| TAPS:There are four main finishes for
| |
| | between the two is the number of doors
|
| taps and showers:Chrome, the hardest
| |
| | used to gain access. The double sliding
|
| wearing finish, usually last over 20
| |
| | door has less framework and as such has a
|
| years.Antique Gold, used more on
| |
| | more minimalist appearance, whereas the
|
| traditional style suites, is generally a
| |
| | triple sliding door creates a wider
|
| soft finish which will last approximately
| |
| | opening when the doors are pulled
|
| 3 years with day to day use but in a
| |
| | back.Shower shapes:There are a myriad
|
| rarely used second bathroom could last as
| |
| | number or shower door shapes. The most
|
| long as 10 years.Nickel (either brushed
| |
| | common are the square, rectangle,
|
| or polished) is the softest finish and
| |
| | pentangle (penta- or five-sided) and the
|
| would normally be for decorative house
| |
| | quadrant (quad of quarter round). The
|
| bathrooms that are rarely used.Powder
| |
| | most common type of shower tray size is
|
| coated, not as common in taps but still
| |
| | 760mm x 760mm. This is not the smallest
|
| used on showers, is where the product is
| |
| | square tray size but is the smallest that
|
| coated with a layer of coloured plastic.
| |
| | is still usable by most people to shower.
|
|
| |
| |
|
| There are many types of tap
| |
| | You are able to obtain square trays of
|
| configuration for baths, basins and
| |
| | both 700mm x 700mm and 600mm x 600mm. The
|
| bidets. Each type has its own advantages
| |
| | 600mm tray size is normally used on
|
| and disadvantages. This next section
| |
| | caravans and boats. The best square tray
|
| outlines the different types of tap
| |
| | size if it can be fitted is the 900mm x
|
| arrangements that are generally
| |
| | 900mm.
|
| available.Bath Taps:There are several
| |
| | Rectangular shower trays come in a
|
| types of tap arrangement you can put on a
| |
| | variety of sizes from 700mm x 800mm to
|
| bath. They are as follows: A pair of
| |
| | 1700mm x750mm. The most common size is
|
| taps, a bath filler deck mounted, a bath
| |
| | 1200mm x 760mm, whereas the optimum size
|
| filler pillar mounted, a three-hole bath
| |
| | is 1200mm x 900mm. Tray sizes larger than
|
| filler,
| |
| | this normally incorporate the ability to
|
| a deck mounted bath shower mixer, a
| |
| | dry oneself in the cubicle.
|
| pillar mounted bath shower mixer, a
| |
| | A pentangle cubicle is the same as a
|
| four-hole bath shower mixer, a five-hole
| |
| | square one but has the comer cut off.
|
| bath shower mixer, wall mounted filler
| |
| | This results in the saving of floor space
|
| and an overflow filler.Pair of bath
| |
| | in the bathroom ensuite. A quadrant
|
| taps:The most common form of taps for
| |
| | cubicle has a rounded front edge designed
|
| baths, one tap for hot water and one for
| |
| | to save space as with the
|
| cold. The cold tap is normally on the
| |
| | pentangle.SHOWER TRAYS:There are four
|
| right and the hot on the left.Bath filler
| |
| | main types of material used to make
|
| deck mounted and bath filler pillar
| |
| | shower trays. These are steel, acrylic,
|
| mounted.This type of tap has the hot and
| |
| | stone resin and acrylic capped
|
| cold-water taps combined onto one mixer
| |
| | resin.Shower shapes:Steel is less common
|
| block.The deck-mounted type is normally
| |
| | in domestic use and is generally used in
|
| contemporary in style whereas the
| |
| | commercial applications such as
|
| pillar-mounted type (this is where the
| |
| | retirement homes and hotelsAcrylic trays
|
| mixer is held above the bath rim on two
| |
| | used to be very common but received a bad
|
| pillars) is normally traditional in
| |
| | reputation due to the poor build quality
|
| style.
