Before you choose your shower tray and enclosure give careful thought to the following considerations:
Space?
Carefully measure the floor area of your bathroom. Draw a rough floor plan, marking the position of windows and doors and the space the doors take when opening. Note any changes in ceiling height that may restrict the position of the shower cubicle. Plan enough room around sinks and toilets for people to stand or sit comfortably. When choosing your shower tray and enclosure make sure that you will have enough room to open the cubicle door. Some enclosures are more space efficient than others, having doors that open within the space of the tray. Thought should also be given to the puddles created when bathers step out of the shower, you will need room for a mat or footboard and could, if you have space, incorporate a tray with a drying area into your plan, the advantage of this type of tray is that excess water drains back into the cubicle leaving your floor dry.
Timber or solid floor?
Most shower trays are designed to be fitted onto traditional timber floors, which enable the plumber to cut away the floor to recess the pipe work. If you are fitting a shower tray onto a hard floor then you may have to fit it onto a plinth (raised platform) to accommodate the drainage pipes. Regardless of the type of floor that you have it is sensible to discuss your plans with your plumber before you purchase your fittings as he may raise issues that you have not considered, for example you may need to recess the pump for a power shower, which may restrict your design, or you may need to alter the position of existing drains etc. which may be costly or not viable. A little research upfront should help avoid disappointment or additional costs later on.
Conventional or power shower?
Power showers use a lot more water than conventional showers and therefore, if you intend to fit one, you need to give some thought to the depth of tray that you fit and the type of shower waste to ensure that the water flows away effectively.
Cast stone or high-density foam tray?
Most shower trays are made of one of two materials, cast stone or foam. Both materials are extremely strong and rigid and, if properly fitted, will withstand considerable weight and years of use. The main difference between foam and stone is weight and, with the trend increasingly towards larger trays, this is not a consideration that should be ignored. Most stone trays require two people to lift and fit them, so if you are considering fitting a shower tray on your own foam may be most suitable. Some foam trays are fitted with adjustable feet (to allow you to level the tray more easily), if you are fitting a shower tray in a new house it may be advisable to choose an adjustable tray, as opposed to a stone or foam tray, as these allow you to adjust the level of the tray if necessary. Trayco offers Strong Stone cast stone and Strong & Light foam filled shower trays.
Tray shape?
Tray shape is a matter of space availability and personal preference however some shapes are more harmonious with some sanitary ware than others so give consideration to the overall look that you are aiming for, e.g. modern minimalist, art deco, Victoriana, and choose a shower that complements the suite that you have chosen. The Trayco Classic range is designed to work with most bathroom designs, whilst the Trayco Contemporary range is particularly suitable for a modern minimalist look.
Colour?
Colour in a bath or shower room should come from the décor and accessories (towels, mirror frames etc.) rather than from the sanitary wear as this allows you to update the look of your bathroom relatively cheaply when fashions, or your tastes, change.
Replacing a bath?
If you are replacing a bath with a shower think carefully about whether this will suit the existing and future needs of your family and whether an over the bath shower and bath screen would a better solution. If you decide to replace the bath then you could choose a shower tray that will fit into the area of the bath which may save you replacing floor tiles or carpeting and which will give you a lovely capacious shower.
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