With a number of developments anticipated in 2016, James Dadd – Director of Marketing at AKW – shares his forecast on what will be trending in bathroom design this year and how new developments will benefit installers.

The trend for multi-generational homes looks set to gain further traction in the coming years. With Britain’s housing crisis showing no signs of subsiding and a rapidly ageing population, the notable surge in the number of generations from the same family living together in one property is expected to continue. There has already been a 30% increase in the number of multi-generational homes in the last decade, and it has become the fastest growing type of household across the nation.

This style of habitat, however, requires careful thought to ensure it is designed to suit the diverse living needs of multiple generations – with the bathroom demanding much consideration as traditional bathtubs and shower trays can often be hard for the elderly to access.

Equally, the room needs to be aesthetically pleasing to all those living in the home, and a degree of contemporary style is required to ensure the house is marketable if it were to be sold in the future. As a result, level access wetrooms are fast becoming the most ideal option for multi-generational homes.

Bathrooms for life

For the elderly who are unable to live with family, a suitable, safe bathroom needs to be provided in their own homes. Consequently, the UK’s ageing population could present a challenge for housing organisations and social landlords who need to match available properties with the varying mobility requirements of those on waiting lists. To combat this issue, the ‘bathroom for life’ concept provides ultimate flexibility and, as a result, looks set to grow further in popularity next year.

This approach essentially futureproofs the space by allowing plumbers to easily convert it from a conventional bathroom to a level-access wetroom – typically in half a day – and vice-versa, according to the changing needs of the users. A bathroom for life is made possible by including a specifically designed bath-to-tray adaptor and a suitable wetroom former (such as AKW’s Tuff Form, which can withstand the weight of a full bathtub and a bather) in the bathroom plan when refurbishing or building a property. The result is a flexible bathing room that
can be adapted quickly and easily – with minimal disruption or structural damage.

Wetrooms

Aside from the accessibility and flexibility benefits, wetrooms are also expected to continue to experience a rapid increase in popularity for a number of other reasons. For consumers of all ages and abilities, they are fast becoming the preferred choice over traditional bathrooms as they offer a luxurious, hotel-like feel in the home. Wetrooms are stylish and transform any tired bathroom into a contemporary, fresh and spacious area.

Equally, wetrooms provide benefits for plumbers thanks to the introduction of innovative products and components. Installation is now faster and simpler than ever before following the development of high quality wetroom formers which act as a shower tray under the floor and allow for a fall that ensures water drains away quickly.

These formers offer significant flexibility as any room in a property, both upstairs and downstairs, and most types of flooring can now be converted into a wetroom – typically in just a day. The addition of extremely reliable dry tanking systems, such as AKW’s FormSafe kit, guarantee the room remains 100% watertight for the life of the floor that is installed on top.

Smart showers

One trend that is almost certainly going to gain ground in 2016 is the use of smart technology around the home. With consumers now relying more and more on smart devices in their day-to-day lives, they expect to be able to use these wherever they are, including in the bathroom. Indeed, this year saw the introduction of the world’s first Bluetooth-enabled smart electric shower. This ground-breaking device can be operated by a remote control or smartphone app.

As well as offering end-users more control and options for personalisation, smart showers are surprisingly straightforward for plumbers to install. In particular, the digital aspect of the shower also features in the inner workings to create an interface between the shower unit and digital waste pumps, eliminating the need for
a traditional flow meter.

Superior models also include a generous number of entry points for electricity and water to overcome positioning issues and speed up the installation process. Wiring complications are also avoided as the option for left-hand or right-hand wiring is often included.

Products designed with easy installation in mind

Bathroom products are increasingly being designed with the installer in mind as well as the end-user. This trend has led to a number of interesting developments that are helping plumbers to work more efficiently. For example, advances in shower unit design have led to the introduction of electric showers that feature a standard size and shape to simplify retrofitting jobs.

This universal surface area means the units can cover the footprint of most manufacturers’ models, reducing – and in some cases eliminating – the need for any extra work as they accommodate existing pipework, wiring and tiling.

High quality wetroom formers also offer simple installation as they provide maximum flexibility in even the most unusually shaped rooms or small spaces. Models from the leading manufacturers usually have an off-centre waste so they can be rotated to fit different drainage positions and configurations.

A new year always comes with hopes for the following months and expectations of positive developments. For plumbers, it seems there are a number of trends and technological advances on the horizon that will ensure a good year ahead and enable them to work with greater efficiency
while meeting the changing demands of modern consumers.