Complete Shower Unit: Buying Considerations

Do I want to have an overhead shower?

Not all complete showers will include an overhead shower but many do offer this option. The complete shower unit will be designed with the overhead shower recessed in its ceiling and will already include a built-in water diverter valve. This means that having the addition of an overhead shower does not complicate the installation as may be the case with other installations.

Do I want body jets?

Body jets could be quite difficult to install into a tiled area. In addition, if there were problems or leaks with the jets it could prove to be difficult to remove or replace the body jets. However, with a complete shower enclosure the body jets and all interconnecting pipes are pre-fabricated onto the acrylic panel or inside an internal column. This makes this additional feature an easy addition with no added installation time or cost with easy maintenance should a problem occur.

Do I have solid walls?

If you have a solid brick wall then installation of pipes for the diverter and mixer/thermostatic valve could be difficult. All of this pipe work would be installed behind the tiles and recessed into the brick or solid wall. In this scenario a complete shower is ideal as it only requires a hot and cold water feed to the recess at the rear/bottom of the unit.

Do I want to change the installation in the future?

At some point in the future you may choose to remodel your bathroom to upgrade or just create a new look and aesthetic feel. A complete shower unit is ideal in this scenario as it can easily be dismantled and removed ready to be replaced with a similar type of unit.

Benefits of a Complete Shower Unit

At first glance it would appear that buying a complete shower unit is not as cost effective as opting for a standard glass shower surround. However, once you start costing together all of the different materials, shower parts and labour then you will see that a complete shower is a great option. Benefits over a shower door and tray combination include:

• Eliminate Tiling & Grout: A complete shower will come with side panels that install together to form a complete enclosure. Therefore, provided that these side panels are opaque, such as with acrylic panels then you can forgo tiling behind and underneath the shower. This can save a considerable amount of money on tiles, grout and labour. However, if you need to replace the shower unit then you will need to replace it with a similar product so as to hide the same wall area.
• Easy Clean Surfaces: Another subsequent benefit is not needing to clean all of the grout between each tile. Acrylic panels have a smooth finish and are easy to wipe down to keep clean, especially if you install the complete shower using an anti-fungal silicone.
  
• Easy Installation: Typically, a complete shower unit will come with pre-drilled holes between the interconnecting panels, glass and tray. Simply place the tray onto the floor and level. The sides and glass panels will then bolt into the tray to complete the installation. Furthermore, the handheld shower, body jets and overhead shower along with shelves, mirror and any other accessories will be easily connected to the side panels in one pre-fabricated design.
  
• Recessed Pipe Work: A complete shower is designed to include the mixer and diverter valve along with all water jet pipes and other water pipes within a small recess behind the rear acrylic panel of the shower. Other models may have all of the pipe work hidden inside a vertical column inside the enclosure. This means that once you have installed a hot and cold water supply to the rear of the unit you do not need to cut into your bathroom wall for the other shower pipes and valves.
  
• All-in-one Price Saving: A pre-fabricated solution is easy to install and replace when needed. It is also likely you will also save money on tiles and labour during the installation. As the complete shower comes with a tray, hand shower and mixer valve you can save money with one integrated package. You may also find you will get more features for your money.