When constructing your home or bathroom, it is necessary to consider having a shower in addition (or in place of) a bath. Showers generally require less space, save water and can be used successfully with many different water heating systems in order to save energy. There are many different types and shapes of showers which can be installed in almost any size, shape and type of dwelling.
The most common shower is the typical upright walk-in shower. These are usually a small shower booth with is either constructed from brick and mortar, glass, Perspex or even fiberglass. The walls around the shower can be tiled or painted, but whatever covering is used must be able to deal with constant damp, soapy products, detergents and steam. Designers often opt for colourful shower trimmings such as mosaic tiles. The cubicle door can be as easy as hanging a waterproof curtain or installing a glass door to keep the moisture inside.
Another style of shower which is increasingly popular, especially where homes have been renovated or where space is at a premium, is the bath shower. This option gives the bathroom user a choice between bathing and showering and uses only the space of a bath. The bath shower consists of a normal bath which can be shielded with a shower curtain or door, but with the addition of a mixer tap with a fitting which can lift the shower head up to a level where a shower can be enjoyed. In other cases separate plumbing is installed to give the shower its own set of taps. Care must be taken not to slip!
Another design which is becoming increasingly popular is called the shower room or the wet room. This entails a shower area which opens into the rest of the bathroom, or consists of the entire bathroom, which is called a total wet room. However this means that the entire bathroom surface must be waterproofed, and this can be quite tricky. Usually the shower room floor is built at an angle to direct the flow of the water towards an outlet.