Evolution of the shower

The showers that we find in most homes these days are far from what the early Romans and Greeks used. The first experience that man had of a shower was not under a man made structure, but under a natural one: a waterfall. However, the desire to have a personal shower led to the creation of customized shower areas inside the house.
The Greeks were probably the first ones to invent a shower by creating aqueducts made of lead, and a sewage area. This was an effective system that allowed pumping of water both in and out of the communal shower rooms. Similar to this system were the boathouses created by the Romans. The remains of these boathouses can be found around the Mediterranean as well as in the modern day England. However, after the fall of the Roman era, showering almost became a religious taboo and was completely abandoned until the Victorian era.

It was during the Victorian Era that the famous ‘English Regency Shower’ was invented. This shower was made out of metal, but was painted to make it appear like bamboo. The structure of the English Regency Shower consisted of a basin at the top and a drain at the bottom. A pump like arrangement at the drain forced the water to the top basin, from where it was pumped over the occupant through a nozzle. The English Regency Shower even had a basic shower curtain for the privacy of the occupant. Although the design of this shower was effective, the only drawback to it was that the same water had to be reused while showering. A number of modifications were done to this shower, including a hand pump, several sprayers and nozzles that could be interchanged.

It was after the invention of the English Regency Shower that plumbers started experimenting with new showering tools. It was during this time that the shower moved indoors and was being used only by a few privileged homeowners. Lead plumbing was introduced around the 1850s, and it was around this time that it started looking similar to what it is today.
Today, you can find a number of advancements in this domain, thereby leading to the creation of high utility showering structures. One such structure is a combination of a shower and a bath tub. This combination is generally used in small bathrooms where there is not enough space to construct a separate shower and bath tub. Such a combination not only results in maximum utilization of space but also leads to a significant saving in plumbing costs.

The ultimate in showering luxury these days is a sauna shower. A sauna shower provides a spa like experience to the occupant and ensures complete relaxation while showering. A typical sauna shower consists of jets, ceiling rain, Personal Massager and radio.
Thus, we can see that the shower has evolved in a significant manner over the years. Not only is the shower structure more effective, but the plumbing as become more reliable as well.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Reduce your efforts in building an effective shower area

All you ‘do-it yourself’ enthusiasts who have tried building a shower area would know about the time and effort that goes into the process. Technicalities such as the pan liner slope, depth of the mortar bed and the shower floor slope can get tricky and can easily ruin your showering area. It is for this reason that most people prefer using the services of professional tradesmen to take care of all the technicalities and to build a perfect shower area.

One way to reduce all this time and effort, and to ensure that all the technicalities are taken care of effectively, is to use a ready to tile shower pan. Reputed ‘ready to tile‘ shower pans such as ProPan can be conveniently installed within a matter of hours, and can also be tiled within the same day. This is in sharp contrast to the time taken in installing a pan liner, mortar beds and tiles using the traditional methods.

Ready to tile pan liners are highly effective since they ensure a completely waterproof shower sub floor. Although installing a pan liner is considered to be the most effective ways of waterproofing the sub floor, there have been instances of a leakage in the pan liner damaging the plywood sub floor. Since ready to tile shower pans eliminate the need to install a pan liner, there will be no chance of a leakage to the sub floor. Further, these ready to tile shower pans are manufactured high quality polystyrene to ensure high durability and a longer working life.

Ready to tile shower pans such as ProPan also eliminate the need to slope the shower pan manually, thereby reducing the time involved in building the shower area. These ready to tile shower pans have a pre-formed slope of 1/4” per foot to ensure that any water that seep under the tiled floor is directed effectively towards the drain weep holes. Thus we can see that not only do ready to tile shower pans floors reduce the time and efforts involved in building a shower area, they also make the shower area more effective.

All those of you who are looking for a curb entry into the shower would find these ready to tile shower area to be of high utility. ProPan comes with an attachment for a curb, which can be installed on the site of the shower. Since building a curb involves a lot of time and a lot of precision, this facility of a curb attachment ensures that you are able to build an effective curb by spending a fraction of the time and energy that is involved in building a curb the traditional way.

