Bathroom Renovation: Part 3 - Showers

Who knew that deciding on your shower would include so many options to choose from? Of course, the first consideration is available space in your renovated bathroom, and next comes design. However, another important factor in the selection process are the elements you desire for the most relaxing shower experience possible.

Where to Put the Shower
You will get the most out of the space you have if you place your shower in a corner of the bathroom and utilize a quadrant enclosure (which comes in a corner style unit or a D-shaped unit that still saves space but is nice for a shower out in the open a bit more).

Wetroom for a Larger Budget
This option is not for you if you have a tight renovation budget. However, if you have a little room to breathe and long to accomplish something a bit different, then a wetroom may be the way to go. Basically, with this design element, the shower is open – no walls, doors or curtains – the whole bathroom is a shower. While this design is appealing, it costs more because:

• The whole room will need to be “tanked” or made water tight to prevent leaks – only a professional contractor like HA Construction can do this properly
• HA Construction will have to raise the floor by approximately 5cm to account for waste fittings, which will slope toward your drain location (which should be away from the door so water doesn’t drain out o the room)
• The room support structure must be strong enough, or you will need reinforcement
• Extra ventilation may need to be installed so the room can dry out after use
• You’ll need non-slip flooring installed

Accommodating the Smallest of Budgets
If you really don’t have the room for many extras in your bathroom renovation budget, then you may just need to upgrade the shower head and fixtures on your current shower, or install a shower to a bathroom only equipped with a tub. These options are much less expensive, but can still provide you with the satisfaction of an upgrade.

Somewhere in the Middle
Installing (or replacing) a regular shower unit is typically the way things go for a renovation. As mentioned, there are many corner and quadrant options to choose from. However, for just a small adjustment to your budget, consider putting in a walk-in shower. These units still have doors (typically glass), but usually have more space available. The largest feature is that there is no lip – you don’t have to step up or over anything to get into the shower.

You can take this even further by designing a walk-behind shower. This has no doors or curtains, but a wall (usually of tile or glass) that you walk around to get to the shower. The wall separates the shower heads from the rest of the bathroom enough that there is no splashing, but it’s still part of the bathroom as a whole (rather than a seemingly separate room). Plus it makes for easier cleaning.

Other Considerations
You’ll also need to determine the type of shower-head you want (there are too many to list), as well as how many shower-heads. You’ll also find shower units that are fully high-tech and equipped with everything you can think of – that essentially look like a car wash with an in board radio and temperature control.

The shower pictured here is one that HA Construction recently installed in a full-scale bathroom renovation, and a prime example of the car wash approach. It has a standard shower-head, four jets, one overhead and one handheld attachment. A 75 gallon water heater was installed just for the shower, as well as a booster pump for increased water pressure and a larger-than-normal drain for the extra water. Now this is a shower anyone would enjoy!

What you choose, again, depends upon your space, budget, design and desires. Andy and his crew at HA Construction can help you determine the best fit for the ultimate shower experience.

Part 1: Layout Design
Part 2: Bathtubs
Part 4: Choosing Tile
Part 5: The Toilet and the Sink