Technology and Gadgets Online

If you are still using an old claw foot bath tub and feel the need to bring you bathroom into the twentieth century you have probably heard of shower pods and need to know more about them. The thing is that shower pods are not a new product. A Shower pod is simply a form fitted, one piece shower enclosure that are very easily installed. You want the best shower pod you can get but you do not want to have to spend a fortune, or buy something cheap and end up either having plumbing problems or having to replace you unit in a year of two.

Bathtubs have been going the way of the dinosaur for a number of years as people´s schedules of gotten fuller and fuller. People need fast and convenient and bathtubs just do not fit that bill. If you need a shower pod you should know that they come in a number of varieties and the prices can range from about $200 to well over $1000. When you buy a $200 pod you get what you pay for: an enclosed case with four walls, ceiling and floor and a swinging door. You will get no extra features, including things like plumbing and shower heads while a top of the line unit will have digital read outs and even stereo speakers and LCD TV screens.

Shower pods are not the same as shower stalls. A shower stall is made of several pieces and is assembled in place. With shower pods you have on molded and shaped piece of fiberglass which will last many years. The only separate piece is the door. You can add features like massage shower heads and wooden benches. Some of these products come with seats or benches formed into the walls that allow you to sit down while showering. These are great additions to any bathroom and because of their long lasting materials they are very popular.

Walk in shower stalls can add a lot of class and style to your bathroom as well as giving you a more private showering space. They can be included in a new home or, if you are remodeling you can usually add one with ease as long as you have enough space and enough cash to spend. There are even walk in shower stalls that allow you to get a steam bath instead of having to go to a spa or health club. This can save you a lot of money in membership fees and time in traveling to and from the spa if you are willing to make the higher initial outlay.

Walk in shower stalls come in a couple of different styles. If you are on a tighter budget but still want to enjoy the advantages of one of these showers you will want to look at stalls with a more rustic theme. These showers use natural colors, the shower heads and plumbing are usually copper, instead of PVC which lasts longer. The nice thing about them is that they also come in a variety of wood accents like beech and cedar, although cedar will drive up the price. The use of these woods make a low price self contained shower stall look just like a sauna and adding a special shower head will nearly simulate the experience of soaking in steam. The spa variety on the other hand uses several shower heads to give you a truly spa experience. They come in buff colors like white, cream and some pastels, creating a very relaxed atmosphere.

You can choose either a door less walk-in if you need space. They are very simple to use and install and can actually make the bathroom look larger than it is, especially if you install mirrors inside the shower. Some people use ceramic or granite, or even marble if it is in the budget, or glass to extend the visible space. The space needed for these designs is usually much greater however.

You can buy walk in showers online but in my opinion this is a product that is better purchased from a local specialist store where you can get professional help. Most of us will only buy a couple of showers in our lifetime and getting someone who knows what they are talking about to help you select the best item for your needs makes a lot of sense, especially when you will be spending so much cash on a shower stall that is going to be used every day.

The self contained shower has become very popular as an additional shower on the outside of the home for things like pools and backyard recreation areas. Whether or not you chose to install one of these devices depends on basically two things. How much do you want to spend and what style you want to install. Self contained shower stalls can cost anywhere from about $700 to as much as $2000 or more. If you add things like custom stone walks or nonslip surfaces the price will climb. A self contained design will come with the walls, shelves, flooring, shower heads, and they can even be purchased with things like sauna features, modular seats, control panels, even things like music and other entertainment.

The basic $700 kit is a great price but does not come with surrounding flooring, stone floors, and glass panels. If you want these extra features you will end up paying significantly more. The labor charges alone on a stone floor and walk way can add as much as $1000 to the final cost and, while they make you shower very attractive, if you are on a budget this is something that may take a lot of planning. You have basically two choices. You can opt for a rustic style or a more modern style. If you have a modern style home you will want to consider a sleek and stylish model but if you live in a more rustic setting a classic style will be more appealing to you.

You should also ask yourself who will be using the shower. Do you have handicapped persons in your family? If so they are additions to make the shower accessible for them as well. The same thing applies to children. The presence of high tech gadgets will supply a great deal of temptation to small hands. And finally if you are using the shower inside the home you want to make sure you get a size that doesn’t dominate and cramp your bathroom area.

If you prefer to spend a little extra cash to make your new bathroom redecoration something truly special then you should take a look at stone walk in shower wet rooms which are renowned for their high cost, but which will create a stunning space in which to wash.

Should you be shopping for self contained shower stalls or speaking to a contractor about creating customized stone tile walk in showers? The answer depends on 2 factors: your budget and your style.

1. Self contained shower stalls cost about $800 for the most basic designs and over $2,000 for the best ones. We’re talking about complete modular units that come with walls, floors, shelves, showerheads, sometimes even little extras like modular seats and fancy control panels. Some have steam or sauna features, others have music and lots of hi tech gadgets. At about $800 for a complete kit, it’s a good price, but you still need a floor around it and a plumber to install it and that will add to the cost – $200 or more…So let’s say that self contained shower stalls will cost $1,000 and move on to compare a less hi tech alternative like stone tile walk in showers.
2. Stone tile walk in showers are all about the stone tile you select, the cost of labor and the design you choose, be it large and open or medium sized with a glass panel. If you want a glass panel with stone floors and walls then you’re looking at a couple thousand for the glass and at least $1,000 for stone and materials and labor and finishing touches. If you want rustic no frills stone tile walk in showers with no doors then you’re looking at just the cost of labor and the stone tile. Depending on the size of the space, it’s very possible to do for $1,000 or less.

So now that we know you can have either option; self contained shower stalls or stone tile walk in showers for about $1,000 or less, your next decision is simple. Is your style more hi tech modern or classic?

If everything in your home is sleek and high tech, then go with the simple modular unit and enjoy! If however your home is rustic, classic or traditional in almost every room of the house, then don’t destroy the fluidity by sticking self contained shower stalls in the bathroom.

There are some final considerations that have nothing to do with price or design, and these are simple practicality. Ask yourself:

• Is the shower primarily for use by elderly or handicapped individuals?
• Will cleaning and maintaining a stone shower be practical?
• Will children be using the shower and will they monkey around with the hi tech gadgets in a modular unit and end up causing you a headache?
• Do you have the space to fit self contained shower stalls in the area available without making the rest of the bathroom seem cramped?