| |
| | of trays in the past. The use of poor
|
| The advantage of a mixer over a pair of
| |
| | frameworks and minimal reinforcement
|
| taps is the ability to mix the water to
| |
| | meant that the trays moved when in use
|
| the desired temperature whilst the bath
| |
| | and often leaked. Modern acrylic trays
|
| is filling.Three hole bath filler:This is
| |
| | are generally built to a very high
|
| where the spout is separate to the bath
| |
| | standard and are fully reinforced. All
|
| tap valves. In this case you have a hot
| |
| | acrylic trays are on adjustable legs and
|
| and cold valve and the spout is mounted
| |
| | so are ideal in applications where a
|
| either in the centre between the two
| |
| | solid floor such a concrete is on site.
|
| valves or mounted in the corner.Bath
| |
| | The result of this higher built quality
|
| shower mixers:This is the same as the
| |
| | is that acrylic trays are not an
|
| bath fillers but has a shower hose and
| |
| | inexpensive option.Stone resin trays are
|
| handset attached. These types of taps are
| |
| | by far the most common trays available.
|
| not designed to be used as showers for
| |
| | The low cost of producing the moulds for
|
| standing under and washing your whole
| |
| | the trays makes then the most versatile
|
| body.
| |
| | in size. They are available in both
|
| The reason for this is that there is the
| |
| | legged and un-legged format (the most
|
| real risk that is another person in the
| |
| | common being without legs). The two most
|
| house switches on a tap or a washing
| |
| | common problems with resin trays relate
|
| machine kicks in then the temperature on
| |
| | to the quality of installation. The first
|
| the shower will change radically.
| |
| | is that if the un-legged tray is not
|
| These types of showers are designed for
| |
| | bedded in properly it can cause the base
|
| washing hair or rinsing the bath.Four and
| |
| | of the tray to crack when in use. The
|
| five-hole bath shower mixers:These are
| |
| | second is that the colour of the tray is
|
| the same as the three hole mixers but the
| |
| | applied as a thin spray finish. The
|
| four-hole mixers have a handset that sits
| |
| | result of this is that if you scratch the
|
| on the bath with the hose under the bath
| |
| | tray when installing it, it is extremely
|
| rim. The shower is switched on by means
| |
| | difficult to repair.Acrylic capped resin
|
| of a diverter button mounted on the bath
| |
| | trays are becoming more popular. They
|
| spout.
| |
| | combine the rigidity of the stone resin
|
| The five hole mixer works in the same
| |
| | tray, but have the added advantage of
|
| way but has a separate diverter mounted
| |
| | being capped in acrylic. This produces a
|
| on the bath, not on the bath spout.Wall
| |
| | surface which is more resistant to impact
|
| mounted filler:More popular on the
| |
| | and can be polished if scratched. They
|
| continent, this is where the mixer is
| |
| | are however more costly to produce and as
|
| mounted on the wall above the bath and
| |
| | such are not available in the same number
|
| not on the bath rim.Overflow bath
| |
| | of sizes as the stone resin.SHOWER
|
| filler:This is similar to the three-hole
| |
| | TYPES:There are four main types of
|
| bath filler but whereas the three hole
| |
| | shower, electric, manual mixer,
|
| has a spout the overflow filler has the
| |
| | thermostatic mixer and pumped which can
|
| hot and cold valves on the rim of the
| |
| | be either thermostatic or
|
| bath and the filler is the overflow
| |
| | manual.Electric:This type of shower has a
|
| fitting which also doubles up as the pop
| |
| | small kettle type chamber within it
|
| up waste.Basin Taps:As with baths there
| |
| | through which the cold water passes and
|
| are several types of tap arrangement that
| |
| | is heated electrically. The amount of
|
| can be fitted to a basin. These are a
| |
| | water that can be heated is limited to
|
| pair of taps, a mono-bloc mixer and a
| |
| | approximately one and a half gallons a
|
| three tap-hole mixer.A pair of taps:This
| |
| | minute, although the spray is forced out
|
| is where you have a separate hot and cold
| |
| | of the head at approximately 1.5 bar (45
|
| tap on the basin with the cold tap
| |
| | feet head).In order to achieve an all
|
| usually on the right and the hot on the
| |
| | over spray from the shower handset the
|
| left. This is the most common
| |
| | holes in the end of the handset are
|
| configuration for taps on a basin.
