Showering is an act that we love to perform every day, unlike the olden Elizabethan era when people did it once or twice a year! Thank God we're so lucky! A hot shower rejuvenates our body and mind from the exhaustion and dryness that we are subjected to after scores of busy hours. It's a very personal time when we take care of our body parts performing a cleansing and nourishing ritual on a daily basis.
For thousands of years, people bathed in the open waters. But with the progress of civilization, private bathing became common and the quality of that experience entirely depended on the mechanical design of the watering system while the modern systems offering a lot more fun than ever.
Modern shower or bathing panels are equipped with features to ensure impressive bathroom time. They are capable of ejecting water with such pressure that can relieve you of stress, heal exhaustion, and clean your skin effectively at the same time, saving excessive water discharge. What's more, they flaunt futuristic design with the simplest interfaces.
Here we prepared an in-depth analysis of a list of high-end shower panels with an aim to help you choose the one for your needs. This buying guide is packed with useful information that you'll consider before getting the best shower panel for your bathrooms.
The ToiletsGuide team consists of a group of inquisitive home renovators and interior designers. We boast of cultivating exclusive ideas through our artistic ventures in a bid to upgrade bathroom interiors to the state-of-the-art level. We analyze the latest trends of bathroom accessories, fittings, fixtures and extras and their applications on different interior settings. Our enterprise of reviewing toilet accessories seek after the blend of cutting-edge technology with modern art featured in the design language.
Toiletsguide.com was launched with a mission to exploit the potentials of a private space such as bathroom and create a platform sharing insights as to how to upgrade the quality of experience. Our objective is to share research-based findings with our avid readers so they know what to look for when making a buying decision. A keen reader of our reviews and how-to blogs would never choose the wrong bathroom accessory.
We rely on research-backed analysis of hands-on user data collected from a wide range of sources, including our team members and community-based volunteers. So, the data we provide are always unbiased, reliable, and informative. We are not affiliated with any brand, manufacturers or whatsoever. Objectivity and impartiality are our strengths. We are empowered when our readers find us useful.
Why should you update your shower?
There are so many reasons you should update your shower. Some of them include;
- Enhanced bathing experience: A well-designed cubicle shower panel, an upgraded version of the retrofit column system, can take your showering experience to the next level, making it more functional and fun-filled.
- Thorough cleaning: People go to the bathroom to get cleaned and refreshed after having a bath. A quality shower panel will help you achieve a superb full-body cleansing. Moreover, they come with uniquely designed water outlets that enhance a thorough cleaning process.
- Reduced but efficient washing time: With a quality shower spa system, you’ll enjoy a shorter duration in your tub but the washing will be super effective.
- Luxury: Bathing panels will make your bathroom to look more beautiful and luxurious such that you’ll always feel like spending more time in there. And, after each session, you’ll feel happier and cleaner.
- Massage: Proper water flow can offer good hydrotherapy effects that will assist in the rate of recovery for some injuries, soothe your mind, and in pain relief. The water pressure from the outlets can be regulated to offer certain health benefits that are common with having real therapy.
There are plenty of shower panels with different prices, sizes, shapes, and features on the market. However, there will always be one or a few that suit your preference. If you need a replacement, we got some good models for you.
Things to consider when buying a shower panel
You can only buy an excellent panel for the money if you understand the major to look out for before paying for these products. Therefore, we are presenting you with the following features and factors to watch out for in your ideal shower panel.
1. Material
It is very important to pay attention to the type and quality of material used in constructing your shower tower, mixer panel, and the surrounding wall. If you’re looking for a durable, strong, and sturdy panel, go for the stainless steel option. The next material in terms of durability is aluminum. Most of the inexpensive tower models are made of plastic but they are less durable when compared to aluminum, stainless steel, or glass materials.
In terms of waterproof wall cladding or splash panels and bathroom screens, the building materials include stationary glass, acrylic, fiberglass, slate, etched glass, subway ceramic, hydropanel, laminated plastic sheets, cultured and faux marble, aquabord, aluminum composite, granite, stone veneer, onyx, vinyl, plywood, FRP, chrome coated metals, tongue and groove panels, skirting panels and polycarbonate solid sheets. There's another modern solution to unexpected molds and spots on your bathroom wall, it's the Tile Effect wall wrapper which is applied on regular shower panels.
Wall coverings come of a variety of patterned or solid colors and designs i.e. white, purple, grey, blue, green, gold, and silver.
All of these materials are water-resistant, so they can withstand continuous water contacts. They come with a range of color tones and textures including oil rubbed bronze, sparkly, matt, glossy and rain glass finishes and designs. Popular color for tower panels are mainly silver, gold, brass, and metallic silver.
For shower trays or base panels, they are mostly made of wooden boards, ceramic tiles or marble stones. Cheap bottom panels are made of plastic with less durability.
2. Massage feature
This is one of the high-tech features to look out for when buying. You should consider purchasing a model that is equipped with a massage function. The water pressure from the jets will work on your muscles to help you to relax and relieved of pain a bit like what an inflatable hot tub does.
