Attic and Loft Showers
The loft space in many houses is unused and so there has been a great increase in householders looking to utilise the area more effectively. One way of achieving this is by adding a shower into the attic as part of a loft conversion.
Most attics have the same or similar floor plan to the upper floor of the house so the space available for a conversion can be quite large in many cases although some roofs are not suitable for use with loft conversions. There are also many regulations regarding loft conversions that vary from place to place so it is essential that the appropriate approval is sought from the relevant authorities before carrying out any work. Many firms specialise in loft conversion and will be able to handle any planning and building regulations for you as well as undertaking the work. One popular use of the attic space is to add an extra bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom or shower room.
As well as negating the need for an airing cupboard, a combination boiler will also do away with the need for cold water storage tanks, which are traditionally housed in the attic space. They are therefore ideal for use with loft conversions and should be able to supply all of the hot water to the hot taps and shower mixer but check with your installer to ensure the output will be able to cope with extra radiators and hot water demands. An electric shower could also be used within a loft as they use mains pressure cold water.
The sloping ceilings found in most loft spaces can have an affect on the overall design as it can limit the size and location for the bathroom or shower components. Small shower cubicles can usually be fitted below the apex of the roof but if the enclosure is to be sited away from this position it is sometimes necessary to have a made to measure solution. This could be achieved creating a stud wall, using glass blocks or by purchasing a bespoke shower cubicle. It is also possible, in some cases, to create a wet room, eliminating the need for specially made cubicle components. If a stud wall is built there needs to be plenty of lighting as natural light might be limited. If the sloping part of the ceiling is to be an integral part of the showering area it is best to look for an alternative product to ceramic tiles as these are not ideally suited to installation in overhead situations. There are several different panelling systems that can be used in place of tiles in these situations. Hollow section UPVC bathroom panels are ideal as they are lightweight, waterproof and can be fitted to the walls or ceilings enabling a uniform look across the whole job. Their use can be limited to the inside of the shower cubicle or can be used around the whole bathroom area. There are even some panels available that would look fine in the bedroom area but offer the option of being able to continue with same panel into the shower or bathroom area of the attic.