, tile or wood. A walk in bathroom/ wet room is not just for spas or hotels; they are practical for residential use and may resolve issues for designers who must create a bathroom for a handicapped individual.

Here at Home Walk In showers I will help you with tips and ideas for YOUR walk in showers so you can spend your time splish-splashing!

]]> http://homewalkinshowers.com/a-splish-splasher%e2%80%99s-guide-to-walk-in-showers/feed/ 0 http://homewalkinshowers.com/walk-in-shower-enclosure/ http://homewalkinshowers.com/walk-in-shower-enclosure/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:56:20 +0000 admin http://homewalkinshowers.com/?p=13 !Walk in shower! sounds a little strange especially when you consider that you walk into all showers; you don’t fly or slither or slide into some, and crawl or climb or sit into others.

So what’s the difference between “walk in showers” and “showers”?



Tywford Walk In Shower

Showers often have a step or a lip or are part of a bathtub/shower combination that makes you step up into or onto a shower on a platform or down into a tub. Walk in showers, in the true sense of the word, are level access showers and do not require you to step into or onto them. They also are meant to be more spacious and often totally open like a wet room.

However, the definition I have just given isn’t true when it comes to some of the newer models of so called walk in showers that are actually cubicles, enclosures or stalls and not totally open. This is a mere technicality because most of these modular unit shower stalls and enclosures are made almost entirely of transparent plexi or glass, or have huge glass doors, that makes them appear to be open and therefore “walk in”.

Walk in Showers with TV

Bathroom walk in showers don’t even need to be in the bathroom if they’re of the new high-tech kind that come completely enclosed. A walk in shower enclosure these days looks a little like a huge capsule you might imagine using for time travel. They are not level access showers because in most cases you must step into them and close the door which seals snuggly behind you. And inside is a whole new world of shower power!

I have seen one model made by a Chinese manufacturer that not only offered a complete digital console to control everything (including perhaps opening the garage door) but also had a TV inside the Walk In Shower Enclosure. Some are not so high-tech as to have a monitor, but most offer a variety of showerhead options and multiple nozzles and hoses to reach every inch of your body.

Shower Enclosures not ideal for the handicapped

Enclosed showers are not ideal handicap showers. They are not designed as disabled showers because the entrance is usually elevated. If you need a level access shower consider walk in shower stalls that also come with digital controlled consoles and multiple shower heads but do not require stepping into because the tray or floor should be flush with the ground and the only thing that separates them from the room is a glass door. These come with sliding shower doors or hinged doors and still offer an encapsulated feeling without the difficult access.

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