| There is a wide variety of shower systems | | | | - Remove the tray and using a jigsaw cut away a |
| available but your choice will be largely governed | | | | section of the floor big enough for the shower |
| by your household water system. | | | | trap. |
| Mixer shower | | | | - Just outside your outline of the tray, remove |
| The simplest form of shower is the bath mixer | | | | another section of floor to give you an access |
| shower, where a mixer tap is connected to a | | | | point for the plumbing work. |
| hose and shower attachment. The water | | | | - Make up a PVA solution consisting of 5 parts |
| temperature and force is controlled by the hot | | | | PVA to 1 part water. Spread this over the tray |
| and cold taps on the mixer unit. Although this | | | | area outlined on the floor and wait for it to dry. |
| system is inexpensive and has the advantage of | | | | - Mix up some mortar and spread the mortar |
| not needing any additional plumbing, the water | | | | over the tray area. Having screwed the trap to |
| pressure is affected by water being used in other | | | | the waste outlet, bed the tray into the mortar |
| parts of the building. | | | | ensuring it is firmly positioned and level. Allow the |
| Power shower | | | | mortar to dry for at least 24 hours. |
| A power shower uses a powerful electric pump | | | | - Using the access hole, reach under the floor and |
| to increase the rate of the water flow to the | | | | attach the shower trap to the waste pipe. |
| showerhead from the water cistern. Due to the | | | | - Waterproof silicone sealant should then be |
| fast flow of water you must ensure the waste | | | | applied along the edges of the shower tray where |
| pipe is large enough to drain the water from the | | | | it meets the wall. |
| shower tray, as it will receive around 27 litres of | | | | Fitting the shower |
| water a minute. It is recommended that a 50mm | | | | Every shower will come with its own instructions, |
| (2in) diameter waste pipe be installed. A power | | | | which you should follow. But we can offer general |
| shower is not suitable if the water is supplied | | | | guidance for installing showers. Every installation |
| from a combination boiler under mains pressure | | | | will vary according to the model of shower and its |
| Electric shower | | | | location but the basic plumbing method for fitting |
| Supplied as a wall unit it uses an electric element | | | | a manual mixer shower is as follows: |
| to heat the water. The unit is plumbed into the | | | | - Mark the desired positions of the showerhead |
| cold water supply and powered by its own | | | | and mixer unit on the wall of your cubicle. These |
| electric circuit connected to the consumer unit. | | | | can be either fitted flush to the wall or recessed. |
| You must notify the local building control | | | | If the mixer is set back in the wall, remember |
| department that you are carrying out the work | | | | you will need to have a removable panel to gain |
| and the new electric circuit must be checked by | | | | access to the controls. |
| a professional electrician to ensure it complies with | | | | - Isolate the water supply. |
| Wiring Regulations (BS7671). | | | | - The supply pipes can be set back into the wall |
| Manual and thermostatic mixers | | | | then plastered and tiled over, but in this case the |
| A manual mixer shower is a wall unit where the | | | | pipes must have a waterproof covering and be |
| hot and cold supplies feed a single valve. Manual | | | | fitted with service valves, which must be |
| mixer systems usually have a single or dual dial | | | | accessible. |
| control. Controlling the volume of water and the | | | | - As you route the pipe work from the shower |
| temperature is achieved by adjusting the dial or | | | | to the hot and cold water pipes you will need to |
| dials. Although more expensive, a thermostatic | | | | join lengths of pipe together. There are several |
| mixer shower has a built-in stabiliser that prevents | | | | ways of joining lengths of pipe together (see |
| the water running too hot or too cold. | | | | joining pipes), but the compression joint is one of |
| A shower tower | | | | the most simple and effective methods. |
| A tower unit combines the thermostatic mixer | | | | - If possible avoid using elbow joints at corners as |
| shower with a series of adjustable jets. The unit | | | | these can affect the flow of the water. Instead |
| will also be equipped with a fixed showerhead and | | | | bend the pipes using a pipe spring or pipe-bending |
| a hand-held spray attachment. A tower shower | | | | tool. |
| can be installed over a bath but it is more likely to | | | | - Connect the pipes to the controls and attach |
| be fitted into a shower cubicle or wet room. For a | | | | the showerhead. Turn on the water and check |
| tower shower to work efficiently a ceiling height | | | | for leaks. |
