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shower bench | Flooring Supply Shop Blog

Evolution of the shower

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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.

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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.

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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.

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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

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

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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:

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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 mold. 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 mold growth.

Bathroom Accessories, Ready to tile Shower Pan, shower bench, Shower Seats

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 Seats: The Perfect Solution to Your Shower Needs

corner shower shelves, shower shelves, shower recessed shelves, tile ready shower shelf

Shower seats have always been in use to make showering easier for people, especially those with disabilities and elderly people. Shower benches reduce the chances of falls and offer stability if your legs are weak. They can also be very useful for those who require a caregiver to help them bathe.

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 wishes.  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.

corner shower shelves, shower shelves, shower recessed shelves, tile ready shower shelf

Ready to tile shower seats also offer great utility to 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.  Who wants to sit on the shower floor when they are exhausted?  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.

corner shower shelves, shower shelves, shower recessed shelves, tile ready shower shelf

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 frames that can be installed easily with the help of fasteners that are supplied with them. 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.

corner shower shelves, shower shelves, shower recessed shelves, tile ready shower shelf

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 are the way to go.

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

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

shower bench | Flooring Supply Shop Blog