Bathroom 5 January 2023

The Benefits of Upgrading to a Walk-in Shower

If you’re considering upgrading your bathroom, you may be considering a walk-in shower. This type of shower has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. There are several benefits to upgrading to a walk-in shower that make it a smart choice for many homeowners. Here are five reasons to consider upgrading to a walk-in shower:

Increased accessibility

Walk-in showers are much easier to access than traditional showers, which can be difficult to enter and exit for people with mobility issues. The lack of a threshold makes it easy for people to walk into the shower, which is especially beneficial for those who use a wheelchair or walking frame.

Improved safety

Traditional showers can be slippery, which can be dangerous for people with mobility issues or for those who are simply less steady on their feet. Walk-in showers, on the other hand, are much safer, as they have a non-slip floor and are easier to enter and exit.

Better for the environment

Walk-in showers use less water than traditional showers, which makes them more environmentally friendly. They also tend to be more energy efficient, as they don’t require as much hot water to be used.

Increased value of your home

Upgrading to a walk-in shower can increase the value of your home, as it is a modern and desirable feature. This can be especially beneficial if you’re planning to sell your home in the future.

Enhanced aesthetics

Walk-in showers are often more visually appealing than traditional showers, as they have a more open and spacious feel. They can also be customised with various finishes, such as tile or stone, to match your personal style.

What to Check Before You Commit

A walk-in shower is a bigger job than it looks, and three things decide whether it is straightforward in your house.

Your water pressure and flow. This is the one people discover too late. A large rain head needs enough flow to feed it, and if you are on a gravity-fed system with a tank in the loft you may need a pump to get a decent shower out of it. Worth establishing before choosing the fittings, not after.

The floor. A level-access tray or a wet room needs the waste to run somewhere, which means either lifting floorboards or building the floor up. On a ground floor with a concrete slab, that can be the largest single piece of work in the project.

Tanking and waterproofing. In a wet room especially, what goes on behind the tiles matters far more than the tiles. Water that finds its way through a poorly tanked wall does not announce itself until it appears on a ceiling downstairs.

Wet Room or Level-Access Tray?

A full wet room is the most open and accessible option, and the most involved: the whole room has to be tanked and the floor falls towards a drain. A low-profile level-access tray gives most of the same effect for considerably less disruption, and it is what we fit most often.

If accessibility is the reason for the project, think about the whole room rather than just the shower — grab rails, a slip-resistant floor, a seat, and lever taps that are easier on stiff hands.

Keeping It Clean and Dry

One trade-off worth knowing about before you commit: an open shower puts a lot more water into the room than an enclosed cubicle does. Extraction matters more, not less, and a squeegee kept by the screen will do more for the look of the glass than any coating you pay extra for.

The drain also needs to be reachable. Level-access wastes collect hair like anything else, and a design where the grate cannot be lifted out for cleaning becomes a nuisance very quickly.

Talk to Us First

We would rather look at your bathroom before you buy anything. Knowing what your system can actually deliver saves people from ordering fittings the house cannot supply.

Bathroom work is quoted free of charge, in writing, at a fixed price after we have seen the room. Call 01732 792 454.