Wet Room - Overlooked Shower Components

I am afraid – as family, friends and my long-suffering girlfriend would attest – that I am one of those furiously picky people. When I do something, I have to know all the details, assess all the angles – heuristics are not really my thing.

A corollary of this is that making big purchases can become something of a difficult task, as I constantly search for all the information I can get. I put it down to wanting the best – my significant other says I’m just trying to be annoying. I leave it up to you whose side you come down on…

Small Wet Room Units

Well, those of you still with us, will probably be similar to me. That’s good, as I want to go ahead and dig into some of the smaller components that make up shower kits.

Yes, everyone knows about the valves, the enclosures and glass, but don’t have too much of a clue when it comes to the less heralded items for the wet room. Here are some hints and tips for getting the appropriate bathroom or shower accessories…

Body Jets

These are sometimes seen as a ruinous luxury in the wet room, but nothing could be further from the truth. You can get some top quality body jets for your shower now at very low prices – it all depends on the material. These can be fitted to your wall and provide extra flow to those hard to reach places. Do bear in mind that you will need extra outputs on your valve to provide for these jets.

Hand Held Head

Again, materials, materials, materials – it always tends to come down to them when you are considering longevity and thus value for money. Many of these are formed from specially formulated plastics, while the best polymer heads are made using a rapid heat cycle moulding process, which provides for not only toughness but a smooth finish, too. Of course, brass and stainless steel represent the real high-end models, so opt for them whenever your budget allows.

Shower Heads

Shower heads have evolved greatly from a design perspective in recent years. Where once they were viewed as merely another appendage, hanging from shower arms, this stopped, and began to show really desirable features themselves.

Large shower heads are now extremely popular, mimicking the gentle relaxation of a cloudburst, while waterfall heads are extremely modern. For the greatest impact however you shouldn’t look past LED heads, which go through a range of temperature-dependent colours once activated by the pressure of the water.

Lastly (you knew I wouldn’t forget) do not overlook your materials! Go brass whenever possible for corrosion resistance and durability.