Just to be clear a shower chair is sometimes also called a shower seat, a shower bench or a shower stool.  They are essentially all variations on the same basic theme.  That theme essentially is a mechanism to help you sit whilst you are taking a shower.  If you are someone for whom taking a shower can prove to be a difficult experience then it is quite likely the shower chair is perfect for you.

The problem is that if you do find taking a shower whilst standing up difficult.  If you are unsteady on your feet whilst taking a shower, you may find that you cannot take a shower without the assistance of someone else.  This someone else may be your carer or a member of your family who mean well but the fact of the matter is that your basic human dignity, that of bathing in private is lost.

Such matters are to take this for granted if you have never experienced the humiliation of having to bath in front of someone else.  There is a solution however.  The shower chair, by proividing a solid seated platform for you whilst taking your shower can greatly reduce the risk of taking a shower and thus mean that you can once again consider bathing in private.

There are many models of shower chair on the market.  The styles accomodate both the range of bathrooms and sizes of shower enclosures through to whatever your particular physical need. If you are simply unsteady on your feet then a shower bench will probably be all you need, however if you are unable to stand up, or have little muscle control then clearly a solid chair with arms and a back will almost certainly be necessary.

For an elderly person then it is quite likely that a shower chair will rapidly become a necessity.  Such chairs allow them to continue to bathe in privacy and to retain their dignity.  If slipping out of the chair is a problem then there may well be a harness that will prevent the person from slipping out of the chair.  The last thing anyone wants is to have to rely on someone else to bathe them.

The fact is that at some point in all our lives we will likely need some assistance in bathing.  When such circumstances do affect us then we would all do well to remember the options available and not forget the effectiveness that a simple shower chair can have.

The lightweight portable fold up shower chair operates in much the same way as the retractable shower chair.  When not in use the seat folds up into a flat profile.  The difference between the two is that the retractable shower chair is fixed to the wall of the shower enclosure and when not in use remains in the shower, albeit against the wall.

The lightweight portable fold up shower chair is made of lightweight resin which although tough, water repellent and very strong does not weigh a great deal.  As a result, once folded up the shower chair is intended to be placed in a location that means it is not in the way of the bathroom user when not in use.  Perhaps, for instance, behind the bathroom door.

The fact that the shower chair is lightweight means that bringing the chair out and setting up in the shower enclosure is both easy and quick.  The chair is easily maneuverable even if you have some physical impairment.  Equally, putting the chair away again is similarly manageable.

The price of the lightweight portable fold up shower seat chair is, as you might expect, very affordable, possibly being amongst the cheapest type of shower chair available on the market today.

So in summary for those of you who need a shower chair in order to properly enjoy a shower in relative peace and privacy but for whom the bathroom or shower enclosure has limited space then the lightweight portable fold up shower chair is almost certainly a style of shower chair you should consider.

The basis of the retractable shower chair is a frame which is attached to the wall with brackets.  The retractable  shower chair is also sometimes called the hinged shower chair, the fold up shower chair or the fold down shower chair depending upon the specific mechanism used to attach the chair seat to the frame.

It is important that the wall that the frame is attached to is sturdy and capable of suppporting the weight that a fully grown adult would place on the shower chair when the chair is in use.  It is also important that the fixings used to attach the frame to the wall are appropriate for the wall.  For instance using raw plugs in a plaster boarded timber framed wall would almost certainly be inappropriate as the fixings would simply not be sufficient to take the full weight of an adult.  In such a circumstance there would very likely be a risk that the fixings would fail and injury could ensue.

If the wall used does not appear to be sufficiently robust to keep the frame and shower chair stable and in place then the sensible course of action would be select a retractable shower chair which incorporated legs that extended down to the shower enclosure floor when in use.  These models are easily located and would comfortably solve the problem of the wall that is not strong enough for a completely hanging shower chair.

The frame usually has an adjustable mechanism which allows the shower chair height to be moved up and down depending upon the size of the shower user.  This adjustable height mechanism is also useful if there are likely to be more than one user of the shower chair as it will be easy and straightforward to adjust the height to suit.

One final thing to note about the use of a retractable shower chair is the maximum weight used on the chair, on the assumption that the wall fixings are strong is of the order of 280lbs.   Using these type of chairs beyond this weight may well risk injury from a collapsing seat.

There are a large number of model choices of the retractable shower chair.  These models can be found by searching online for suppliers of retractable shower chairs or retractable shower benches.  Best of luck in your search.

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.

My first thought was that the topic of the shower chair was a relatively dry one and that I would really struggle to come up with sufficient subject matter to really engage you, the reader.  However, miracles never cease.  It turns out that there are many different types of shower seat and that I can actually set up a blog post reviewing each of the different types of shower chair which should make sufficient content for this blog to be considered worthwhile.  This is my hope, I hope you derive some benefit from this blog too.  We shall see.

I think before I write too much more in general terms about shower chairs I should try to list out the types of shower chairs I believe I will review on this blog before I am finished.  This list includes:

• The Teak Shower Chair
• The Folding Shower Chair
• The Wall Mounted Shower Chair
• The Corner Shower Chair
• The Fold Down Shower Chair
• The Fold Up Shower Chair

I think that would do for starters.  I shall start the first review shortly.

The shower chair is in fact a relatively simple idea which solves a very practical problem.  The shower chair or shower bench provides a seating area within the shower enclosure which allows the person taking the shower to sit whilst taking that refreshing shower.  This allows the shower, which is a quicker and more convenient method of bathing to be accessible to those who would appreciate the opportunity to sit whilst washing.  Sensible.  Practical.