A Touch of Glass: Choosing the Ideal Shower Enclosure

The ideal bathroom sanctuary is achieved when all components combine to create a sense of unity that perfectly complements the space.

This isn’t as simple as choosing the products which look best in a brochure or have been tried and tested across previous installations.

Bathroom shapes, sizes and styles can be as unique as the needs of each individual customer. When it comes to shower enclosures, this is particularly important to consider.

As one of the larger components of a bathroom space, it is crucial to hand pick the right enclosure for the space you are working with.

Shower enclosures need to be a stylish, practical, built to last and much more. Choosing the right one for your project is one of the most important decisions you will make.

At Lakes, our focus is always on helping to create showering spaces that reflect a varied range of bathrooms and lifestyles through beautifully designed and precision-engineered products that help give ultimate showering experience.

Installation

The installation process is always a top consideration for manufacturers. By supplying installers with easy-to-install, high quality products, we are all aiming to leave our mark on showering spaces through our products.

We are also keenly aware of what we can learn from your experiences using our products, which influence our development going forward.

So, what do you need to consider in order to leave a customer satisfied with that all important ‘wow factor’ from their enclosure?

Space

Well, it all starts with assessing the space.

This may seem obvious but focusing on choosing an enclosure tailored to the limitations – or lack of limitations - you are working with is probably the most crucial piece of advice that we can offer.

An over-bath shower and bath screen combination may be the answer if you’re hard pushed for space, or perhaps a bi-fold door.

If a customer has the luxury of a larger bathroom space, it’s more likely that you will be going down the route of walk-in showers or full wet rooms, where panelling and minimalism are all important.

Materials and Aesthetics

While space limitations and solutions may not be an area where customers are armed with opinions, by the time you’re looking at materials and aesthetics, it’s likely they will be ready to open up.

We have seen that with smaller, ensuite or awkward spaces, consumers are looking at shower enclosures that feature increased glass and reduced metal. This really allows you maximise the space you’re working with and should be a definite consideration.

Of course, glass is the key ingredient when it comes to shower enclosures and to the untrained eye, there may not be much difference between one enclosure and another in this regard.

However, one way to ensure a shower enclosure looks sleek and premium is choosing the right glass within an enclosure to give a clean and crisp appearance. Lakes’ Ambient and Wave ranges are ideal for this scenario. Our enclosures all come with AllClear glass as standard. This stay-clear coating repels water, limescale, soap and other dirt to protect both sides of the glass. All Clear’s hydrophobic properties repel water and allow it to run off freely without leaving stains.

Colour is crucial and trends in this space are always evolving, with black developing from a trend to a staple over recent years - the introduction of our new Wave Black range reflects this.

Away from aesthetics and focusing on practicality, it is becoming more and more important to consider multi-Generational options when designing a bathroom space.

There are now around 1.8 million households that span two or more generations, so the number of multigenerational homes is also on the rise.

A wet room is often an ideal solution for all members of the family. Maximising the available space in the bathroom, a wet room tends to offer a much larger showering space than a traditional enclosure and has no shower tray threshold to manoeuvre around, avoiding trip hazards for all users.

However, if this isn’t possible due to plumbing restrictions, then a low-profile shower tray that sits at approximately 45mm high could be used instead, providing a more accessible shower entrance than standard height trays.

Low threshold trays make it easy for both young and old users to access the shower, while non-slip trays are a much safer option for vulnerable age groups.

Lastly, we all know that sustainability is going to become an even more crucial part of installers decision-making criteria going forward.

From the materials used the shower enclosure is built from to the packaging it is delivered in, consumers are more conscious than ever of the wider impact of any renovations or installations to their home.

A good idea to keep ahead of this is to check out for any credentials advertised by manufacturers. At Lakes, for example, we are certified as Carbon Neutral Plus for our UK operations in recognition of our continued commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. Find out more about this check out our About Us page on our website.