First of all you should be aware of the components of a shower.  If you are considering a walk in shower then you will most likely need to research shower pans, you will need to decide on a shower stall, and many other decisions down to the shower head you want.  Do you want a walk in shower that doubles as a steam shower?  Do you have a small bathroom and need a corner walk in shower?  A walk in shower is by far the most expensive choice to make.

You might also need to decide if you want an electric shower instead of the standard showers that get their hot water from a hot water heater tank.  Electric showers are more economical and easy to operate.  You might even consider a thermostatic shower which would provide you with comfort and safety by always being able to set the temperature of your water.  This is a good way to prevent scalding and each individual can set their own temperature to what they prefer.

Do you want a ceramic tile shower or a natural stone shower?  Will your shower use a shower pan or will the floor be tiled like the sides?  Do you even want a walk in shower…maybe you prefer the tub/shower combination.  As you can see you can pretty much choose any style and design you want for your shower and you can make it completely your own.  Be sure to browse the other posts on this site to learn more about other choices you might want to make and other types of showers that are available.

Regardless of your choice, the shower will be one of the most important components of your home.  Be sure to really do your research and take your time in making decisions and you will always make the right choices for you.  Showers are a place to relax and unwind, make sure the one you create does just that for you!

Showers are a very personal thing and so are design choices, but with walk in showers your choices are pretty much endless.  Many of us are familiar with these types of shower enclosures and are most familiar with glass shower enclosures where the shower will be framed with glass panels or even glass cubes.  This is very standard, but there are so many types of glass enclosures that you would probably fry your brain trying to think of all of them.  These types of enclosures usually refer to the shower doors that enclose them, but one must also think of the actual shower when talking about walk in shower enclosures.  For instance, where will the shower be located in your bathroom?  Along a wall?  In a corner?  Will you tile the shower or use painted drywall for the sides?

All of these questions need to be answered before you can decide on the type of enclosure you will need.  There are showers that are curved and sit in a corner of a bathroom.  These types are perfect for those of us with limited space in our bathrooms.  There are square enclosures that fit in the corner too.  There are walk in showers that take up the length of an entire wall and offer the luxury of having more than one person shower at the same time with multiple shower heads for convenience.  There are showers that offer massaging shower heads that run the length of your body or even steam showers.

Another option you might consider is the walk in shower enclosure that really isn’t an enclosure at all.  There are showers that basically have one glass wall, opposite the shower heads, but the rest is open to the bathroom.  These are very chic and convenient, but just make sure your entire bathroom is waterproof with ceramic tiles or stone!  This type of shower also works best for those with a large bathroom, so not everything gets soaked when you shower!

Whatever you choose, DIY home improvement can be a challenging, but rewarding experience.  Upgrade your shower today!

An electric shower also uses less energy than an electric powered water heater so there is the benefit of saving money and energy as well.  Your water heater will work much less because the water supply that a water heater supplies will not be used for your shower.  An electric shower will heat the water that you need, and only the water that you need, for your shower at the time you are taking it.  It is not only good for your pocketbook but also the environment.  Of course the number one benefit of an electric shower is that you will never run out of hot water again, no matter how long your shower is or how many people take on in the matter of hours.  There are a couple name brands that you should be aware of: Mira Electric Shower and Triton Electric Shower.  These two brands are top notch for the industry and will run you approximately $200-$800 USD.  They are of course UK dealers, but electric showers are making their way in popularity in the US as well.

There are a few disadvantages of electric showers.  One disadvantage is if you have low water pressure then an electric shower might not provide you with enough pressure for a shower.  This issue is slowly being addressed by manufacturers and while it might cost you a little more, you could still switch to an electric shower with adequate water pressure if you so choose.  Another disadvantage is that an electric shower head can cost more than your standard shower head, but the money and the ability to have hot water at any time clearly outweighs this disadvantage in the long run.

Electric showers are a beautiful alternative to the standard shower and I highly recommend considering one for your own home.  You won’t regret it!

There are some standard precautions that you need to take if you are going to install a steam shower.  First and foremost, your steam shower enclosure must be completely encased in water proof material such as tile and grout.  Do not think you can get by with just painted drywall.  This will not due and cost you much too much money and heartache in the end.  You must tile with ceramic or stone for your steam shower.  Another important measure to include is a door that keeps the steam in, otherwise what is the point right?  In order to accomplish this, your shower door must reach all the way to the ceiling or top of the shower enclosure and be sealed off with something similar to weatherstripping.  Another very important aspect is to design the shower with a sloped ceiling that directs the condensation and moisture back towards the shower.  You might ask why this is important and I will tell you, if you have a flat ceiling then the cold condensation from the steam will drip down on you like cold rain and that is unpleasant when you are trying to relax.  If you ceiling is sloped then the water runs down the side of the shower instead of on top of you!

The steam shower generator is used to, well, generate the steam, are small and can hide just about anywhere.  Many people choose to keep theirs under their sink or in between the wall studs!  The price of the temperature control can vary greatly depending on quality and convenience.  A simple on/off control will be the cheapest but they can become expensive when you add temperature control!

All in all, steam shower units might not be for everyone, but for those of you who would love one you can have one for not that much more that you would pay for a new shower or remodel.  Of course if you do not like the steam shower units idea, then take that money and go on vacation instead!

Frameless Shower Doors:  Frameless doors are just what they sound like.  Unlike their counterpart, the framed shower door, they do not have their glass framed in aluminum.  Their handles are build right into the glass instead of the frame and they are usually made of heavier, thicker glass because they do not enjoy the extra protection of the metal frame.  The advantage of frameless doors is that it gives the room a more open and larger feel then that of a framed door.  If they are fitted with clear glass they also showcase decorative tile without any distractions.

Swinging Doors: Swinging shower doors can be used to show a touch of elegance but care must be taken that when the door swings open it is not hitting anything like sinks, toilets or towel racks!  Swinging doors that are required to cover more than a 48″ space are often combined with side panels to cover the entire open area of the shower.   These doors are secured with magnetic catches and may be pivoting or hinge mounted.

Sliding Doors: Sliding shower doors are by far the most common of shower doors.  They take up the less space of all shower doors by gliding on a track that is the width of the door.  A sliding door is always used if the door will be attaching to a bathtub and not just for a stand up shower.  The biggest disadvantage of a sliding shower door is trying to clean the door and shower or children and pets inside the tub.  The track is the most difficult to keep clean and also the space between shower panels.  Sliding doors do not allow for the easiest access to the tub making everything you do just a bit more difficult.  I would recommend a shower curtain any day for a tub/shower combination over a sliding shower door.

Curved Shower Doors: A curved shower door is among my favorite type of shower door.   They are the perfect solution for small corner showers and small bathrooms.  At the same time they offer a touch of elegance.  The door panel offers zero clearance meaning that it opens and closes on its own track and does not require a door clearance from it swinging open.  Perfect solution for small showers and bathrooms.