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.

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 the 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.

At 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 work 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 showers 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.

At 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.

But 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.

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…

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.

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.

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 .

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’s chill bathroom taps

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 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.

In 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

Guaranteed for 5 Years.

RRP £27.00  Best Buy Tapstore.com £20.00