Showers

Whether you are building a new home or you are planning on remodeling the bathroom in the bathroom you already have, one of the most important things you need to consider is your bathroom showers. The ability to jump in a hot shower and let the warm water let the care of the world wash away is one that you probably take for granted. However, when you are building or remodeling a bathroom, it is important that your shower is put together well so that you won't have any unwanted water problems. There are a variety of things to consider for your shower, the faucets for your shower, the doors for your shower, and any shelves that you may want to install in your bathroom showers.

Thermostatic Showers

We've all been in a shower when the toilet has flushed downstairs or the washing machine has come on and taken a sharp intake of breath as the temperature plummets!

To maintain a constant temperature without having to fiddle with the hot and cold water inlets, thermostatic shower valves are the only option. The temperature can be pre-set and the valve will ensure that the temperature is maintained to within + or - a degree. What's more for a family bathroom a thermostatic shower is the only sensible option. You can rest assured that a child cannot scald itself when the water is being pre-mixed to a prescribed temperature.

Pressure Balance Showers

Pressure Balance showers protect your family with economical, reliable shower protection from scalding and cold shocks. If a toilet is flushed or a dishwasher is turned on, the available hot or cold water supply has an immediate pressure change. A pressure balance shower will safeguard against these sudden, dangerous shower temperature shocks by balancing cold and hot water pressure. They will typically maintain water temperature within a couple of degrees with a 50% drop in either the hot or cold water supply. If the cold water supply is cut off for whatever reason the valve will shut off the flow of water for maximum protection. A single handle control which allows a wide comfort zone so you can gradually and precisely regulate the water temperature from cold to hot.

Stationary Dual Shower Heads

This water fixture is attached to a single, stationary waterline just like a traditional shower. However, instead of one centered head, there are two heads which fork from the same single water source. These units remain stationary, but you get double the water and double the angles. Dual shower heads provide much more room in a stall, which means that more than one person is able to use it at a time. Yes, Mom and Dad, this includes you as well. Have you ever tried to take a shower with a significant other? Whether is it for a little romantic rendezvous or simply because you're both running late for an appointment, showering at the same time in a traditional shower can be a drag. One of you is always out of the water, shivering and waiting your turn. And if there's only one shower head, things can get cramped, even when you're bathing by yourself. But these double heads can answer this problem by allowing more room to work around. And if the space is being shared, each individual now has their own water jet that they can adjust to their own personal preference. They are usually installed without washers so that there is no threat of a leak, and they often come with several specialty options:

• Adjustable Heads: Don't let the word stationary fool you: the two heads can be adjusted to any angle just like any traditional shower so that you can choose where you want the water positioned on your body.
• Adjustable Pressure: Many of these products come with the option of adjustable water pressure for each head. This means that if you have shoulder aches, you can make the water pressure more powerful on that one side, while still keeping the other faucet at a normal level.
• Massaging Heads: Some units will come with massaging capabilities, where each head is adjusted to pulsate at different settings. This allows the feel of a relaxing hot tub right in your own shower.

Double Showers and Vertical Spas

Various luxury shower installations are as various as they are popular. Everybody has their own preferences and needs, but everybody wants to have a quality shower experience every time. Double shower heads can maximize space and give you a total shower experience that won't leave half your body still freezing when you enter the shower. Two-person showers and separate shower and tub installations are also becoming increasingly popular for large bathrooms.

More Options

Like any water fixture, there are a million different designs and materials: plastic, brass, metallic, traditional, or contemporary; the options are limitless. So even if you're replacing your old head with one of these dual faucets, there shouldn't be a problem matching the new product to your bathroom's pre-existing decor. Also, there are a few different types of models out there to choose from:

• Handheld: Instead of keeping it stationary, re-define the idea of a dual shower head. Maybe you simply need an additional, movable spout that can be handheld for more customized versatility and more control of the water source.
• Vertical: Instead of the spouts being bifurcated above your head, why not have them installed vertically along the wall of the shower. It's like a whirlpool while standing up.
• Opposite Sides: Instead of the fixtures being affixed to a single pipe in one central location, why not install two different heads opposite each other. You'll be surrounded in a cascade of water for total front and back immersion. Plus, if showering for two, no one will have to worry about being left out in the cold.
• Body Sprays: These smaller shower heads can be placed around the shower to give the option of additional water spray from the front, back or sides. There are a variety of spray options from gentle to a harder massage jet sprays.

Shower Doors

Framed doors are becoming less popular for shower enclosures. The frameless alternative requires a thicker glass and sturdier hinges and may or may not include a header, which runs across the top of the enclosure to add stability and support to the glass. The thicker glass might be 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick, which results in a more expensive product. Classic door configurations like single swing or sliding are possibilities while newer designs redefine the shower enclosure door like Basco's Infinity 1722 clear glass enclosure that features two French style swinging doors.

Glass choice is an important consideration to make when selecting a shower door. A few factors can come into play that might encourage a homeowner to choose from the obscured or patterned variety. Privacy is one consideration. An obscured glass vocers up the shower occupant more, something aging couples in particular seek. Within the patterned glass family there are nearly coutless styles, including fluted, beveled and etched patterns. Patterned glass styles and their accompanying names are as numerous as the companies that manufacture them and can add flair and artistry to a room's overall aesthetic. Clear glass remains the most popular choice for doors, and it suits the shower or bathroom remodel that will include stylish tile, fixtures and shower accessories worth showing off and making visible.

Glass treatment is another consideration when selecting the shower enclosure. Shower glass has a reputation for deteriorating over time and being difficult to clean. Factory-applied treatment like Basco's Aquaglide protect the glass from accumulation grime, making it easier to clean.