Before any shower installation, check your water pressure, the type of shower your system can run, the waterproofing behind the walls, drainage, electrics, the space you have, and who is fitting it. Getting these seven right before work starts is what separates a shower that lasts ten years from one that leaks in six months.
Most shower problems are decided before the first tile goes on. We fit and replace showers across South West Wales, and nearly every callback we see on other people’s work traces back to one of the checks below being skipped. Run through them before you commit to installing a shower.
1. Water Pressure and Flow
Your water pressure decides which showers will actually work in your home, so it is the first thing to check. A low-pressure gravity system will disappoint under a standard mixer, while a high-pressure combi or unvented cylinder opens up almost any option.
If the pressure is low, a pump or an electric shower can solve it, but that choice needs making now, not after the wall is tiled. A good installer measures the flow before recommending anything.
2. The Right Type of Shower for Your System
Not every shower suits every system, and fitting the wrong one is the most common mistake we correct. Electric showers heat their own water and work on almost any supply, which makes them a safe pick for low pressure.
Mixer showers blend hot and cold from your existing supply and need decent pressure to feel good. Digital and thermostatic showers add control and safety but ask more of the plumbing.
Match the shower to the system you have, or budget for the system change that the shower you want requires.
3. Waterproofing Behind the Walls
This is the check nobody sees, and everyone regrets skipping. Tiles and grout are not waterproof on their own. The wall behind them has to be tanked, which means sealing it with a waterproof membrane before tiling, especially in a walk-in or wet room.
Skip this and water works its way into the wall over months, rotting boards and eventually showing as damp on the other side. Proper waterproofing during shower installation is invisible when done and expensive to fix when not.
4. Drainage and the Right Fall
Water has to leave as fast as it arrives. That means a waste that can handle the flow and, in a walk-in or wet room, a floor laid with a slight fall toward the drain so nothing pools. Get the fall wrong and you get standing water, which is both a slip risk and a sign the job was rushed.
This is straightforward when planned and awkward to retrofit, so it belongs on the list before installing a shower, not after.
5. Electrics and Safety
Any shower that touches electricity has to be wired to regulations. An electric shower needs its own properly rated circuit, and any electrical work in a bathroom falls under Part P of the building regulations, so it must be done by someone competent and certified.
This is not a corner to cut. Bad wiring in a wet room is dangerous, and it is one reason a shower and fitting job should go to qualified tradespeople rather than a general handyman.
6. The Space and Layout You Have
Measure before you fall in love with a shower. A generous walk-in needs room to stop water escaping the opening, while a compact room may be better served by an enclosure with a door. Think about where the controls sit so you can turn it on without stepping into a cold spray and where the screen goes so the floor outside stays dry.
A shower replacement that simply swaps like for like is quick, but if you are changing the layout, the plumbing and drainage may need moving, which changes the job.
7. Who Is Fitting It
The best shower, badly fitted, still leaks. This is the check that protects the other six. Look for shower installers who are qualified, insured, and clear about what the price includes and the kind of shower and fitting service you would happily recommend afterwards.
Ask whether one person coordinates the plumbing, tiling and waterproofing, or whether it is split across trades who never speak, because that is where jobs fall apart.
Searching for shower installers near me is a fair place to start, but read the reviews and check the cover before you book. There is a full checklist for this in the section below.
How to Find Shower Installers Near You
Once the checks are done, the last decision is who fits it, and this is where searching shower installers near me pays off if you know what to look for. Good shower installers give a written quote, carry insurance you can see, and handle the plumbing, tiling and waterproofing under one roof rather than passing your job around.
A quick way to sort the shower and fitting quotes you get is to ask three things. Who does the actual work? Is it one team or a chain of subcontractors? Is the price fixed in writing before anyone starts? And can they show real reviews from customers near you? Any installer worth booking will answer all three without hesitating.
We cover shower installation and shower replacement across South Wales, so if you are weighing up local shower installers, our team fits and tests every job from Llanelli and Swansea through Neath, Port Talbot and Carmarthen.
Shower Replacement vs a Full Installation
If your layout is staying put, a straight shower replacement is the faster, cheaper route. The old unit comes out, the new one goes in, and as long as the pressure and waterproofing check out, you are done in a day or two.
A full installation, moving the shower, changing the enclosure, or converting a bath to a walk-in is a bigger job that touches plumbing, drainage and tiling. Knowing which one you actually need keeps the quote honest and the timeline realistic.
Booking Your Shower Installation
Run the seven checks, then get a proper quote from someone who will stand behind the work. We handle shower installation and replacement across South West Wales, from the first measure through plumbing, waterproofing, tiling and the final test, with one team and one fixed price. See the full shower installation and remodelling service for what is included.
Crafting Bathrooms That Stand the Test of Time
A shower is only as good as the work you cannot see. That is exactly where corners get cut and exactly where Danny does not.
Twenty Years of Showers in South Wales
Sheldon Bathrooms was founded in Llanelli by Danny, a qualified plumber since 2003 with more than twenty years of experience with the tools across South Wales. Two decades of fitting, replacing and occasionally repairing other people’s showers is why the checks above matter to us and why the cheap job is rarely the cheap job.
One Person Managing Every Trade
Danny runs every job himself and stays hands-on, so the plumbing, waterproofing and tiling are coordinated by one person rather than scattered across trades who never speak. The tilers and other specialists he brings in are people he has personally selected and trusts, which is how the gaps that leaks start in get closed.
Fixed Price, Tested Before It’s Done
You get a clear written quote before we lift a tool, materials supplied direct with no surprise costs, and one number to call throughout. Most bathrooms are finished in around seven working days, fully insured, and Danny tests every shower properly and will not call a job done until the finish meets his own standard.
FAQs
How long does a shower installation take?
A straight shower replacement often takes a day or two. A full installation with new tiling, waterproofing or a layout change usually runs longer, and a good installer will give you a realistic timeline in the quote.
Do I need an electrician to install a shower?
For an electric shower, yes. Electrical work in a bathroom falls under Part P building regulations and must be carried out by a competent, certified person.
What is the difference between shower replacement and installation?
A replacement swaps a shower in the existing spot with the same plumbing. A full installation can move the shower or change the enclosure and layout, which involves more plumbing, drainage and tiling.
How do I find good shower installers near me?
Look for installers who are qualified and insured, who fit and waterproof with their own team rather than subcontractors, and who give a clear written quote. Check reviews before you book.
Can any shower work with my water pressure?
No. Low-pressure systems suit electric or pumped showers, while high-pressure systems run almost anything. Pressure should be checked before you choose the shower.