Walk In Shower Enclosures

Walk in shower enclosures are a really stylish and convenient option for the modern bathroom. The walk in design allows you to access the shower quickly and conveniently whilst the cutting edge looks ensure that your bathroom looks the part.

One of the more traditional shower options that you may have seen is the kind of shower that is installed within a bath. Using a tap mixer system and a shower head above the bath, they utilise the bath, allowing it to provide both baths and showers. These bath/shower combinations utilise a shower curtain to keep the bathroom floor dry and retain the users privacy if they are in a bathroom used by multiple people. Despite the space saving credentials of these types of showers, they have a few disadvantages. The first one is that it can be dangerous to step in and out over the side of a bath, especially when the bottom of the bath is likely to be slippery and wet. Falling over in a bath might sound vaguely comical but it is a serious concern as there are a lot of hard surfaces that your head could potentially hit, which could injure you very seriously. Another problem is the need for a shower curtain, as shower curtains can look pretty unsightly and out of place in a modern bathroom, especially when they lose their brand new appearance.

Walk in enclosures do not have the same accessibility problems that a bath/shower combo has, as there is no bath side to step over. Also if you do fall over inside a walk in shower enclosure, the chances of your head hitting a tap or the solid side of a bath are reduced, as you are more likely to fall against the wall of the enclosure instead which is probably less likely to injure you seriously. If you are still worried about the danger of slipping in the shower, a shower mat that provides a surface for your feet to grip is a good option.

The second real advantage of a walk in shower enclosure over  a bath/shower combo is the appearance. They have no need for a shower curtain, as the sides of the enclosure (usually glass) stop all of the water from hitting the bathroom floor. Glass shower enclosures in particular look fantastic in a  modern bathroom, as the transparent glass gives the room a light and airy feel. If you really care about the appearance of your bathroom, then along with bright lighting,  walk in showers can look absolutely great.

Their other big advantage over a bath/shower combo or even a traditional shower cubicle is the amount of space that they offer you. Walk in shower enclosures tend to be very spacious (though there is a wide range of sizes available) so they give you plenty of space to wash in, rather than being cramped within the parameters of a bath or small cubicle.

Of course walk in shower enclosures have downsides, just like everything in life. Although they offer you lots of space to wash in, this can be a disadvantage in itself as you need to sacrifice a lot of bathroom space for one, especially when compared to a bath / shower combo. Realistically you will need a fairly large bathroom for it to be suitable. The second major downside is the cost, as walk in shower enclosures cost quite a bit more than a simple cubicle or bath/ shower combo. Prices vary, but are generally in the £150-£800 price range, depending on size and manufacturer.