| of 2200mm is required and a pump may be | | | | - To avoid standing water in the shower tray |
| needed to increase the water pressure. | | | | seeping back into the supply, the shower hose |
| Installing a shower cubicle | | | | should be threaded through a retaining ring fixed |
| Let us take a look at installing a shower cubicle | | | | to the wall of the shower cubicle. |
| fitted with a manual mixer shower. When | | | | Once your shower is installed and all the plumbing |
| deciding on the location of your shower cubicle, | | | | work completed, you can tile your shower cubicle |
| you will have to consider several important | | | | using waterproof tile adhesive and grout (see |
| factors: | | | | ceramic wall tiles). Remember you will need to |
| - The distance between the bottom of the cold | | | | gain access to the service valves. Additionally, the |
| water tank and the showerhead must be at least | | | | bottom row of tiles should overlap the lip of the |
| 1 metre for adequate pressure. A distance of | | | | shower tray against the wall to ensure your |
| 1500mm is preferable. If there is not adequate | | | | cubicle will be watertight. |
| room, it may be possible to raise the height of | | | | Adding the shower screen |
| the water tank or have a booster pump fitted. | | | | Shower trays come in different shapes and sizes, |
| - If the shower is to be supplied direct from the | | | | so the number of panels making up the shower |
| mains supply a return valve must be fitted to the | | | | screen will depend on the type of shower tray |
| mains supply pipe, so shower water cannot siphon | | | | you have bought. Shower screens are usually |
| back into the cistern. | | | | made of either glass or acrylic. Glass shower |
| - The position of the waste pipe and location of | | | | screens must be made of 4mm toughened |
| the water supply pipes. | | | | safety glass and conform to BS 6206. We are |
| - The pipe work running from the shower to the | | | | taking a look at a basic shower screen |
| hot and cold water supply will need to be | | | | arrangement that has a square tray fitted into |
| recessed in a wall. | | | | the corner of a bathroom/shower room, allowing |
| - The walls incorporated into your shower cubicle | | | | for a two-piece shower screen comprising of one |
| must be sound enough to have shower screen | | | | partition screen and a door entering into the |
| support channels fixed to them and be lined with | | | | cubicle. These are general tips: always follow the |
| ceramic tiles. | | | | manufacturer's instructions. |
| - If building stud walls as part of the shower | | | | - Taking one of the screen support channels place |
| cubicle it is advisable to use moisture-check | | | | it vertically against the wall at the shower end of |
| plasterboard or even cement-boardas both these | | | | the tray and mark the position of the screw |
| materials are ideal for areas of high water usage. | | | | holes. |
| Having decided on a position for your shower | | | | - Carefully drill pilot holes through the ceramics |
| cubicle that allows access to the waste pipe and | | | | tiles. Then the holes and screw the support |
| water supply pipes, make a plan indicating the | | | | channel in place. |
| position of the showerhead and the route of the | | | | - Fit the screen into the channel so that it rests |
| pipe work from the shower to the supply pipes. | | | | on the rim of the shower tray. With the screws |
| From this you will be able to calculate the length | | | | provided secure the screen through the side of |
| of 15mm diameter piping needed. | | | | the channel. |
| Fitting a ceramic tray | | | | - Fix the second support channel vertically to the |
| Shower trays can be made from acrylic, GRP | | | | other wall. This channel will hold the frame in which |
| (Glass Reinforced Plastic), resin or ceramic. Resin | | | | the door to the shower cubicle will be fitted. |
| and ceramic trays are installed on a bed of | | | | - The frame of the partition and the door will |
| mortar. Acrylic shower trays are fitted with | | | | meet in a right angle at the corner of the shower |
| adjustable legs and as they are higher off the | | | | tray. Use the fixings supplied by the manufacturer |
| floor than solid trays, it is easier to connect the | | | | to secure the two frames firmly in position. |
| waste outlet to the waste pipe, as it may not be | | | | - Following the manufacturer's instructions, fix the |
| necessary to remove a section of flooring. Fitting | | | | door into position ensuring that it opens and closes |
| a ceramic tray: | | | | smoothly, in addition to providing a water tight |
| - Place it where it is to be installed and draw | | | | barrier when shut. |
| around the tray, also marking the position of the | | | | - Finally, apply silicone sealant to all the joints |
| waste pipe on the floor. | | | | between the framework, walls and shower tray. |