Skul Plumbing

Why Buy a Small Shower Tray?

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Small shower trays are being seen more regularly in bathrooms across the UK. Their size is perfect for small cloakrooms and bathrooms, shower rooms and even mid to larger bathrooms. These humble, inconspicuous small shower trays are now getting the spotlight for their versatility in bathrooms, whether contemporary or classically styled. Small shower trays are more widely available than ever, in a host of different shapes, sizes, materials and fitting options.

This is a quick, handy guide to small shower trays, and which style, shapes, sizes and products are available in the UK.

So, firstly, in terms of size, what defines small shower trays?

Small shower trays are defined by their length by width measurement, which is generally between 700mm and 900mm. Not surprisingly, the smallest of the small shower trays, the 700 shower tray is the most popular shower tray among most manufacturers. There are a number of different sized small shower trays to choose from: there’s 760mm shower trays, 800mm shower trays, 700mm x 900mm shower trays, 760mm x 900mm shower trays and 800mm x 900mm shower trays. There are plenty of shower tray configurations, and there’s one to fit any style or layout of bathroom.

What are the shapes and styles of small shower trays?

Small shower trays can be found in a range of styles and shapes. Depending on which type of shower enclosure you go for, you can choose from small square shower trays, rectangle shower trays, quadrant shower trays, offset quadrant shower trays, pentangle and offset pentangle shower trays (also known as neo angle shower trays) and u or d shape shower trays. There are also a range of dedicated shower trays, such as bow-square or bow-rectangular shower trays available to suit specific shower enclosures.

With small shower trays, their fitting options vary depending on the tray’s design. One option is to fit your small shower tray directly to the floor or ‘sunken’ into the floor, installing the plumbing and drainage underneath the flooring. This is particularly effective with low profile or slimline shower trays (LWCC and Manhattan Showers have these products), but also works well with standard shower trays. Sometimes, however, this is difficult for some as they can’t access the under-floor space, or have concrete floors.

When installing plumbing under the floor is an issue, some choose to raise the shower tray above floor level using a leg and panel pack, or otherwise to sink the tray into a platform or plinth, which can be built and designed to give a minimalist wet room style.

What are small shower trays made of?

Small shower trays are most widely available in either an acrylic or a stone resin mixture. Acrylic shower trays, such as Manhattan Duralite Shower Trays, are favoured by some for their strength, durability and beautiful finish. The slimline “Ultra 40” is a pure acrylic shower tray, also from Manhattan, is popular because of its minimalist looks and manufacturer’s guarantee. People often choose to purchase acrylic shower trays because they are lightweight, easy to install and affordable.

Stone resin shower trays are also popular, and have a number of features and benefits. They are heavier than acrylic shower trays, as they are made of a stone and resin mixture, sometimes capped with ABS acrylic. The look of stone resin shower trays is one of their benefits – they are stylish and contemporary, and often come with generous manufacturer’s guarantees.

In terms of price, stone resin shower trays and acrylic shower trays are affordable and comparable in cost. The difference between the two is the style, the sort of fitting you require and is predominately decided on personal preference and perceived quality.

Where can I buy small shower trays?

MX Group, Manhattan Showers and London Water Closet Company (LWCC) are major UK manufacturers that supply small shower trays to online bathroom company BathroomTrade (co.uk). Their products, as mentioned above, are available in this online store and these small shower trays are available in several variations of size and shapes.

Small shower trays will continue to be popular, due to their size, adaptability to bathrooms, regardless of style, and there’s one out there guaranteed to suit your bathroom perfectly.

About the Author: High Flying Media Ltd – Lindy Holman
If you’re after any further advice, BathroomTrade, the UK online bathroom store, can help you with any advice on shower trays, shower enclosures or, in fact, any other bathroom product you’re interested in!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/why-buy-a-small-shower-tray-1512793.html

November 29, 2009 - 1:42 PM No Comments

What are Solar Micro Inverters?

Filed under Uncategorized by jon

With a solar power system, you can reduce or even completely eliminate your monthly electricity bill. The latest solar power systems are exceptionally affordable, very efficient, and easy to install. One of the latest improvements is the addition of micro inverters to solar panels.There are various kinds of solar power inverters. Visit Solar Power Inverter for more information regarding solar power inverters.

In most cases, solar systems have the same basic setup. The solar panels are placed on the roof of the home, or in a location where they will be exposed to as much sun as possible. This is because they will generate DC electricity when exposed to sunlight.

Once it’s been produced, the DC electricity goes to an inverter, which is usually located near the home’s electrical panel. Devices in the home that require electricity use AC electricity, and the inverter converts the DC electricity to AC for this purpose.

Previously, solar power systems would lose a large portion of the power they generated because the power had to move along long wires to reach the inverter. Power loss is particularly troublesome with low voltage DC electricity. Before, systems would be made with more power capacity in order to make up for the loss.