Finally, in case you are worried that your shower area is not of standard size and that these ready to tile shower pans will not fit in your shower area, ProPan offers the ideal solution. ProPan can be cut or extended on the site according to the specific shower area size, thereby ensuring that you are able to use these ready to tile shower pans irrespective of the size of your shower area.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Ready to tile shower pans an ideal way to build a shower area

A shower pan is probably the most important part of a shower area since it prevents excess water from trickling down to the sub floor and causing damage. Traditionally, shower pans used to be made up of mortar; however, since mortar was not all that effective, a separate layer of pan liner used to be placed over the shower pan. Although this method is widely considered to be the most effective solution to the problem of leaky shower floors, there have been many instances of leakage in the pan liner as well.

It is in order to provide an effective solution to this problem that you can install ready to tile shower pan floors in your shower area. Ready to tile shower pan is an easy to install structure that can solve all the problems associated with traditional forms of shower pans. Let us take a look at some of the problems associated with traditional shower pans and how a ‘ready to tile’ shower pan solves those problems:

Creating a mortar shower bed is not an easy task and requires a lot of skill and labor. Multiple layers of material have to be used to ensure that water does not seep through to the sub floor. In case a pan liner is being used, it is essential to set it in the right place. Any miscalculation or problem during the creation of the pan floor can result in leakage and severe damage to other areas of your home. Since ready to tile pan floors are completely waterproof, there is no chance of a leakage to the sub floor.

In case you are concerned about molds that have appeared on your shower floor, the answer to this problem lies in the area in between the pan liner and the shower floor. Since your shower tiles are not completely waterproof, there is a chance that water might accumulate above the pan liner, thereby leading to the growth of mould. By using a ready to tile pan floor you will be able to eliminate this layer between your shower floor and the pan liner, thereby eliminating the chances of mould growth.

Finally, creating the appropriate slope on the shower floor can be a big challenge, especially for the ‘do-it-yourself’ enthusiasts. An inappropriate slope can lead to water accumulation on your shower floor, thereby leading to problems of leakage and water accumulation. However, most of the reputed ready to tile shower pans come with a pre-formed slope of ¼” per foot, thereby ensuring that your shower floor is perfectly pitched.

It is due to benefits such as these that ready to tile shower pans have gained in popularity across households. Further, these ready to tile shower pans are constructed using high grade material and are treated with waterproofing coatings to ensure that they remain waterproof for a long duration of time. So if you are looking to re-do your shower area or are considering building a new one, you should definitely consider using a ready to tile shower pan.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Ready To Tile Shower Bench: Comfortably elegant

As an owner of your new house you must have surely planned a unique appearance for your entire home. Well apart, from the living room and the bedroom one area where you can simply create wonders is the bathroom. You can make your shower very versatile and lend it a customized appearance as per your taste. A ready to tile shower bench can prove to be a great addition to your shower and make it look really elegant.

The concept of designer bathrooms is gaining popularity around the world today. The modern day bathrooms are a blend of utility and creativity which lends it a distinct appeal. The focus area is to create an effect which transcends the boundary between natural and artificial elegance. A well planned bathroom is not only pleasing to your eyes but also to your senses. A complete portfolio of bathroom accessories will help you give a definition to your bathroom.

A shower bench will bring in the concept of furniture in your bathroom. It offers a great way to use your shower as a personal retreat to sit back and relax. A bench allows you to replicate the effect of a spa in your bathroom and wash away all the worries under the stream of warm flowing water. With the development of sophisticated shower columns a bench is almost a necessity in your bathroom as it offers a completely refreshing experience.

The most commonly found shower benches are the free standing ones which can be easily lifted. The folding shower benches have also been used in the past but in the recent years built in shower benches have gained a lot of popularity. These benches have a great load bearing capacity and also blend in perfectly with the architecture of the bathroom. The showers seats are ready to tile and can be installed at any stage in your bathroom.

The permanent shower seats are made from heavy duty high-density expanded polystyrene or metal which give them a superior load bearing capacity and reduces the chances of breakage. They are also treated for being water resistant so that there is no requirement for additional waterproofing at the time of installation. To give these seats a natural appearance they are also at times made from granite or marble. The use of stone proves to be Eco friendly and also brings a rustic charm into your bathroom.

