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