Sorry, me again. I also need a cheap shower to replace our rubbish bath. Can you suggest for that too? I saw one in Argos ( shower base and enclosure) and it had good reviews but husband said that Argos write their own reviews and pretend they are consumers. Is this correct?
The shower will be my birthday present.
On reading all your recent posts, it seems to me that what you want for Christmas is a new *husband*!
I don't know, but AFAIK Argos =3D Homebase
That's romantic.
If it's a special birthday ending in a 0 do you get hot water as well?!
Owain
"whiskeyomega" wibbled on Monday 21 December 2009 09:23
No entirely. I've written a review and had it show up. Of course that doesn't mean they aren't "loading" the review site - that would be incredibly hard to verify. But I have seen a fair few negative comments so some of the reviews at least are likely genuine.
Personally, I would do a wider bit of research. The shower would take some amount of time/money/effort to install so it is worth buying a decent one.
The first thing to do is set some parameters.
Is there an existing electric shower or wiring for one? If so, what is the current (amps) setting on the breaker/fuse? Showers come in various power ratings from about 7.5kW (will have a dreadfully feeble but usable flow) to
10.5kW or more which will be fairly decent. 7.5kw means 7500/230(V) = 32A circuit (just) 10.5kw means 10500/230 = 45A circuit.The circuit must be protected by an RCD (earth leakage breaker) or RCBO (combined "fuse" and RCD). This can be put in a small add-on box if there's no room in the consumer unit.
Some showers are very simple - you adjust temperature by adjusting the flow rate. Other people using taps *may* affect the temperature of your shower, depending on plumbing.
Fancier and more expensive showers would regulate the temperature properly avoiding this problem, though these are much rarer beasts.
eg:
Do you have excessively high or low water pressure - some showers cannot cope with more than 6 bar and there are houses operating at higher pressures (mine included).
If you go all the way to this:
Don't forget that you need a double pole shower isolator pull cord somewhere suitable in the bathroom or nearby (or DP wall switch if outside the bathroom).
On an aside, have a look here for some bits about bathroom electrics:
Then it's pretty much down to budget. Will the electrics and plumbing be done by professionals? If so, extra money on a quality shower may be a small incremental increase.
HTH
Tim
The bathroom equipment I have had from Argos has been of very poor quality, so I wouldnt buy a shower surround from them unless you can see it first.
I've had 3 enclosures from these people:
All have been good quality, and no missing/broken parts.
This one is my favourite, and looks really good when fitted:
Alan.
Easiest way (cheapest because of least labour) would be to fit a shower over your bath, and add a shower curtain or a shower screen which hinges out of the way if you don't want it there all the time. Also get an anti-slip shower mat.
I have a shower over the bath. I want rid of the cr*p avacado bath ( I would like to get rid of the lot but OH says that is wasteful since it is "good and works". Good eco warrior as he is, if it works , you cant have new.
The bath is stained. I can never get it clean. I hate the colour. I would like a new one. He wont change the bath but did say I could have a shower in place of it ( so that when I become infirm I wont have to leg over the bath and possibly fall down). I have taken the offer because its the best I will get.
He will fix it. He can do this. It was his job.
I am not allowed a new shower. We have a red ring ( 15+ years old) over the bath) which can be used . I cam allowed no more than £500 including all fittings/ wastes etc. for this shower unit.
Tim W wibbled on Monday 21 December 2009 10:29
Sorry - I misread that, I think... You wanted a "shower enclosure" rather than a shower?
Yes, a shower enclosure. There is a shower in place already.
Considering the OPs earlier posts about her husband I agree.
Adam
I have used these people before:
Blimey, didn't you say elsewhere that you're only 50? That's younger than my mum, and she's not an "old person" in need of bathing adaptation any time soon.
Afraid I don't have any specific advice on shower cubicles, but good luck with the project and I second most of the advice and opinions on your recalcitrant boat-anchor of an OH.
Pete
He seems to be the biggest problem in your life - get rid of him. This is not a rehersal.
When you talk of showers I assume a cabinet in the bathroom, probably replacing the bath, which is connected to the ordinary hot and cold water supplies. These need a plumber and builder to install and will cost you, in NZ, at least $2000 all up. You do the conversion. There are gas heated gizmos which screw onto the wall but need both gas and water supplies. There are also be electrically heated gizmos that do the same job but not as well. If you have the money and co-operation toss out the bath and install a proper plumbed in shower. Operating costs are less than those of a bath and they are much more pleasant to use.
R
Try a shub. It has the footprint of a shower and stands half the height of a bath. You can sit in the thing at a pinch.
R
Paying someone to refit a bathroom can indeed cost a fair bit, but then this is a DIY group, which brings the costs down somewhat more dramatically!
I did not think that the OP is up to doing that job! Nevertheless if one wants a decent shower that is probably what is required . In a cold climate you need higher specs than in Auckland with the thermometer, just behind me, reading almost 30 deg C. My gut feeling is that two people, one working and the other retired, should be flush enough to have installed a proper shower. For comfort and civilized living I would rate a decent shower very high on the list of priorities. If it is not DIY so be it. The root problem it seems is the deadwood bozo with whom she cohabits.
RWe were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Roger Dewhurst saying something like:
Sounds like a job for a Sh'tower.
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