Whether it’s a refreshing cool shower in summer or a steaming hot one in winter, the humble shower cubicle is one of many people’s favourite places in their homes.
So it’s little wonder that showers are such a common target in bathroom renovations, home extensions and construction projects!
Embarking on a major home improvement project? Simply want to replace a cubicle that’s looking a bit old? If you’re thinking about shower installation in Melbourne, you’ll need the expertise of our team of plumbers!
What elements are used in plumbing for a shower cubicle?
Aesthetics
Whether it’s complete shower installation or just a replacement for the showerhead, there are a lot of different things that go into shower plumbing installation – one of which is aesthetics.
After all, your shower is kind of one of the major fixtures of your bathroom, meaning its appearance has a huge role to play in either lifting your bathroom up, or dragging it down.
When deciding what “look” your shower should have, it’s important to think about the rest of your bathroom, as well as the rest of your house. That means the tiles, fixtures and little touches need to not only add character to your shower, but fit with the rest of your home.
Just make sure you don’t make the mistake of focusing solely on aesthetics – as a “wet” room (as well as the place where you wash off every day), it’s equally important that you focus on making it practical as well.
Water usage
No matter the time of the year, we mustn’t forget about the importance of saving water!
And that means finding ways to build water-efficiency into your shower from the point of design.
While taking shorter showers and shutting the water off as you lather your hair up with shampoo can help, it can be just as effective for you to install water-saving features like efficient showerheads.
Water supply and water distribution
Not all shower renovations are aesthetic – a lot of the time, the work is underneath the surface upgrading the all-important pipes that connect to your shower.
For example, our plumbers in Bayside might determine that:
- Your shower pipes are old and in need of replacement
- You’re experiencing water flow issues
- The shower design you have in mind may require moving pipes around first
In addition to looking at the fittings and aesthetics, it’s just as important that you ask your plumber about the underlying plumbing itself when getting your shower replaced.
What is needed to install a shower?
Installing a shower will require a lot of different tools and materials to complete the whole process.
In addition to your shower fixtures themselves, you’ll also need to choose appropriate wall and floor tiles, as well as waterproofing underneath to prevent your shower from causing major water damage.
You’ll also need a range of tools to install a shower:
- Electric drill and drill bit
- Flat and Phillips screwdrivers
- Pipe insulation
- Adhesive for tiles
- Plumbing tools if you need any “under the hood” work
And of course, our plumbing team has everything we need to make your shower dreams happen!
Drainage system
So far, we’ve been focusing on all the things that deliver water to your home – what we haven’t gotten to talk about are the pipes responsible for taking wastewater out of your shower.
Trust us, this is just as important, if not more. A poor system can result in flooding, water backing up, overflows and more.
That’s why it’s important that you think about what sort of drainage solution you’re going to use whether you’re installing a new shower or updating an old one.
The anatomy of a shower: what plumbing is needed for a shower?
Showerhead
One of the most important shower plumbing that you may need to look at is finding the right shower head.
Luckily, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to choosing your preferred shower heads, with wall-mounted, handheld or even ceiling-mounted rain shower options.
In addition to affecting how your shower looks, each of these different types of showerhead also impact how comfortable you feel while you’re in the shower, so choose wisely!
Shower valves
Shower valves control the flow of the water coming from your main water source, and are in charge of adjusting your water supply temperature, maintaining water pressure and diverting the water going to your shower head.
Hot and cold water pipes
Hot and cold water pipes are responsible for – what else? – piping hot and cold water to your shower, ensuring that you’re able to set the temperature at a level you’re comfortable with whether it’s the peak of summer or the depths of winter.
And just like any other pipes in your home, it’s important that these ones are:
- Made of durable materials
- Insulated
- Connected using the right joins
Can I use PEX for shower plumbing?
Absolutely! More homeowners are using PEX pipe and fittings because of their easy installation, light weight and low cost – all while still being tough.
Most importantly, these pipes are also immune to rust and corrosion, unlike metal pipes. It’s these features that make them the ideal choice for shower installation!
So – how do you install shower plumbing?
If you’re planning to do a DIY shower installation or upgrade, you might need to think twice as you’ll need to do a bulk of work not only during installation, but in the process and planning leading up to it.
Step #1: Look for an extra space
If you don’t have an area set aside for a shower yet, you will need to look for that extra space to add your shower.
You might need the assistance of a plumber or even architect depending on the scope of the project.
Step #2: Install retrofit shower plumbing
Once you’ve found your spot, it’s time to take a stocktake of your current plumbing layout.
Are there already pipes nearby, or will we have to install them for you? And what sort of issues might we face while doing so? This planning process is critical to identify and mitigate risk, delays, and issues.
Step #3: Fix your drainage
On top of making space for pipes, we’ll also need to make room for drainage pipes. Unless you’re renovating an existing bathroom, most rooms don’t have any allowances for drainage, meaning we’ll have to install it for you.
Step #4: Waterproofing
It’s important that your new shower cubicle has a waterproof underlayer to prevent water from leaking out into the rest of your house and causing destructive water damage.Step #5: Tile installation
If you’re done installing your shower, then the next thing to do is to make sure that your walls and flooring are covered with good-quality tiles. In addition to elevating your cubicle’s appearance, these will also help avoid water-related structural damage by adding an extra layer of protection.
Can plumbers install showers?
Absolutely!
We know that shower installation goes further than choosing your plumbing fixtures – there’s a lot of stuff underneath the surface that needs to be installed properly if your shower is going to work as intended.
And that means choosing a qualified and experienced plumber near you to help out.
Our emergency plumbers in Melbourne don’t just spot and fix the warning signs of a leaking shower – we also work with homeowners, businesses and builders on a range of plumbing installations, including showers.
On top of the actual installation itself, our plumbing professionals can also help out by assisting you from the point of design, helping you choose the layout and fittings for your shower.
And if we notice any issues with your plans, we’ll bring them up right there before work commences and propose workarounds.
We’ll work closely with other tradies to ensure that our plans all mesh, and that your shower comes out not only looking great, but that it’s functional and practical, too.
Thinking about installation? Call our Melbourne plumbers today!
As with anything involving running water, it’s imperative that you leave it in the hands of a trustworthy and experienced plumber.
So the best things you can do is to call an accredited, insured, and trusted team that specialises in domestic and commercial plumbing in Melbourne – one that can provide you with the right solution to all your general and emergency plumbing needs.
Book a qualified Melbourne plumber – click here to touch base online or call us on 1300 156 650 for a plumbing quote for your new shower.