The answer to the problem of power loss is now here, in the form of solar micro inverters. Now that solar panels can come equipped with their own individual micro inverters, the conversion can be performed instantaneously, negating most of the loss. This makes solar panels more efficient, as you can generate more usable power with fewer panels. AC electricity can move a longer distance with less loss than DC electricity. This also means that you can now add to your system more easily, as you can increase the number of panels whenever necessary, without having to worry about upgrading your inverter. Solar panels with micro inverters are a little more expensive, but the increased efficiency and savings that they offer mean that they’re a more economical choice in the long run.

If a solar power system utilizes batteries, it will also require a solar charge controller. Solar charge controllers work to control the power moving from the solar panels to the batteries. If you want information about solar charge controllers, read Solar Charge Controller.

For the greatest guide to building your own homemade wind turbine, you can check out Earth4Enegry Review.

Eric Moore became interested in renewable energy after building an electric powered bike. Shortly after he began riding the bike to work, he thought, why not recharge the bike’s batteries with solar power and commute to work completely free and totally pollution free. He then created a website to share his experience and knowledge with others. For many more articles about home solar power visit: Home Solar and Wind Info.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/what-are-solar-micro-inverters-1515822.html

November 28, 2009 - 8:37 PM No Comments

Choose your Shower Tray Configuration: Raised or Low Profile?

Filed under Uncategorized by jon

A shower tray is the foundation of a shower enclosure, and a very important design consideration when planning a bathroom. Whether you place your shower tray level with the floor or ‘sunken’ to the floor, choose to have it raised, or sunken into a platform, all three configurations have implications for the layout, appearance and practical aspects of your bathroom of which you need to be made aware.

This article is designed to explain the raised, sunken and standard installation options of a shower tray, and which option might best suit your bathroom.

There are a number of differing ways to fit a shower tray, which varies on the type of tray you are installing. The following lists types of shower tray configurations and products available to suit:

Flush with Floor or Sinking the Tray into the Floor:

These shower trays are designed to be installed/sunken directly into the bathroom or wet room floor. This type of tray requires the pipe work and drainage to be installed underneath the tray, often directly into the floor of the building.

The flat top shower tray can either be installed in a new build (at planning stage, the shower tray can be more easily accommodated) or to an existing bathroom, where the building structure permits.

Easy to install, these shower trays also bring a stylish, contemporary look to your bathroom. A number of manufacturers supply shower trays to suit this method include MX Group, London Water Closet Company (LWCC) and Manhattan Showers.

Sinking the Tray into a Platform:

A new, minimalist-styled way to install a flat shower tray is to position it within a specially constructed platform/plinth. A platform can be styled to to blend seamlessly into the bathroom and provides a sleek, contemporary wet room look.

Many people choose to install a sunken shower tray within a platform because either they have incompatible flooring (floor could be concrete, be part of a protected/listed building, foundation may be unstable or inaccessible, and so on) or that they want to be able to easily access and maintain plumbing, monitor the tray for leaks and any other issues that may arise.

Manhattan Showers manufactures the Duralite Shower Tray Platform, which is compatible with its Duralite acrylic shower trays. Alternatively, if you’re after a style other than Manhattan’s, a platform to suit any type of flat shower tray can also be constructed, bespoke, by your plumber or carpenter.

Raising the Shower Tray Using a leg & panel pack:

Raised shower trays are growing in popularity, and are available in a range of styles to suit those who, for various reasons, choose to raise their shower tray above floor level.

Some raised shower trays are simply flat shower trays fitted with a leg and panel pack, and sometimes with tiling upstands. LWCC’s low profile shower trays are 95mm in height when raised (usually 45mm as a standard low profile) and have an optional leg and panel pack. Manhattan Duralite Acrylic Shower Trays come with a “hi-lo fitment”, allowing them to be installed as a lo-level (93mm high) or hi-level (193mm high). Both options include removable panels which allow easy access to the underside of the tray, for adjustment of tray legs, feet and general inspection.

Another type of raised shower tray is the MX Easy plumb shower tray, which comes with leg set and includes side panels. This style of shower tray also allows easy access to drainage and plumbing, to help with maintenance and care of the shower enclosure and tray.

Whichever type of bathroom you’re working with, there is sure to be a shower tray configuration to suit you.

About the Author: Lindy Holman – High Flying Media Ltd.
For more information about choosing the best shower tray installation/configuration to suit your bathroom layout, visit Bathroom Trade, the UK Online Bathroom Store. Expert advice on trays for your shower, hundreds of bathroom products and lowest internet price promise. Visit today for 20-60% off all showers and many other products instore.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/choose-your-shower-tray-configuration-raised-or-low-profile-1512811.html

November 28, 2009 - 3:19 AM No Comments

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