Shower room design mistakes – 6 problems that our bathroom experts see all too often

There’s no reason why the bathroom you use to shower can’t also serve as a place of peace and quiet. That won’t be the case, though, if you have to do some yoga poses to get into your enclosure, you constantly worry about slipping on damp surfaces, or you stand under your “rain shower”, and all you get is a pitiful trickle of water. If you listen to the advice of bathroom designers and professionals, it’s possible to make mistakes in the design of your shower that will lead to the problems mentioned above.

It’s a good idea to look beyond the statement tiles and the costly brass fixtures when sketching out your plans for the shower room. Our experts explain that a well-planned bathroom design can make or break a shower room and that failing to account for water pressure or settling for subpar materials can result in a hot shower.

1. Shower Door Positioning

Have you ever fought through a squeaky-closed stall door to reach the shower? Do not feel isolated. The shower stall layout is an important consideration when building a bathroom. As Paul Bailey, product management leader at bathroom maker Grohe, says, “the positioning and opening of the shower door can have a tremendous impact on the total bathroom space.” To avoid having the shower door jam other essential parts of the bathroom, like the sink or toilet, make sure it opens and closes easily.

The International Residential Building Code specifies that in the United States, any hinged shower door must swing out into the bathroom, providing at least 22 inches of clear space on either side. That is to say. There must be a clear path of at least 22 inches in width through the doorway. This ensures that if somebody within the shower stall should trip and fall, it is still simple to reach them.

But a sliding door is an option; you can choose whether the door slides to the left or right.

2. Poor Flooring Choices

Jo Oliver-Singh, director at The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse, cautions that choosing the wrong material for your bathroom surfaces can be expensive. The question of whether or not the tile is up to the task should be front and centre when shopping for a tile for a bathroom.

A tile’s suitability will depend on several factors, including the tile’s finish and anti-slip level. We advise considering tiles with a modest texture for the bathroom floor and, for a shower enclosure or wet room, even more texture. They’ll be non-slip and secure if you do this.

Jo argues that highly polished porcelain tiles are unsafe for a bathroom floor since they become extremely dangerous when wet. Nonetheless, this does not mean that porcelain is out of the question. In the bathroom, for example, you might use a polished marble effect tile on the walls and a textured marble effect tile on the floor for an anti-slip flooring option, as “many of our porcelain slabs come in multiple finishes.”

After the correct texture is applied, porcelain makes for an attractive non-slip option in the bathroom. For wet rooms and walk-in showers, Jo recommends high-quality porcelain tiles. To begin with, they are waterproof, so they are great for regular use. Furthermore, they resist the detergents and other chemicals routinely used in showers.

3. Badly Positioned Shower Heads

The position of the shower head is an issue in even the simplest of shower rooms. It can ruin your shower experience if installed at the incorrect height or angle, and you risk getting wet in areas of the room that you didn’t plan to.

Aiming the spray of an angled showerhead at a tiled wall or the stationary panel of a shower enclosure is optimal. It would be best if you never pointed it at the shower door because that could cause water to spill. This is crucial if you choose a ‘tower’ style shower equipped with several body jets.

Paul Bailey, chief of product management at Grohe, says, “If selecting for an exposed shower model, it is necessary to remember that the shower hose and rail will limit the positioning of the shower head, with the height requirements being crucial.” “Make sure there’s enough room for everyone in the family to get in and out of the shower easily and enjoy a good, long spray on their whole bodies.”

We suggest a dual-head model with a rain shower overhead and a separate hand shower on a vertical bar that can be adjusted higher or lower for your children if you are shopping for a shower suitable for a family bathroom.

4. The Quality Of Fittings

Like the rest of your bathroom fixtures, Showers should be of the highest quality you can afford, says Emma Joyce, Brand Manager at House of Rohl. A malfunctioning valve, fragile plastic, and a furred-up shower head are all things that can happen to cheaper systems.

A high-quality shower valve is essential to any new bathroom and should be budgeted accordingly. Emma Joyce says a good one “should deliver consistent water temperature and pressure and be readily and accurately regulated.” ‘For instance, Riobel’s Riowise valves maintain water pressure for consistent temperature performance, even with a 50% drop in pressure.’

There is no need to plumb in a separate shut-off or diverter valve because each Riobel shower valve has a single control for flow and temperature, and the design is maintained clean and simple.

While shopping for a new shower, you must inquire which models have the best track record of reliability. The fact that Riobel stands behind the quality of its products with a lifetime guarantee is reason enough to look into its offerings.

5. Not Considering Your Water Pressure

There have been too many stories of homeowners who expected a downpour but instead got a light mist after paying for a heavy downpour.

James Lentaigne, creative director at Drummonds, cautions, “Water pressure can seriously restrict the water flow to your shower, so you end up having an inefficient and unsatisfying experience.” He advises that before choosing a shower, check your home’s flow pressure (a builder or plumber can help you with this). Then consult an expert on bathrooms to find out which shower is the finest for your needs. If the water pressure is insufficient, installing a pump will improve the flow rate.

The Albion Bath Company’s managing director Phil Etherden elaborates, “Water systems fall into three basic categories; Gravity,” which typically has low pressure, “Combination” boilers, which usually have good tension but might lack water flow. And “pressurized” systems with storage tanks. This final choice is the best for a satisfying showering experience since it combines adequate flow with adequate pressure. Learn your shower’s capabilities and pick a system accordingly.

If your water pressure is poor, use a more compact showerhead. If you go too big for the stress you’re applying, the ball will dribble out of the middle of the head instead of flowing smoothly.

6. Inadequate Waterproofing

Waterproofing, or “tanking,” the area is a must if you plan on installing an open, walk-in shower design (a shower without an enclosed cubicle). Before installing tiles or composite surfacing on the walls and floors, a waterproof barrier must be applied.

Not only will you see stains on surfaces if you don’t waterproof the area, but you could also harm the building’s framework seriously.

To keep water spray from escaping the bathroom, experts at CCL Wetrooms advise that “floors should be waterproofed to at least one meter beyond the shower area in all directions.” An open-plan wetroom without a glass screen or half-height wall will do little to control the water, as the splash from a conventional shower head can extend to 1200mm from the centre of the showerhead.

“Walls should be waterproofed using FWM (flexible wall membrane) to a minimum height of 2200mm on all wall surfaces within the shower area,” the manual continues.