Shower solutions for hotels – High-quality shower trays for all...

Read article : Shower solutions for hotels – High-quality shower trays for all...

Modern shower solutions are integral components of contemporary hotel bathrooms and feature in every bathroom. In private residential buildings, the aesthetics and spatial aspects of the shower area define its design. But in the commercial sector, technical factors such as the anti-slip class, sound insulation or accessibility have to be considered additionally.

Villeroy & Boch, as a partner for the property business, provides a large selection of high-quality shower trays made of acrylic, Quaryl® and ceramic, which are available in a wide selection of standard as well as customised sizes. The Infinity shower trays, awarded the iF DESIGN AWARD 2016, can be cut into individual customised sizes and special factors such as protrusions or corners can also be taken into account. Villeroy & Boch has classic shower trays in white and in other colours, which incorporate the latest trends in trays, as well as ceramic shower trays with selected tile designs.

Walk-in shower areas – flush-fitting, on tiles or a base

When sophisticated hotels are built nowadays, the shower areas are designed as spacious walk-in spa showers with flat, rimless shower trays. Guests are able to enjoy a spacious shower room, which can also be designed as an accessible room so that guests with disabilities or limited mobility can easily use them.

Experts use materials such as ceramic, Quaryl® or acrylic as they provide significant benefits compared to tiled floors. In wet areas with tiled floors, the joints can still become leaky even if the tiles were laid by a professional, resulting in extensive renovation in the shower area. Moisture can also cause damage to the walls and floors, which often leads to costly refurbishments. Walk-in shower trays are also ideal for a more hygienic environment. Thanks to the smooth, closed surface, dirt particles and bacteria cannot grip onto anything – in marked contrast to porous joints where germs and mould can build up, posing a health risk to hotel guests. Hoteliers, therefore, are confronted with comparatively high costs for thoroughly cleaning and taking care of shower areas with tiles and joints. However, walk-in showers only need water and a neutral cleaning agent to get them hygienically clean, and it takes a lot less time to do so, too. The results: fewer cleaning costs in total and, therefore, a lower environmental impact because significantly fewer non-aggressive cleaning agents are used. Another advantage of shower trays is the flexible installation. When a floor-level shower is neither desired nor possible, for example when it is being renovated, then there are functional and attractive shower solutions, which allow shower trays to be installed on the existing tiles or on a base in the shower area. To ensure builders, hoteliers and planners of hotel bathrooms have as many planning options for shower areas as possible, Villeroy & Boch's collections have high-quality shower trays with many different designs, e.g. Squaro Infinity made of Quaryl®, Subway Infinity made of ceramic and Architectura MetalRim made of acrylic.

Squaro Infinity

The Squaro Infinity shower trays made of Quaryl®, the patented material made of acrylic resin and quartz, have very exact edges for flush-fit installation thanks to the integrated ribbed technology and special casting process. The easy-to-clean, durable surface is warm underfoot and has the highest anti-slip class C. It has also been certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics according to DIN 4109, the technical guidelines for sound insulation. This ensures that they are safe to use and noise is reduced, as is required in hotels.

The Squaro Infinity shower trays are available in nearly 50 standard sizes and can also be custom-cut with millimetre precision upon request. The shower trays can be cut to size on site with the proper tools and the instructions manual. A special installation system is used that has a steel beam and a frame that can be cut to fit all shower sizes.

To ensure it is integrated harmoniously into the existing interior, Squaro Infinity is available in the five solid matt colours of Edelweiss, Anthracite, Grey, Brown and Crème.

Subway Infinity

The Subway Infinite ceramic shower trays are also available in a wide variety of models. They come in 26 sizes, ranging from 80 x 75 cm to the XXL format of 160 x 100 cm, as well as in customised sizes and shapes. The flush outlet in the shower tray creates a clear and harmonious look. Subway Infinity is available in the three standard anti-slip colours in class B (PN18) - White Alpin, Ardoise and Taupe.

There are also Subway Infinity shower trays with Villeroy & Boch tile designs. By implementing ViPrint, an innovative, digital printing technology for ceramic shower trays, the patterns of selected floor tiles can be printed on 19 different sizes of trays. There are currently eight designs of successful tile series available, from a beige natural stone look through contemporary wood shades to a minimalist modern concrete effect in grey and anthracite. The shower bases are cut after glazing, printing and firing, ensuring the pattern extends all the way to the edges. Precise cutting allows flush integration in tiled floors, resulting in a consistent and seamless surface. The ViPrint versions are available in the anti-slip class A (PN12).

Architectura MetalRim

The Architectura MetalRim shower trays in the professional Architectura collection are the ideal choice for hotel bathrooms that require very robust floor-level showers. The four corners of the ultra-flat, rimless acrylic shower trays have been reinforced with galvanised steel, making them extremely stable and durable. They are cast from 4 mm solid-coloured sanitary acrylic that has been tested according to EN 249 and is extremely resilient, shock- and impact-proof and completely colour-fast. The easy-to-clean surface is UV-resistant and can be repaired easily even after it has been installed. The shower trays are, therefore, extremely sustainable. Villeroy & Boch gives ten years' warranty on these high-quality material properties.

