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Bathroom Remodeling:
Custom Showers

By Ben Shabat

If you are planning a bathroom upgrade, one of the things you may want to consider is a custom bathroom. Building a custom bathroom requires plumbing adjustments and some serious pre installation considerations as it is not possible to simply add shower heads and sprays to an existing shower.

The term custom showers refers to multiple-head showers and since they consist of valves, water outlets, volume controls, shower heads, and body sprays, they should be installed by a licensed contractor.

Important Factors and Considerations

Drainage Capacity

Drains must have adequate capacity to prevent potential water damage. Custom showers have the ability to flow 28-32 gallons of water per minute. In many cases your remodeling contractor will suggest proper drain adjustments to assure smooth drainage.

Water Pressure

The recommended water pressure is 50 psi. This water pressure will support systems of three or more outlets. Before you start your remodeling project, test the water pressure and install a water booster pump if the pressure is below 45 psi.

Water Heater

The water heater tank must be adjusted to provide enough hot water. It is recommended to install a dedicated large size water heater because the larger the custom shower, the more hot water is required. For best performance, it is recommended to install a 100 gallon water heater.

Water Softeners Systems

Water softeners are installed to control hard water and can reduce the hot water flow. To assure best performance, install a water heater, designed for high water flow.

Ventilation System

Your bathroom must be well ventilated whether you have a custom shower or not. Adequate ventilation is necessary to control humidity levels and to prevent mold growth. With custom showers, this fact is even more important as custom showers produce higher levels of humidity.

Custom Showers Options

Custom showers come with various valves. In some showers, the valve is a single handle, controlling both the temperature and the flow. In other showers have a separate handles, one for water temperature control, and one for water flow control.

Water Flow Controls

Most custom showers are designed with separate water flow controls, one for each outlet. It is recommended to use 3/4" volume controls throughout the system. Using 1/2" volume controls can be less expensive but these controls will reduce the showers performance.

Water Temperature Control

Temperature control in a custom shower is, first and foremost, a safety consideration. A pressure balance valve is not a high flow valve, and cannot be expected to replace a thermostatic temperature control valve, especially when multiple shower outlet are installed.

Ben Shabat is a senior project manager for Remodeling California Inc., a leader in the Home Improvement industry. For more information about Bathroom Remodeling Ideas, feel free to Email Ben Shabat or call (800) 724-9946.