Rain Shower Heads and Controls: Design, Features, and Installation Tips
This past week we looked at a few examples of rainfall type shower heads. They’re a little bit different from more traditional shower heads because they don’t have different spray patterns of pressurized flow. Instead, they have a more passive flow and it’s a bit more gentle. In some cases the volume of water will compensate for the lack of pressurized flow. Also, here in the United States there’s often restrictions or limitations in the amount of total what are usage by a particular device, in an effort to limit waste.
Below and above we show a picture of a typical rainfall type shower head. The next picture below shows the same shower head but this time with the water turned on. It might look like there is a relatively high volume of water flowing, but it has no particular high pressure.
Water is an increasingly precious resource, around the world. In time we will see exorbitant pricing for things as simple as water which not that long ago we could almost take for granted.
This particular shower has two different control setups, which can be used for both a shower head and a separate wand. Where a rainfall type shower head, for example, doesn’t have a directional spray that can wash areas like under your arms, a wand can also be used in combination. The wand then be used to articulate water flow so that you can wash areas that aren’t as easy to wash from a direct vertical flow of water.
You may notice in the picture above that there is also a suction cup, wall mounted, basket used to hold things like shampoo bottles. Often, in shower planning, people forget to take these types of elements into account. It’s easy to forget about them. We recommend people think about putting built-in niches or even corner shelves into the permanent construction of a shower build. The suction cup alternative doesn’t work well.
In the case of a permanent built-in niche, for example, we may recommend a pair of shelves, one tall and one short. We find that it’s helpful to have a varied pair. The short shelf can be used to hold things like a bar soap. The tall shelf can be used for taller items like long and tall cylindrical bottles of shampoo.
A relatively simple, almost minimalist, inside corner shower shelf is shown in the picture below. This is different from a niche. A niche essentially sits inside the wall cavity. As we explained, you can think of a niche a bit like a cubby. Instead, this shelf actually sticks out away from the wall. The fact that it’s in the corner makes it useful because the corner space is generally not highly useful as a default in a typical shower layout.
The next picture below shows a shower niche. This works almost just like a shelf, as shown in the picture above, but it doesn’t encroach into the space of the shower. Instead it is recessed into the wall space like an open cubby. This difference is important because it’s an impediment to the shower cubicle space if there are shelves sticking out all around the walls. Instead the niche essentially adds additional space.
One of the really important and more subtle distinctions though is that it’s critically important to waterproof the shower niche with extra attention. For a handful of complicated reasons, it is very common for shower niches to leak. Less experienced installers often don’t realize the required steps for creating an impermeable membrane into the relatively small but somewhat complex folds and angles of a typical shower niche.
In the shower niche shown in the picture below, they’ve used a 1.5 cm thick polished marble band around the sides of the recess. The back wall of the niche is clad with a mosaic tile. These particular elements have a high degree of intrinsic water resistance. Ceramic tile it’s pretty dependable and only really leaks, from within the tiles themselves where there is fracturing and or hairline cracking or worse damage. Especially when covered with a kiln fired glazes ceramic tile, the exposed tile itself can be considered almost waterproof.
This applies especially when the clay body of the tile is high temperature kiln fired. In those types of scenarios the tile will transform to have at least a moderate degree of vitreousness.
The common problem with shower niches is that the planar joints create areas where leakage can occur. This is why it is so important to use an experienced contractor.
Dupont Kitchen & Bath Can Help
As dedicated and local DC metropolitan kitchen and bath builders and installers, we pride ourselves on turning your visions into reality. Your kitchen and bathrooms can reflect your unique style and be designed with personalized aesthetics. It can be a process from creative designs to the realization of your dream space. Specializing in kitchen and bath construction, we bring expertise and skills to every project. If you’re contemplating a renovation, upgrade, or modernization in the local market, we’re happy to be your team. Consult with us, and we can start together on a path to redefine and elevate your DC living experience.
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