Posts Tagged ‘Shower’

Crosswater Majestic Bathroom Taps

majestic-basin-tapCrosswater’s Majestic bathroom taps are a twist on the modern and traditional almost a morph between  the two creating an elegant and unusual styled tap that just seems to work, its smooth clean lines give it a minimalist feel but shaped on traditional styles almost art deco.

Within the range there are choices for the basin were you have a standard Majestic mono bloc basin mixer or a mini version of the same taps for cloakrooms, there is also a tall mono bloc basin mixer that really accentuates the slender body of the tap. Crosswater also covers the Majestic basin solution with a three hole basin mixer set.

For alternatives in filling the bath the wall mounted bath shower mixer and a five hole bath shower mixer for deck mounting with a separate pull out handset and hose. Giving you some more options to the range you have separate Majestic bath spouts and choices of either wall mounted panel valves or deck mounted panel valves that can control the hot and cold water flows, there is also an option for a wall mounted hot and cold valves with a separate diverter to switch between two devices such as a bath filler over flow and handsets.

Crosswater Zeal Bathroom Taps

Crosswater-Zeal-Bathroom-TapsCrosswater Zeal bathroom taps are another of there new collections that have emerged this year, very square in design with an unusual cut out on the handle of the tap and a neat flat spout.

The range is a high pressure range only which you will need a minimum pressure of about 1.0bar to operate.

Within the Zeal collection you have theZEAL-Bath-Shower-Mixer monobloc basin mixer with no pop-up waste so you will need to use a click clack waste, there is a tall mono bloc basin mixer for use with freestanding bowls, there is also a very unusual wall mounted bath shower mixer as you can see from the image to the right, the diverter is mounted on the fascia of the mixer and the handle at the end, it has a neat square wall bracket and shower handset.

To complete the Crosswater Zeal tap and shower range you get to choose between two different versions of manual shower valves one with and one without a diverter which can be used for either showering or filling a bath.

Cheapest 5 bathroom taps ranges

Top Five cheapest branded bathroom taps……

Prima bathroom tapsAt number 5 Crosswater have the Prima range of bathroom taps (shown left), this will work on low pressure and comes in at £76.00 a small range with just a Monobloc basin mixer, monobloc bidet mixer, deck or wall mounted bath shower mixer and a manual shower valve, to see the full range click here.

At number 4 Bristan have the Apollo range of bathroom taps (shown right) these will also Apollo bathroom tapswork on low pressure systems and start from as little as £33.00 for a pair of basin taps, again a small range with basin and bath taps a bath filler and a bath shower mixer if you wish to see the full range then click here.

At number 3 Home of Ultra Have  Orion bathroom taps (shown left) the prices start from just £41.00 for a pair of basin taps this is quite a large range which includes Orion basin tapsshowers and valves as well to complete the look.

There are basin and bath taps, monobloc basin mixers, bath fillers and bath shower mixers and for the Orion shower valves you get both options of square or oval back plate all are thermostatic and come in one or two way valves with an intergeral diverter.

Sonique Bathroom TapsAt Number 2 Bristan’s Sonique range of bathroom taps (shown right) is an easy choice for good design at very reasonable price with basin taps from £38.00 they also offer bath taps, monobloc basin mixers , bath filler, bath shower mixer and matching Sonique mini thermostatic shower valves. Tapstore.com are offering tap packs with saving up to 37% off retail price and they are also offering complete bath and shower packs as well so very worth a look.

Storm bathroom tapsBut at Number 1 for the best quality for value for money we have the Roper Rhodes Storm range of taps and Showers which also got the accolade last year and managed to get back to number 1 by introducing matching shower valves to boost the complete range.

The Storm monobloc basin Mixer is a touch at £53.00 and there is now everything you would want to complement the complete bathroom or shower room design within the range.

Starting with BasinTaps, monobloc basin mixers with and without pop up wastes,  both high and low pressure bath shower mixers and bath fillers, recessed and surface mounted thermostatic shower valves.

The technology used in the basin mixers along help it be the number 1. Built in to the on off control (cartridge) is a flow limiter and and a temperature limiter to make it safe for use with children and older persons.

To see the full range of taps and showers click here.

Bathroom taps – bargains

Buying bathroom taps is one of the most important decision you will make when renovating your house, there are so here is a quick guide to assist you in making your choices.

1, Make sure that you buy branded bathroom taps from a reputable retailer through your local showroom or online shop, lots of people are being teased by very cheap prices into buying poor quality import brass ware through shops and the Internet, What I have noticed is that retailers are calling taps by a brand name but when you search for the manufacturer there are no details of them online. So make sure that the manufacturer has a base in the UK.

The reason retailers are now doing this is that it protects them against you finding the same product cheaper elsewhere.

2, It is critical that you select the brand you buy and check that it is suitible for your water system, you need to look for the minimum pressure that a tap or shower will work on e.g 0.2 bar which means you will need 2 meters of distance between the bottom of your cold water storage tank and where the water flows from the taps or shower.

So for each 1 meter in distance you will need 0.1 bar.

*Note If you do not have a cold water storage tank this does not apply unless the stated pressure is above 2.0 bar then call a plumber and get you pressure tested to make sure you have enough.

3, A cheap tap or shower is not  good value for money as you will be paying out for a replacement and a plumbers bill which is a lot more costly than paying just a bit more for a recognized brand.

More to follow…

Crosswater Signature – Bathroom Taps

Signatures-bathroom-tapsIf you have a square basin then you cannot ignore the Signature range of bathroom taps from Crosswater, they have a joystick style lever for precise control over the water flow and temperature with an offset rectangular waterfall spout and a square block of a body.