Thanks to the special technology with steel-reinforced edging, Architectura MetalRim provides a high level of stability and has a load-bearing capacity of up to 1,000 kg. For more safety, customers can opt for a Vilbogrip anti-slip class C finish.

The design features a minimalistic, ultra-flat, rimless tray with a flush outlet cover. The white outlet cover is included in the delivery and is available upon request in Chrome Matt and chrome-plated. The outflow capacity of 51 litres of water per minute makes it highly efficient.

31 different designs are available, each with 15-mm or 48-mm rims and in two finishes, making 124 versions in total. Both 15-mm versions are wheelchair accessible; the 48-mm version is only wheelchair accessible when installed in the screed.

To see the photos, please visit:
http://pro.villeroy-boch.com/mdp/sk/64235044f4/DuschenHotelbad

How to maximise your bathroom budget

Read article : How to maximise your bathroom budget

Whether your bathroom budget is big or small, be sure to maximise it with expert design tips, detailed planning and smart shopping.

Image: Clearwater Baths (01322 473 222; clearwaterbaths.com)

Your bathroom might be the smallest room in the house, but it’s easy for a refurbishing budget to spiral out of control. So how to make your money go further without compromising on style? Affordable products, reining in additional costs and ensuring your design works hard all help to stretch a budget. Start by working out which areas are worth investing in and where you can be thrifty, as well as the finishing touches that will take your project to the next level.

Where to spend

Shopping online makes it feel as if there are bargains to be had, but some buys are better value than others. Most experts agree that good brassware is worth the investment, especially if replacing valves further down the line means damaging walls to access them. ‘Taps are the only true mechanical component, so durability and reliability are key,’ says Phil Etherden, managing director at The Albion Bath Company (01255 831 605; albionbathco.com). ‘Remember that the fitting costs of expensive or bargain products will be the same, and that if you buy cheap, you buy twice.’ Spend on showers, too. They need to be able to withstand daily use, and they could save money on water and energy bills if they have eco settings or are thermostatic.

Image: DesignWright (designwright.co.uk)

It’s also worth allocating some of your budget to storage. Buy units that are durable – essential when you consider how many times a day doors and drawers will be opened.

Where to save

Timeless white sanitaryware tends to be inexpensive, but do check its quality. ‘It’s vital to shop carefully as there are low-cost imports that will not give long service,’ says Howard Birch, director at Aston Matthews (020 7226 7220; astonmatthews.co.uk). ‘Cheap ceramicware can have bubbles and faults that result in stains or cracks, while bargain cast-iron baths may have a thin enamel finish that will chip.’ The style of sanitaryware will also affect fitting costs: although wall-hung designs look striking, they may need false walls to conceal brackets, so floorstanding items can be more economical.

Image: Roca (01530 830 080; uk.roca.com)

Mixing affordable buys with pricier elements will give your design a high-end feel. ‘If you’ve found an expensive tile that you love, try incorporating it as an accent alongside a neutral, cheaper tile to get a luxurious look,’ says James Holt, co-founder of Holt (020 8878 2555; holtgroup.co.uk). ‘Similarly, think about how you use materials. Granite countertops come with a hefty price tag, but you can save by buying a slab with imperfections that can be hidden by your basin or taps.’

Low-profile shower trays are a way to create the style of a wet room without the cost of tanking, while framed enclosures are cheaper than frameless. If you’re including a tub, there is a wide range of good-value and sized-down acrylic baths. Available in many shapes, they are low maintenance, keep water warmer for longer and often come in design-led styles.

Image: Topps Tiles (0800 783 6262; toppstiles.co.uk)

What’s new?

A wider choice of products makes creating the look you want more achievable. ‘For example, developments in the manufacture of acrylic have allowed for a more affordable alternative to cast iron, copper and tin previously used to make freestanding baths,’ says Tina Robinson, product manager at Heritage Bathrooms (0330 026 8503; heritagebathrooms.com). ‘We can now apply a more detailed design concept, including different lacquered finishes, plus it’s a lighter material, meaning no floor reinforcement is required.’

Technologies that have previously been the preserve of high-end bathrooms are starting to filter into the middle market. These include integral lighting, Bluetooth speakers, rimless WCs, charging sockets, colour-changing LEDs, de-misting functions and digital technologies. ‘Certain digital showers come with wireless controls, which gives more  exibility on the location of the shower valve,’ says Chris Taylor, a designer at Bristan (0330 026 6273; bristan.com).

In high-end bathrooms, luxurious finishes such as black and rose-gold brassware and silk-matt surfaces are becoming more popular. Ultra-thin edges for basins and baths, fully flush shower surfaces and pared-back cabinetry are the newest additions to many ranges, with composites and metallic finishes allowing adventurous shapes.

Image: Victorian Plumbing (0800 862 0878; victorianplumbing.co.uk)

Words: Rachel Ogden