Carwash Showers
Full Body Spas
Clearly, the focal point of the bathroom of the future will be the shower. While basic tub & shower combinations are fine for guest rooms, most homeowners expect a lot more in their master baths.
Styles and Types
Full body showers consist of a dual array of vertically mounted spray nozzles, designed to spray the body from head to toe under adjustable volume and pressure. 'His-and-her' temperature-control valves and arrays of as many as 6 or more water sources are common.
You may choose a Body Spa, which is a re-circulating stand up whirlpool with a waterfall, or you may prefer a Master Shower, which is an electronically controlled shower system consisting of pulsating and pivoting body sprays to which you can add a sheetflow or a showerhead.
These are all custom-designed units, however. They are engineered to match your shower space and the effect you want to create. The complex layout of sprayheads and valves generally prevent these units from being installed in prefab enclosures. They are typically installed in custom-built shower stalls, which are usually oversized, so they're not for every bath.
Keidel Bath and Plumbing will work with your builder and plumbing contractor to make sure your shower is installed properly and will work as it is designed to do. There are a great many choices as to showerheads and controls. The best way to learn about these units is to come to our showroom and see them in person.
Materials
Shower valves and sprayheads are available in a variety of finishes, and you will probably want them to match your other hardware. Make sure you know what manufacturer and model you're trying to match, because colors are not always consistent between vendors.
The valve controls of some high-end models include electronic panels that offer a limited choice of color options. You'll need to consider their placement and how they will blend with the rest of your decor.
How They Work
Kohler's Body Spa System recirculates water up to two times per minute. The result is about 80 gallons per minute of hydro-powered cylinders of water, more than the combined delivery of 25 average showerheads, directed at all the right places to work away tension and stress.
When the Custom BodySpa unit is turned on, the bodyjets are initially preset to low. This safety feature allows the user to adjust the water flow from a gentle stream to an ultra-rush of water for just the right degree of massaging action. Due to the volume and power of the water, it is recommended that the control pad be installed and operated in an area where the user can be out of the water stream.
To use, simply fill the basin with water and activate the pump to start the flow of water. BodySpa systems, unlike whirlpool baths, propel water through the air to maximize the invigorating effect of hydro-massage. After enjoying the BodySpa experience, simply turn off the pump and open the drain. Also with the drain open, use the shower head for a conventional shower using soap and shampoo.
A water well or cistern might not be able to service these showers, and your current septic tank might not be able to handle the additional demands. Make sure to discuss this with your plumber before purchasing.
We will work with your plumbing contractor to make sure the unit is installed properly, but there will be more costs beyond the sprays and valves. For example:
- These units require an ample hot water supply, sufficient to supply upwards of 15 gpm, which may require a water heater upgrade.
- You must have a minimum of a ¾" water supply line to the shower.
Standard lines are ½".
- Your system must provide at least 50-psi water pressure.
- You must provide a properly sized drain, often 3 inches as opposed to 2 in.
- Walls containing supply lines must be thicker to accommodate the plumbing.
- The units will require additional labor costs to install.
We have a working unit in our showroom to demonstrate the capabilities of these systems, as well as the variety of sprayheads available.
Options to Consider
Current state-of-the-art shower systems are quite elaborate, so they require a lot of up-front planning. If you want an advanced-technology shower, you must decide on this before construction begins, and it will affect much of the plumbing in your house.
The effects of an all-body spray can be quite exhilarating, which is why they're becoming extremely popular. Each sprayhead has certain characteristics that appeal to some people but not others, so you will have to choose the ones you like. Shower and volume controls should be mounted in a convenient location away from the direction of the spray.
For steam enthusiasts, an optional steam generator is available for Body Spa modules as well as custom shower applications. The Steam Generator Control Kit also contains Aroma Therapy reservoirs.
Make sure your electrician is aware of your plans so that he can rough in the electric line according to manufacturer's specifications.
Waterfalls and Rainstorms
At one time, a shower consisted of a bent water pipe with a spray nozzle mounted over the head of a bathtub. It was strictly utilitarian and appealed to those people who were in a hurry or who wanted to save water. Those days are over.
Showers have grown to include many luxury features. No longer just a tub accessory surrounded by a plastic curtain, they've become spacious cubicles with multiple showerheads and hand held body sprays; some even include hydro massage units.
While basic tub & shower combinations are fine for guest rooms, most homeowners expect a lot more in their master baths.
Separate walk-in showers are the rule. They're being built with glass partitions, etched or glazed frameless shower doors, some even with no partitions at all.
Built-in seats, shelves, and grab bars are a must; and door trim and handles match faucets and showerheads.
Clearly, the focal point of the bathroom of the future will be the shower. In many cases, bathrooms will be built with no tubs at all.
For a while, the trend was toward ever-larger facilities but building costs have forced a moderation of these designs. However, they're still large enough for two people. They may be acrylic enclosures or custom-built ceramic tile units; and at the high-end natural materials such as granite, marble, and slate are popular.
Mechanical valves are being replaced by single-control, programmable push-button modules that select temperature, configuration of showerheads, duration of shower, and pulsation intervals of body sprays.
These modules limit maximum water temperature to prevent scalding, and even control room lighting and other electronic devices.
Even builders seeking less elaborate designs are including multiple spray heads that create a "rain forest" effect, but separate controls are mandatory because some people don't care to step into a waterfall. But it is clear that home buyers today want a high-end look regardless of their price point.