Installing a Shower Cubicle
Installing a shower cubicle is now common practice within the bathroom as long as enough space is available. There are three main areas a shower can be installed.
· Corner Shower Cubicle
· Shower Cubicle in a Recess
· Flat Wall Installation
The most common cubicle is a quadrant cubicle, which simply fits in the corner of a room. They are available in numerous sizes, the most popular being a 900mm, this is adequate for space both inside and outside the cubicle. The tray will consist of two equal straight sides 900 long and a curved front edge with a 55 radius. See picture below.
Quadrant shower tray
The tray is the first item to be installed, depending on how the waste is to be fitted underneath it is often secured to the floor with sand and cement mix which gives a permanent bond.
If access to the waste is required the tray can be fitted with legs and then a plinth which is fitted around the front this easily removed to gain access to the waste for cleaning, this method is also used for fitting on concrete floors often in apartment blocks or basements and is referred to as an Easy Plumb base.
Once the tray is fitted and the first fix plumbing is done i.e. the valve body is secured in the cavity wall the rest of the area can now be boarded and tiled. The tray will be tiled and sealed with a silicone based product to give a 100% waterproof area.
The next stage is to build the shower cubicle, it will come in various parts, first concentrate on getting the frame with the fixed glass panels together, this can then be fitted on the tray, and silicone is again used all the way around the frame, both inside and outside the cubicle.
The shower can now be fitted fully along with the head or slide rail kit giving close attention when drilling holes in the new tiles; a top tip here is to apply a small amount of masking tape to the tiles and then drill. This stops the drill bit from slipping and scratching the new tiles.
The last stage is to hang the doors; these will have adjustable rollers so they can be guaranteed a smooth rolling motion. A small amount of grease is sometimes applied along the channels to aid the movement especially after continuous use.
The above guide can be followed for most cubicles; they will follow the same principles, all trays are installed first no matter which cubicle it is, the fitment of some doors will differ slightly.
Walk-in Showers
Many people are now installing walk-in showers in their homes the trend has swung from baths to showers over the past decade with people leading busier lifestyles showering has become more convenient. Here at Bathshop 321 we are able to offer various styles of walk-in showers from manufacturers such as Technik, Milano and Aqualux.
A walk-in shower consists of a showering area and also a dry area, as the picture below shows these are often quite a lot larger than corner cubicles and other standard showers.
It is common practice now for people to remove their bath if space is at a premium and install a walk-in cubicle; ideal for the large percentage of people who shower rather than bathe. The Technik cubicle above shows a large slim line tray with two curved glass panels. On this particular shower it features a bamboo duckboard which is the modern day ‘bath mat’ and a large towel holder.
Other walk-in showers are available, to create a wetroom feel, glass screens are simple put on a tiled area. This area has been fully waterproofed by using a dedicated kit, Bathshop 321 offers a deckboard from manufacturer Impey, and it comes complete with waste and tanking kit and seals the floor. The deckboard is placed directly on the joists and sealed with the tanking kit. A glass screen normally 8mm in thickness is simply placed on top, as per picture below.
Wet room shower cubicle
This is ultra modern and gives a clean minimalist look and can be adapted to be fitted into most bathrooms. With prices starting from just £379 it is no longer an expensive option to add a walk-in cubicle.
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