The installation process of shower seats has also undergone complete revolution over the years. The modern shower seats can be installed easily as they are very lightweight. The triangle shape helps them get fitted easily into your shower and also blend perfectly with the bathroom. These seats are perfect for places where the walls are plumb. A normal leveling of the wall will ensure that the shower seats can be installed easily.

You can even complement the shower seats with the shelves in your bathroom. The shelves provide excellent space management solutions and are perfect for stacking your towel and cosmetics. The shelves will ensure that your favorite soap is only at an arm's distance from you. The tempered glass bathroom shelves have gained in popularity in recent years as they are free from corrosion and also make the bathroom look larger. The glass shelves also have a tremendous load bearing capacity and thus ensure complete safety.

The present day bathroom is throwing up many surprises and will completely delight you with its exciting designs and patterns. The insights of some of the most renowned designers like Antonio Bullo and David Chipperfield is lending a bright new concept to bathrooms. A shower is no longer just a bathing area but your own personal space which can help you unwind and relax. The use of environmentally friendly products in furnishing is also bringing a lot of sunshine to the new age bathrooms.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Ready to Tile Shower Seats: Perfect Solution to your Shower Needs

Shower seats have always been in use to make showering easier for people, especially for those with disabilities and elderly people. Shower benches reduce the chances of falls and offer stability if your legs are weak. In case of patients who need a caretaker to help them bathe, shower seats prove to be really helpful.

The most commonly found shower seats are those that can be simply lifted into and out of the shower area. These are called free standing shower benches. Folding shower benches are also quite popular. They are mounted onto the shower wall and can be lifted up or placed down according to your wish. In recent times, however, permanent, built-in shower benches have gained immense popularity. These ready to tile shower seats can be installed in your bathroom during renovation or even later. However, getting them installed during construction of your house or renovation is always advisable if you desire sitting down to shower to become a permanent fixture in your bathroom.

Ready to tile shower seats offer great utility to even people without any disabilities. You can sit on them and relax as warm water runs over your body, after a long tiring day of work; after all you will never want to sit on the shower floor? Women can use the shower seats for yet another purpose; they can rest their foot on it while waxing their legs.

Ready to tile shower seats are usually made of heavy duty plastic or metal. They are also treated for being water resistant so that you don’t need to go for any additional waterproofing at the time of installation. Some models are also made of granite, marble, and some are even constructed of materials usually found on kitchen countertops. Some ready to tile shower seats have ceramic tiles on their top. These waterproof seats are easy to clean and maintain with standard bathroom cleansers. So, whichever material you choose, you can be sure of getting a shower seat made up of long lasting and corrosion resistant materials that never leak, rot or degrade.

Although, permanent, ready to tile shower seats are costlier when compared to free standing shower benches and retractable shower seats, they are easier to install and also offer more utility and comfort to the users. Most shower benches are designed for a standard 400 Ib load bearing capacity.

Unlike complex installation methods which once took hours to install, most shower seats available today can be tiled to your bathroom wall and other vertical surfaces quickly and efficiently. All leading manufacturers of shower benches now offer self supporting, one-piece frame that can be installed easily with the help of fasteners that are supplied with it. So, you do not require any additional structural reinforcement. All you need to do is apply some mortar mix (sand and cement), and tile as desired to mount it on the wall. It is a matter of just a few minutes.

Some ready to tile shower seats are also made up of high density polystyrene, fiberglass mesh, and a latex polymer liquid waterproof coating. These seats are extremely lightweight and can be installed in just a few minutes. Triangle shaped, these seats are extremely durable. Their unique design allows them to integrate with your bathroom walls and tiles perfectly. These seats can fit properly where walls are plumb. Also, you need to ensure that the place of installation is leveled so that the seat can fit to the walls perfectly. Installation of these shower seats requires leveling mortar mix, polyurethane sealant, a trowel, and latex modified thin set.

So, if you are looking for a permanent shower seat that can serve you for many years to come and offer a great showering experience, ready to tile shower seats is what you may look for.

For faster installations – Place it, Seal it, Tile it.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com