3. Output & water pressure
Most of the tower models have a minimum of 6 water outputs which are designed with the capability of jetting out the water collectively or individually. The combined jet pressure from the outputs is very helpful in a bodily massage.
4. Installation
If you don’t have the necessary tools and experience for the installation, you can contact a professional plumber. Not all of us have the right tools for working a concrete wall. Many of the products on this review come with standard hoses or outlets to simplify the plumbing and installation processes. Make sure you do not damage the deflector panel when fitting the tower. If you have doubts, you can always contact the manufacturer for support. Furthermore, you would need professional help if you want to install a steam system, as the glass enclosure should be sealed properly. Apart from that, the bathroom size determines the inline layout of your shower panel if you install a frameless glass door. By far, the walk in bathroom screen installation is simpler and that of the sliding and hinged models. In addition, if you want to increase the height, you can always use riser panels.
5. Temperature control features
Usually, tower models are equipped with temperature control valves that allow you to set your desired water temperature. You can adjust the temperature by pressing the buttons on the panel and monitor the level through the LCD display which helps to make the process easier.
6. Dimensions
The size of the tower and that of your bathroom must match. You may have to measure the dimensions of your bathroom before buying your preferred model. Choose from I shaped, L shaped, q and P shaped designs. For the wall screens, they come in several designs including single panel, 2, 3, even 5 panel foldings and quadrant designs. You'll always find right corner trims for joining these multipanels enclosures.
7. Number of jets
Most of the budget-friendly indoor shower panels come with one to three jets. The expensive ones will have a minimum of six jets, but you should consider your budget and the number of jets you desire before making the payment. For outdoor panels, you need a robust single-jet system instead of multiple jets.
8. Advanced features
Many of the top models are equipped with advanced features like digital LED lights to add beauty and color to your bathroom. You’ll be amazed at the different decorative colors of these lights which can be adjusted to suit your desire. Apart from that, you can choose different glass thickness models for your wall panels. 800mm, 900mm,1000mm and 1200mm glass panels are stronger and more durable.
9. Ease of use
You should consider buying an easy to use system with built-in functions. Your ability to use each of the special features on the model will determine your level of satisfaction with the product. Make sure you install an access panel in your bathroom for easy plumbing fixes. Also, if you don't like splashbacks, arrange for proper screens for unwanted mess after shower.
10. Price
The price is determined by your preferred panel's features and build quality. You may decide to spend few more bucks to get an expensive model with top-notch features or stay within your budget and still get an affordable system. The price range varies between $100 to $300.
How did we pick these products?
In order for us to build your confidence in our shower panel system reviews, let us share our strategic protocols we maintain while making the top ten list.
First, we started with 30 hours of online research for singling out the highest rated shower panels from the most reliable brands. Then our team members ran a campaign of collecting real user data from a group of volunteers who personally owned those models. The painstaking process of sorting and analyzing user data helped us understand the key factors of the selected products. Apart from that, we considered a series of determining factors, including the building material, design, technical excellence, ease of use, number of features, fitting options and post selling services to rank our top 10 picks.
Our quest did not stop there. To collect opinions from specialists, we reached out to some of the renowned industry experts and artists. We took note of their insights for our list and made some necessary alterations. Finally, all such efforts led us to the end of our journey of tracking down the top 10 shower panels.
Our top 10 product list
So, what is the best shower panel to buy? Hopefully, the following recommendations will help you make a good choice.
Honorable mention
Here are some much sought after brands who also make quality shower panels, and you should have an idea about their popular models so you could see the bigger picture-- Decor Star, Jaquar, Daanzi (famous for their Delta series), Kudos, Wickes, Fontana Showers (popular model- Odele), KOHLER (famous for their Choreograph wall panel models). Flairshowers (popular for their Chianti wetroom designs), Akuaplus, Bunnings, Mermaid, Wedi, Hansgrohe (popular model- Pharo 26871000), Vistelle, COLSTON, Grant Westfield, Delabie (popular lineup- Sporting), CERA, Hindware, ANZZI, Jacuzzi, Jaaz, TOTO, Kohler, (popular line up- ARIEL, Loure Faucet Family), Hudson Reed, Roman, Pfister, Swanstone, MERLYN (popular for their Ionic shower walls), Aston, Flexstone, Rona, Toyo, Indian brand- Parryware, Costco, Fresca, Corian, Luxier, Vantory, Maax (popular product line- Utile Metro) and Moen.
Final words
The shower panels that are listed on this buying guide have been tested thoroughly and found to be the highest in terms of quality, build material, durability, reliability, price, and performance.
If you’re yet to choose the best shower panel on the market, we’ll recommend that you getting the Blue Ocean SPA392M. It is made of high-quality aluminum which is lightweight and durable, it will meet all your showering needs like a charm.
On the other hand, if you’re low on budget but interested in upgrading your bathroom with a quality panel, the Valore VS-1205 is the product to buy. It is highly affordable yet packed with features that are common with the highly-priced models.
We recommend that you take your time to read this buyers' guide carefully, make sure that you weigh the pros and cons of each of the products effectively before choosing the model that suits your needs.
