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Our guide to selecting the right shower head for your bathroom renovation project

Updated: Jan 11, 2023

Selecting a shower head may not sound like the most important or exciting part of a renovation project. Nevertheless, taking a moment to understand the different types available can help you select the most suitable option for you - whether what you're after is functionality or a luxurious shower experience or both. There are 3 main options that are the most popular and we use the most:


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1 | Fixed Overhead Shower Unit

Fixed shower units are comprised of two parts, the shower rose and the shower arm. There are lots of options and sizes available for both, and they are often sold separately so you can combine them as you like. They also have the option to be wall mounted or ceiling mounted. If ceiling mounting your shower rose, consider the height of your ceiling and the length of the arm as you don't want the shower head to be too high up above you. These types of showerheads are also sometimes called rainshowers, because they often have large shower roses that feel like rain falling onto you. One thing to keep in mind is that the larger the rose, the less pressure it will likely have.


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2 | Detachable Shower Unit

Also known as a handheld unit, these allow you to detach them from the fixing point. There are two main options to fix them to the wall, either on a bracket or on a rail. Unlike the bracket, the rail also allows you to move the handheld unit up and down to adjust the height. Although these are generally smaller than the fixed shower roses above, they usually have options for different water functions, which is not common for the rainshower units. These handheld units are very practical, as the detachable function makes them handy for cleaning, washing the kids or pets, or if you only want to wash your feet or not wash your hair.


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3 | Dual/Twin Shower Unit

If both of the above options sound good to you, you can get a dual or twin unit, which has an overhead shower and a detachable unit in one. Like a normal handheld unit, some dual/twin showers allow you to move the handheld piece up and down on a rail, and some only come fixed on a bracket - so pay attention to that when selecting the one you want.


You can also pair a fixed overhead unit with a detachable shower unit to create the same function. Doing this instead of having a dual/twin unit allows more flexibility with the heights and location of both showerheads. One thing to keep in mind if doing this, is that you will either need a mixer for each unit, or you will need a separate diverter to swap between them (the diverter is already built into the dual/twin unit).


Other Considerations


Height

It's important that the shower head is placed at a comfortable height. We usually place the shower rose, bracket or top of the rail at 2100mm high. However, if you are particularly tall, you may consider having this even higher!


Double showers

If you want to level up your shower, you may consider adding two showerheads. We recommend to leave at least a 1600mm wide space if you're planning to shower with someone at the same time.


Water Saving

When selecting shower heads, the supplier should be able to give you a water rating for each one. This ranges between 0-6, with 6 being the most water efficient. Where possible, it's a good idea to select the unit with the highest water rating.



I hope this has been helpful! If you are looking to build or renovate and would like some help, you can get in contact with us using the link below:

Hope you have a wonderful week,


Nina xx



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