Shower enclosures are available PRE FABRICATED or CUSTOM BUILT.
PRE-FABRICATED shower enclosures consist of a moulded base, acrylic sheet or tiled wall and a glass shower screen. These shower systems are great for an inexpensive bathroom renovation and if you have a timber floor, are the easiest to install and will provide the best waterproofed solution.
CUSTOM BUILT shower enclosures consist of tiled floor and walls. The shower floor may have a hob, which is a raised step to contain water from entering the bathroom area, or they can be hobless. Custom showers are very versatile as can be installed in any shape and are good if you have an odd shaped showering area.
PRE-FABRICATED SHOWER ENCLOSURE
SHOWER BASE OPTIONS
The SHOWER BASE is generally constructed from acrylic, Polymarble or enameled steel, but may also be available in other materials such as ceramic or stainless steel. Most shower bases will have an anti-slip pattern embedded in them for added safety.
SHOWER BASE SHAPES are available square, rectangle, angled or rounded corner. These are the standard shapes however, there are many other curved designs available as well. Bases are suitable for corner, alcove (3 walls) or against one wall installations.
Bases will have a TILING EDGE which will get housed into the wall for increased waterproofing. Depending on the base it may have 2, 3 or 4 tiling beads.
WASTE POSITIONS can also vary between bases but the normal configurations are either a center or a center rear position. Waste types are normally a standard round grate but some bases are available with a stainless steel strip grate across the back edge.
SHOWER BASE SIZES are generally 900x900, 1000x1000 or 1200x900. Although these sizes can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer.
SHOWER WALL OPTIONS
ACRYLIC WALLS are a one-piece seamless moulded sheet with a fold down the center of the sheet, used for the wall sheeting in a corner (2 sided) shower. The moulded sheet can be a flat smooth sheet or it can have a moulded shelf attached. The sheet is a smooth white gloss finish and due to no grout lines are very easy to clean and there are less areas for mould growth. The sheet is glued to the wall lining and any joins are sealed with a silicone sealant making them a great choice for a low cost, easily installed shower enclosure. They can only be used in conjunction with a shower base.
WET AREA PANELING is a rigid decorative sheet which can be used in all areas of the bathroom. They are especially used in showers where an easy to clean surface is required and where a coloured or patterned effect is required. Due to the paneling being quite thick, the sheets cannot be folded as with the Acrylic wall, so all corners will need to be sealed with a PVC moulding and a silicone sealant. In a shower they can only be used with a shower base to ensure adequate waterproofing.
TILES can also be used with a shower base instead of the Acrylic wall or paneling. The choice of colours is vast, and with different size formats, stunning effects can be created. Tiles have a very resilient surface and once installed will last many years. Their main downfall, especially in a shower, is the grout lines where mould growth can occur. Many grouts these days will have a fungicide added to them to reduce this, but if you keep the bathroom dry and have plenty of ventilation, mould growth will be kept at a minimum. Grouts are also available in many colours to match or compliment you tile colour.
SHOWER SCREEN OPTIONS
The SHOWER SCREEN DOORS are available with several different options. Doors can pivot, bi-fold, slide or not have a door at all (walk in shower). The frame for the screen can be framed, semi-frameless or frameless. Smaller fixed or pivot BATH PANELS are available to use on a bath with a shower over.
SHOWER SCREEN FINISHES are generally available in White Powdercoat, Silver anodized or a genuine Chrome finish.
GLASS FINISHES are mainly clear, however, frosted finishes may also be available depending on the manufacturer. Shower screen glass should be toughened for safety and some manufacturers can install towel rails to the glass, but this needs to take place before the toughening process begins.
WALK IN SHOWERS will have a fixed glass panel, usually frameless, and no door. The shower enclosure will need to be large enough so as the showering area is concealed by the glass panel to limit the amount of water splashing out of the shower enclosure.
SHOWER CURTAINS are another option for containing water in the shower enclosure. They are inexpensive, easy to clean as the can just be put in to the washing machine, and can be pulled back opening up the showering area to create a more open bathroom. There are many stylish designs in shower curtains these days, and you will find one that will complement your bathroom design.
POPULAR BRANDS OF SHOWER SCREENS AND SHOWER ENCLOSURES
Follow the links to Australia's most popular brands of shower screens and enclosures.
Artemis
Decina
Lanark
Marbletrend
Parisi