insideKENT Magazine Issue 25 - April 2014 | Page 121

KITCHENS+BATHROOMS

Showering Experience
Today, showering has become much more
about an experience rather than pure
functionality, with customers looking for
space and easy clean options.

A natural first stage is the planning
of the shower; where several key
issues will have to be addressed,
including drainage, water pressure,
ceiling height and ventilation. Once
the key issues have been
addressed, it is worth considering
design styles, e.g. a walk-in,
enclosure or wet room. Typically,
space will dictate which option will
work best in any given room but it
is always worth exploring all the
options as technology and
innovation are moving rapidly in the
bathroom industry.
Showerheads fit into two main
categories: Fixed Head or Hand
Held.
Fixed showerheads are attached to
a shower arm and mounted
permanently to the wall or to the
ceiling.
Hand Showers are attached to the
wall with flexible tubing, which
makes it easier to manoeuvre water
where you want it. The head can
be placed in a cradle to serve as a
conventional wall-mounted shower.
Hand showers are ideal for washing
children and pets and make
cleaning the shower easier.

121

Ceiling Height
It seems obvious but this is an area
often overlooked at the planning
stage. The ceiling height will naturally
determine the suitability of a
particular type of showerhead. This
is especially relevant when planning
a shower in an attic room or room
with a sloping ceiling. Loss of head
room may ultimately indicate that a
hand shower on a riser rail is the
only option.

Top Tip:
If you reside in a hard water area
do consider the installation of a
water softener and specify ‘rub it
clean’ nodules on the showerhead
to prevent the build-up of lime
scale.

Available from Ripples
1-3 Iron Bar Lane
Off Burgate
Canterbury
CT1 2HN
Tel [phone]
www.ripples.ltd.uk