| |
| | drilled quite small. The result of this
|
| This type of basin normally has a plug
| |
| | is that the droplets of water spray
|
| and chain waste.Basin mono-bloc
| |
| | produced are small and do not hold the
|
| mixer:This is where the hot and cold taps
| |
| | temperature. This means that whilst the
|
| are mounted on a single tap bloc in the
| |
| | water temperature on your head is hot by
|
| centre of the basin. This type of tap
| |
| | the time the water runs to your knees it
|
| normally has a pop-up waste supplied as
| |
| | has gone cold. One other difficulty with
|
| part of the tap.Three tap-hole mixer:As
| |
| | the small hole size is that the handsets
|
| with the bath arrangement you have a
| |
| | are prone to scale build up in hard water
|
| spout in the middle and a separate hot
| |
| | areas which results in the spray pattern
|
| and cold valve on either side. This type
| |
| | diminishing.In order to maximize the
|
| of arrangement has a pop up waste.
| |
| | amount of water produced modern electric
|
| On a three tap-hole basin you can also
| |
| | showers use on average 8.5KW to 9KW of
|
| fit a pair of basin taps and in the
| |
| | power. This makes them three times more
|
| central hole fit a chain stay basin waste
| |
| | costly to use than the electric immersion
|
| - this is where the plug chain is
| |
| | heater in the cylinder. My own opinion is
|
| attached to a disc which fits over the
| |
| | that they are best used in applications
|
| middle hole.SHOWERS: There are several
| |
| | where there is no stored hot water or
|
| types of showers available in the UK and
| |
| | where a combi-boiler is used for the
|
| the type you choose has a lot to do with
| |
| | first shower mixer and the client needs a
|
| the type of hot water and cold water
| |
| | second shower in the house. Most electric
|
| supply that the client has in their
| |
| | showers are manual mixers and have a
|
| house. So I will first tackle the types
| |
| | tendency to vary the water temperature
|
| of domestic water systems most commonly
| |
| | when other appliances such as taps and
|
| available.Gravity Feed, Vented, or Low
| |
| | toilets are used.Manual Mixers:A manual
|
| Pressure systemsThis type of water system
| |
| | mixer uses the hot and cold water supply
|
| usually has a direct mains water cold
| |
| | to achieve a shower. This is done by
|
| feed. The hot water is provided by means
| |
| | blending the amount of hot and cold by
|
| of a hot water cylinder (copper) sited in
| |
| | means of a lever valve, which either uses
|
| an airing cupboard and a cold water
| |
| | an internal ceramic mixer cartridge or
|
| cistern (tank) sited either above the
| |
| | uses two separate controls to achieve the
|
| cylinder or in the loft. To use a mixer
| |
| | desired temperature by turning
|
| shower with this type of system the cold
| |
| | simultaneously. This simple mechanism
|
| water tank needs to be sited at least
| |
| | makes the manual valve very cost
|
| three feet (0.1 bar) above the shower
| |
| | effective. However this type of mixer is
|
| head/handset. That is unless you use a
| |
| | prone to wild variations in temperature
|
| pump, in which case you need the tank to
| |
| | when other appliances such as taps,
|
| be one foot (0.03bar) above the shower
| |
| | washing machines, dish washers and
|
| head/handset.Combi-boiler, Multi-point
| |
| | toilets are used. Not a type of mixer to
|
| systemsThis type of water system has a
| |
| | be recommended for families with small
|
| mains feed cold water supply. The hot
| |
| | children or older people.Thermostatic
|
| water is provided by an instantaneous gas
| |
| | Mixers:A thermostatic mixer works in a
|
| boiler. The boiler either does both the
| |
| | similar way to the manual mixer but has
|
| hot water and central heating (
| |
| | an extra device fitted inside the valve
|
| combi-boiler), or it does just the hot
| |
| | casing which regulates the water
|
| water only (multi-point). With this type
| |
| | temperature to within plus or minus one
|
| of system the cold water is supplied at
| |
| | degree centigrade. The result of this is
|
| full mains pressure seventy five feet
| |
| | that if another appliance is turned on
|
| (2.5bar approximately) whilst the hot
| |
| | the thermostat automatically adjusts the
|
| water is governed down by the boiler to a
| |
| | flow of water to maintain the desired
|
| minimum of forty five feet (1.5bar
| |
| | temperature. If it is unable to maintain
|
| approximately). With this type of system
| |
| | that temperature then it will temporarily
|
| you cannot use a pump to power the shower
| |
| | turn the shower off until it is safe to
|
| as this would contravene the water
| |
| | allow it to function.
