For those who are looking to the future, or making changes to cope with existing mobility and health issues, one of the most common rooms they look at first is the bathroom.
There are very good reasons for that, it is a room we have no choice but to use but it is also a room where so many domestic slips, trips and falls occur due to wet surfaces, night time usage and the abundance of potentially hazardous fixtures and fittings.
A room that should be used for an enjoyable shower or a long, relaxing soak can very quickly become a room fraught with hazards as we get older and mobility deteriorates.
The answer is to make changes, installing adaptations and making the bathroom space easier and once again, safer and more enjoyable to spend time in.
The two main ways to do that are by installing a walk-in shower or wetroom
At GB Electrical & Building Services, our wide range of services and our multi-skilled teams have installed adapted bathrooms for many years and often we support clients who aren’t always sure which option might suit them better.
With that in mind, here is an in-depth look at each:
Walk-in or Access Showers
Walk-in showers enable easier, safer access to the shower, allowing you to walk in and out without the need for stepping over high sides; this reduces the risk of slips and trips.
The first things to note about walk-in showers are their durable, low maintenance benefits; they are also easily adapted for bathrooms of all shapes and sizes and they are much less intrusive. Glass panels replace conventional shower doors to further improve access.
From a cost point of view, they are cheaper and quicker to install compared to full wetroom installations, but they might not be the right choice for everyone.
Many walk-in showers do have a small raised step to navigate, this is an important issue for many to address. Over time, if needs change, that small step which isn’t a problem now, may become a significant one in the future.
Walk-in showers reduce the risk of falling in the bathroom, but many people find they are only a short term solution, when compared to a wetroom.
Wetrooms
Wetrooms completely future-proof your bathroom in a way which a walk-shower alone might struggle to. They are a long term, permanent solution which allows much safer navigation, personal care and access to the entire bathroom space for those with mobility problems, including wheelchair users or those who rely on hoists.
A wetroom requires more investment to install but they are an adaptation that, once done represent a durable and long-lasting solution whatever the future holds.
They are an open plan space with virtually no trip or slip hazards such as lips or raised trays and are built to get wet in safely. Installing a wetroom involves tiling or wallboarding, usually from floor to ceiling to create a completely waterproof environment with a central drain within the shower area or non-slip floor.
Wetrooms can easily be fitted with glass panels to separate the shower area and flooring is fully sealed to create a safe and stylish room that can add significant value to your property.
Walk-in or access showers can be ideal for many, however many people who opt for them do find, as time passes, that their needs are better filled by a wetroom.
Personal care and using the bathroom is such an essential part of everyday life that, when we need to rely on the help and support of others, a wetroom can have a big impact on independence and our sense of dignity.
Wetrooms and walk-in showers can help to maintain independence with no compromise on your safety. If you would like to learn more about them, get in touch today.