Introduction To The Shower Chair

For those of us who enjoy bathing but find having a bath increasingly difficult then the solution may well be a shower chair.

The risk of slipping when either getting into a bath or out of the bath is always present, especially if the bath is enamel without foot grips on the bottom surface.  There is a simple alternative for you to solve your bathing needs.  The device is the shower chair and it specifically designed to enable you to sit down whilst enjoying a refreshing shower.

Shower chairs are not just any old chair used in the bathroom.  Because they are clearly used in very wet conditions they must be built using materials that repel water, in fact are completely water resistant.  Typically they will also have rubber feet for grip thus endeavouring to make it possible for anyone who for any reason has difficulty standing in the shower the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of taking a shower in the privacy of their own bathroom without any of the inconvenience.

As you will probably know there are many different shapes, sizes and styles of shower enclosure, from shower cubicles through showers within baths and wet room style showers.  As a result it is not possible to have a one size fits all approach when it comes to the design of shower chairs.  The consequence of this is that there are many different models of shower chair that can fit in and be useful in just about any shape or size of shower stall.  And because not all bathrooms have a large amount of room, there are shower chairs designed to fold away into small spaces when not in use.

The Simple Rigid Shower Chair

Starting with the simplest shower chair design.  This chair is a simple rigid chair made from lightweight resin materials.  Although the material is lightweight it will also likely be very robust. The design is straightforward.  It is a sitting chair with an upright back.  It may or may not have arms, in fact there are models available on the market of either type.

Almost all shower chair models have rubber, or suction type devices on each of the feet of the chair. As previously stated this is purely to help prevent the shower chair from slipping or sliding around once in place within the shower enclosure.

Typically, because this simplest of shower chairs is very light, being made of resin materials it will be a very simple process to place the chair in the shower enclosure and remove once use has finished, without excessive amounts of effort being required or risk of damage to the bathroom.  This is useful as it enables the shower to be used perhaps by other members of the family who do not depend upon the use of the shower chair to fully enjoy their bathing experience.

The Retractable Or Fold Away Shower Chair

Moving on to another popular but still simple style of shower chair.  The retractable shower chair.  These do not and are not complex retracting devices.  Rather the retraction tends to be a simple process of folding up from the wall, or alternatively folding down and locking into place.  The chair will usually be attached with a form of hinge mechanism to an appropriate wall within the shower enclosure.  The wall used should be relatively sturdy, as should the wall fittings as they will almost certainly be taking the full weight of the person having a shower once the shower chair is in use.

As this retractable type of shower chair will be put away by folding back against the wall rather than removing it from the shower enclosure after every use it does not necessarily have to be made from very light resin type materials.  Indeed as a result many of the retractable shower chair models will be made from hardwoods, such as teak, that have been specifically treated to ensure long lasting water resistance.

In order to use the shower chair you simply swing the chair seat into the horizontal position and ensure it locks into place.  After use the shower chair simply swings up or down and is locked back against the wall into place and out of the way.

The retractable shower chair, whilst not taking up too much room in the shower enclosure when not in use will still almost certainly be a permanent fixture inside the shower.  The reason this type of shower chair is reasonably convenient as it is always present and can be used by anyone without significant difficulty but at the same time is not in the way when those who don’t need a shower chair wish to take a shower.

The Permanent Shower Chair

It is possible to create a permanent seat within the shower enclosure.  This type of shower chair can either be specifically deigned as being integral to the shower enclosure and tiled with the rest of the bathroom, or it can be a specially designed chair which requires specialist installation.  Models of this type of shower chair might also be constructed from marble or granite or even a similar type of material to that used on kitchen surfaces.  These types of shower chair will be waterproof by their very nature and very easy to  keep clean.

Needless to say this type of shower chair requires sufficient space to ensure that those who do not need a shower chair or do not wish to use one have sufficient space with which to enjoy their own shower in comfort.

Shower Chair Prices

Obviously the price of all the different types of shower chair will vary, sometime significantly.

The simple resin construction lightweight shower chair will be relatively cheap.  They are useful and very portable and will help those who have temporary mobility problems continue to be able to bath in relative privacy and comfort.

The retractable shower chairs are also relatively inexpensive, although the hardwood versions can be more expensive.  As noted the fitting of these retractable chairs are important ans should generally be installed by a professional.

The permanent shower chair are inevitably the most expensive, especially if they are not being installed as part of an overall bathroom refurbishment.  Having said that a properly installed permanent shower chair in a spacious shower environment can be very luxurious and give a really great shower experience.