|
| by-laws. However as the hot and cold
| |
| | This type of mixer is ideal for families
|
| water is supplied under pressure you have
| |
| | with small children and older
|
| a power shower anyway.Pressurised water
| |
| | people.Pumped Showers:This is where an
|
| system, unventedThis type of water system
| |
| | electric pump is fitted to the shower to
|
| has a mains cold water supply. The hot
| |
| | increase the water pressure. This type of
|
| water supply is from a hot water cylinder
| |
| | system can only be fitted to a gravity
|
| which is supplied by full mains pressure
| |
| | feed hot water system. There are two
|
| of 175 feet (2.5bar approximately). As
| |
| | types of pumps generally used:1. Inlet
|
| with the combi-boiler system you cannot
| |
| | Pump (Twin Impellor)This type of pump is
|
| use pump but you do not need to as the
| |
| | by far the most common is fitted to the
|
| mains water pressure makes this a power
| |
| | hot and cold water supplies before they
|
| shower.SHOWER DOORS (Cubicles, enclosures
| |
| | go through the shower valve. Relatively
|
| and surrounds):Shower doors and
| |
| | inexpensive to purchase they provide
|
| enclosures come in a variety of shapes
| |
| | pressure to the shower of up to 3bar
|
| and sizes. As with pottery the cost and
| |
| | (100ft head) at a flow rate of up to 3
|
| quality of the units depend on the
| |
| | gallons a minute. The most popular
|
| materials used in the construction and
| |
| | pressure is 1.5bar (45 foot
|
| the design. Normally the thicker the
| |
| | head).2. Outlet Pump (Single
|
| glass the more expensive the shower
| |
| | Impellor)This type of pump is fitted
|
| cubicle.Less expensive enclosures
| |
| | after the valve and pumps the mixed hot
|
| generally use glass in the thickness
| |
| | and cold water. The advantage of this is
|
| range of 3mm to 5mm. This thickness of
| |
| | that it can safely deliver a higher flow
|
| glass will always have a metal framework
| |
| | rate and higher pressure. The reason for
|
| surrounding it to support the weight of
| |
| | this is that when you pump water into the
|
| the glass. The mid to upper market
| |
| | valve at pressure it can create an
|
| enclosures have glass in the thickness
| |
| | imbalance of pressures at the valve. This
|
| range of 6mm to 8mm.
| |
| | is due to the fact that the valve
|
| This type of cubicle generally has very
| |
| | requires more hot water than cold to
|
| little framework surrounding it or even
| |
| | achieve the correct temperature. The
|
| none at all. The build quality of
| |
| | Outlet pump pulls the water through the
|
| ancillary parts such as hinges and seals
| |
| | valve and sets up no such imbalance.TYPES
|
| is also important, as these are the parts
| |
| | OF MIXER VALVES:There are three main
|
| that wear the fastest with day to day use
| |
| | types of mixer valve:
|
| and will result in leaks.With sliding
| |
| | 1. Fully exposed, where both the body of
|
| doors the rollers for the doors should be
| |
| | the valve and the hot and cold water
|
| of ball bearing types. The reason for
| |
| | pipes to it are on the surface and on
|
| this is that with a ball bearing roller
| |
| | full view.2. Semi-recessed, where the
|
| there is little or no wear on the wheels.
| |
| | body of the valve is on the surface and
|
| This means that with constant use they do
| |
| | exposed and the pipe work is hidden in
|
| not become elliptical and the glide of
| |
| | the wall.3. Fully Recessed, where both
|
| the door is always smooth.
