Shower Curtains
If you have installed an over bath shower you will need to fit some form of barrier to keep the shower spray from escaping onto the bathroom floor.
Shower curtains are the most popular choice in the UK. They come in dozens of different designs and styles but all perform the same function - to keep shower water inside the bath.
Polyester and PVC are the most common materials used for shower curtains. A polyester shower curtain will need to be cleaned from time to time but is normally washable - check the shower curtain label for details. Some curtains are suitable for ironing with a cool iron but it is important the check the label to ensure that this is the case or it could be damaged by excess heat. Curtains treated with a mould inhibitor can help to reduce the appearance of black spots which can appear if the curtain is left in a wet state for any length of time. There are usually metal reinforced eyelets at the top of the curtain which are used to attach the shower curtain to the hooks or rings. Ringless shower curtains fit directly onto a shower rod without extra rings (these look neat but it means the rod has to be removed from its wall brackets if the curtain needs to be taken off).
The majority of shower curtains are universal and will fit most rods and rails but there are some exceptions - for example if used with a shower tray. Shower curtains can be used over a shower tray but this will result in more water splashing out into the room than would be the case if a shower cubicle were fitted. You would also need an extra long shower curtain to reach the shower tray - most shower curtains sold in the UK have a 1.8m drop - click here if you are looking for an extra long shower curtain.
Shower curtains are not ideally suited for use with a power shower due to the high pressure jet that these types of showers create - a shower cubicle is the only way to guarantee keeping the spray from a power shower inside the showering area. If you have to use a curtain with a power shower try and obtain a thick, heavy, stiff PVC curtain as these will be less likely to flap and stick to you.
Shower curtain rails should be a run directly between two walls to ensure rigidity. If this is not possible, and an "L" shaped rail is required, make sure the rail has a third central fixing for support and extra rigidity. Cheap "L" shaped rails that only have two wall fixings should be avoided as they can eventually start to droop but if you do fit them make sure to wall fixings are very secure as there is a lot of strain on the brackets.
For more examples see our shower curtain gallery.