The range consists of a monobloc basin mixer, monobloc bath shower mixer with pull out spray handset, a monobloc bath filler and the mother of all taps a freestanding piece of architecture the Signature freestanding bath shower mixer.

All the items are made to give an exact flow of water from the spout to not over shoot the basin or bath and come with a 15 year guarantee.

To see the full range click here. prices start from £263.00.

Crosswater Central – Bathroom Taps

CEN_LIFESTYLE2Crosswater’s Central Bathroom taps have now been launched and they do not disappoint with  the ultra flat handle and mimicking spout they are designed to be pleasing to the eye, the range is small with basin options being a monobloc basin mixer and a two hole wall mounted basin set, for the bath you have standard bath filler and a two hole bath filler with a water fall type spout, a bath shower mixer and a rather unusual water fall spout control handle and pull out shower handset version.

For the shower you have my favorite part to the range which is a rather sleek slimline Central thermostatic shower valve which is as a standard dual control, same but with an additional diverter, a three handled 3 way valve and a three handled 2 way valve in either portrait or landscape versions.

To see the full range and buy click here.

New Team Electric Showers

nt_electric-showerNew Team have been making these showers for years now and are proven to be reliable work horses for many customers, they have been branded by the biggest DIY stores as Showerforce, and also more recently after being bought out by Bristan they have been in their retail book as well, but essentially they are all the same just with separate branding name on them.

So if you want a decent electric shower then you need look no further than New Team showers for your bathroom or shower room.

New Team Electric Showers are available in several different Kilo wattage versions  from 8.5Kw, 9.5KW and 10.5KW. the come complete wtih shower head and hose with a stylish riser rail.

They are also available in Matt Chrome as well as in white and chrome.

Best buy for NewTeam Electric Showers 10.5Kw £188.00 from Tapstore.com or for the 9.5KW only £128.00 from New Team Showers .

Shower Pump For all jobs

Electronic-Sensor_Pump_2.25barLooking for a shower pump for my house I soon realised that it was not going to be easy, there is so many models and brands, I was being told by my plumber that I should get a shower pump as I would not have enough pressure “get 2.0 bar twin” he said, the local merchant told me that I had to use a bigger pump as they were the only pumps that would do the job, the more I looked the more confused I got.

I then called Tim at Tapstore.com he is their technical man, I explained that I needed to pump my shower in a new loft room and also a bathroom on the first floor, I am rather confused as one guy said just get a 2.0 bar twin and the other said that I needed more and felt that everyone I asked advised something different?

Tim’s answer was to go for a technically brilliant product a Electronic Sensor Pump he explained that ” because my shower head was higher than the cold water storage tank in the loft (negative head) there will not be the flow to start up the pump I needed, and with the downstairs shower there was no real issues about the flow to start the pump (positive head)”. In the end I went for a pump that did everything both the showers, my whole first floor bathroom and my hot kitchen tap which had also given me flow problems.

What I now know is a pump is simply not a pump for any job and each pump has a specific purpose apart from the one I bought. I bought a Salamander Electronic Sensor ESP 2.25 bar CPV  Twin pump and it does just the job perfectly, it is designed to work in positive and negative head with independent hot or cold supplies, WC even my dishwasher and washing machine.

RRP £599.00 Tapstore.com price £341.00 Inc VAT and Delivery.

Bristan Chill Bathroom Taps

Bristan-Chill-monobloc-basin-mixerBristan’s chill bathroom taps and showers are one of the best ranges they produce with the full individual flair in the Danish design, The flatness of the spouts within the range are inspiring, on the handle is a engineered square grip which doubles its function as a flow control.  Chill basin mixer tap is sure to excite you into creating a truly contemporary bathroom.

It is not a huge range but it will satisfy most bathing and showering requirements the first and most sold item within the range is the monobloc basin mixer as pictured on the right it is available with or without a pop up waste and also in a taller version without a pop up waste, there is a two hole basin mixer option as well with a neat square escution plate for mounting both the spout and the control valve, you can also use a version with a rectangular base plate to join the spout and the control valve together.

For the bath there is a standard bath shower mixer and five different ways to fill the bath, you can use a simple wall mounted control and spout two versions of a deck mounted bath filler both designed to match the basin mixers. or you could use either the shower valve with built in diverter and a bath filler over flow or the three way shower valve with a stop cock and diverter so you can add a pull out hose for rinsing out the bath or just washing your hair.Bristan-chill-thermostatic-shower-valve

Bristan Chill Showers.

There are four opinions for the shower, the first option pictured to the left is a thermostatic shower valve that can be mounted either on the surface or recessed into the wall, it comes complete with a riser rail kit and a really neat stylish single function shower handset.

Chill-three-way-shower-valveIn the recessed only options  which are also thermostatic you have the choice of a dual function with a flow control and a temperature control handle ideal for either a shower kit or a fixed position shower head, then there is a shower valve with diverter so two items can be controlled and my favorite the three way valve (pictured right) which is the same as the diverter option with the added bonus of a stop cock on/off control fitted below the thermostat that can be used simultaneously with either of the top outlets or individually on its own. 

There is also a matching range of Chill bathroom accessories, Best Buy From Tapstore.com

Bristan Flat 6″ Fixed Shower Rose – Showering Excellence

rose101_cThe Bristan Flat 6″ fixed shower rose is the perfect way to shower in luxury with out the high price tag associated with simlar products. This Ultra Modern shower head with rub clean jets for ease of cleaning and maintenance which is a particular benefit if you live in a hard water area. It includes a swivel ball joint so you can easily adjust the angle of this shower head. It is 75mm high including the swivel ball joint and is 150mm in diameter and will connect to any standard shower arm with a 1/2″ connection.

Guaranteed for 5 Years.

RRP £27.00  Best Buy Tapstore.com £20.00