| |
| | the main body of the valve and the pipe
|
| The thickness of the frame and the wall
| |
| | work are concealed in the wall.TYPES OF
|
| profiles is also a contributing factor to
| |
| | SHOWER HEADS:There are three types of
|
| the price. As a rule the thicker the
| |
| | shower head:1. Fixed head, where the
|
| frame and the profiles the more the cost.
| |
| | shower head is fixed on the wall above
|
| The profiles are the U-shaped channels
| |
| | head height by means of a shower arm.
|
| that attach the cubicle to the wall.Types
| |
| | This type of head cannot normally be
|
| of shower door:There are seven main types
| |
| | moved lower, but may be fitted with a
|
| of shower door: Pivot, Hinged, Saloon,
| |
| | ball swivel that allows you to turn it to
|
| Bi-fold, In-fold, Double slider and
| |
| | the left or right.2. Handset, normally
|
| Triple slider.The Pivot and Hinged
| |
| | supplied with a shower rail (sliding
|
| doors:These work in the same way, in that
| |
| | rail) which allows you to adjust the
|
| they open outwards as a single piece of
| |
| | height of the shower rose and remove it
|
| glass. With the pivot door the hinges are
| |
| | if necessary to wash a child or
|
| at the top and bottom of the door.
| |
| | wall.3. Body-jet, normally fitted with
|
| The advantage of this is that it makes
| |
| | the fixed head type of shower these are
|
| the door well balanced and put very
| |
| | jets mounted on the wall below head
|
| little strain on the framework. The
| |
| | height. They are ideal for people who do
|
| hinged door has the hinges on the side of
| |
| | not wish to wash there hair or
|
| the door.
| |
| | face.SHOWER SPRAYS:There are three main
|
| This does mean however that when the
| |
| | types of shower spray:1. Standard spray
|
| door is open, the opening on the hinged
| |
| | common to all types of shower the water
|
| door is wider than that of the pivot
| |
| | is supplied via series of small holes
|
| door. These types of door tend to be less
| |
| | distributed evenly across the shower
|
| expensive than any other due to the
| |
| | head.2. Pulse spray (massage spray) this
|
| simple design.
| |
| | can only be used on showers which have
|
| There can be a difficulty with the water
| |
| | power as the water pressure is used to
|
| running off the door onto the floor when
| |
| | spin a disc located within the shower
|
| the door is opened after a shower.The
| |
| | head to pulse the water spray and so
|
| Saloon door:This is less common and has
| |
| | produce a massage action. The greater the
|
| two hinged doors which join in the
| |
| | pressure the stronger the
|
| middle. They tend to open inwards but are
| |
| | massage.3. Champagne spray (aerated) can
|
| not as a rule very popular.Bi-fold and
| |
| | only be used on power showers with a
|
| In-fold doors:These two doors both open
| |
| | minimum of 1.5bar (45 feet head). The
|
| inwards and so overcome the difficulty of
| |
| | water pressure is used to produce air
|
| water getting onto the floor by dripping
| |
| | bubbles in the water and so produce a
|
| water off the door. The bi-fold door is
| |
| | soft foamy spray. This spray pattern is
|
| hinged in the centre and as the name
| |
| | ideal for children as it introduces them
|
| suggests folds exactly in the middle.
| |
| | to power showers in a way that is fun.
|
| The in-fold door swings in as a single
| |
| | Also ideal for ladies as the foam
|
| door by means of a canter lever
| |
| | prevents the water from splashing up into
|
| arrangement at the top and bottom of the
| |
| | the face and also expresses more water
|
| door. You should be aware that if a
| |
| | into wet hair for the removal of
|
| person faints or collapses in this type
| |
| | shampoo.Written by Neal Baker on behalf
|
| of cubicle it is not possible to open the
| |
| | of and
|
| door.Double and Triple sliding
| |
| |
|
| doors:These doors work in the same way in
| |
| | online retailers of bathroom furniture,
|
| that the doors slide on rollers back and
| |
| | bathroom suites and bathroom accessories
|
| forth to open or close. The difference
| |
| | in the UK.
|
