Mixer showers, trays and enclosures
Shower installation and replacement
A new shower should fit your water system as well as your bathroom. We help you establish what needs changing before the installation is booked.
Contact Upkeepone about shower fitting in London, Essex and Kent. Whether you are replacing a mixer valve or planning new shower fittings, tell us what is there now and what you want to achieve. The work, access and suitable attendance will be reviewed before arrangements are confirmed.
Qualified engineers and plumbers for the agreed work. For a unit that heats its own cold supply, use our dedicated electric shower installation service below.
Start with your bathroom plans
Request a shower fitting callback
Tell us the postcode, shower type and any model you have chosen. Include whether you need a valve replacement, new pipework, a tray or an enclosure, and mention access or finishing work.
A requested date is subject to confirmation. For an existing leak or temperature problem, describe the symptoms too so we can discuss assessment before replacement.
Describe the job, not just the shower
What needs installing in your bathroom?
“Fit a shower” can mean several different things. Replacing an exposed valve uses a different scope from opening a tiled wall, moving a waste pipe or creating a new showering space. Let us know which parts you want retained and which you want replaced.
Mixer and thermostatic showers
A mixer combines the existing hot and cold supplies. The valve, outlets and pipework need to suit that system. A thermostatic model regulates the mixed temperature, but still needs suitable supplies, installation and commissioning.
Concealed and digital fittings
Built-in valves and remote controls need planning for the fittings behind the wall as well as what is visible. Explain where the service access is and whether pipework, power or wall changes form part of your plans.
Trays, screens and enclosures
State whether you need a shower enclosure, an over-bath screen, a new tray or a change to the existing layout. Product dimensions, fixing surfaces and drainage need checking together.
Electric shower replacement or first installation?
Electric showers heat water at the unit and need a separate electrical assessment. See our electric shower installation and replacement service for model ratings, circuit checks and electrical records. This plumbing page covers the wider shower fittings and water-system decisions.
Choose fittings that suit the supply
Check the water system before buying a shower
The plumber needs to know how the hot and cold water reach the shower. A combi boiler, an unvented cylinder and a gravity-fed tank system can have different requirements. If you are unsure, describe the boiler, cylinder or tanks you know about; there is no need to dismantle anything.
The chosen shower must work within its specified running pressure and flow conditions. A larger head or multiple outlets do not create more water. Where performance is poor, the cause should be assessed before a new valve or pump is recommended. Mira’s mixer shower guidance explains why the supply and model specification matter.
Existing stored-water systems
For gravity-fed supplies, the tank arrangement and chosen shower affect performance. A suitable pump may be considered after assessment. It must match the water system; it is not a universal remedy for low flow.
Changing the hot-water system
If you are replacing the boiler or cylinder, mention this before selecting the shower. A valve or pumped arrangement that suited the old system may need reviewing for the new one.
Keep useful fittings where practical
Plan a replacement around the existing bathroom
Send the old and proposed make and model, or describe the controls and fittings if the model is unknown. Photographs of the shower and surrounding wall can help with the discussion; take them without opening electrical equipment or removing covers.
- Connections: valve inlet spacing, pipe positions and outlet arrangements must suit the replacement.
- Wall access: concealed pipework may require opening the wall; agree how it will be repaired afterwards.
- Fixings and finish: a different rail, valve plate or enclosure may expose old holes or damaged tiles.
- Future maintenance: plan access to valves, wastes and any digital processor rather than sealing them out of reach.
For an existing leak or faulty fitting, an inspection may establish that repair is more appropriate. Use our bathroom repair service if a fault is the main issue, rather than choosing a replacement before the cause is known.
The base and surroundings matter too
Shower tray and enclosure installation
A tray change needs more than a matching shape. The installer should check its support, finished height, waste position and connection access. The enclosure must suit the tray dimensions, wall condition and available opening space. Ask how doors will work around the other bathroom fittings.
Agree the wall preparation, waterproofing, tiling or panels, and sealing details for the selected products. These tasks should be part of the quotation where required. A wet room or a move to a different shower position needs a broader design and drainage assessment.
Tell us if you need easier access, a lower threshold, a seat or grab rails. The room, drainage and fixing surfaces need checking before a particular arrangement is promised. For tray specifications and model instructions, see Mira’s product resource library; the installer should use the instructions for whichever products are fitted.
Compare the complete scope
What affects the cost of shower installation?
The price depends on the work behind the fittings as well as the fittings themselves. A compatible valve replacement may retain much of the bathroom. A new position, concealed installation or tray replacement can involve plumbing, access, preparation and finishing work.
What is supplied and fitted?
Confirm who supplies the valve, showerhead, rail, tray, waste, enclosure and any pump or controls. If you have bought them already, share the product details and delivery status. The quotation should identify the plumbing and other trades included.
What else needs doing?
Ask about pipework, isolation, drainage, electrical work where needed, tiling, wall repairs, sealant, removal and disposal. Clarify VAT, travel charges and the total price. Agree how unexpected damage or extra work will be discussed and authorised.
For flats, rented homes or shared bathrooms, mention permissions, tenant access and whether the water isolation affects other occupants. Tell us if the bathroom is your only showering facility so disruption and first-use arrangements can be discussed.
Checks before the shower goes into use
Installation checks, safety and handover
The installer should check the connections for leaks, confirm drainage and operation, and commission the selected shower according to its instructions. For a thermostatic valve, ask how the temperature setting and safety functions have been checked. Keep the product instructions and clarify maintenance and any agreed workmanship terms.
Shower hoses and backflow protection
The hose length and position can affect protection of the drinking-water supply. A handset that can reach a toilet or bidet creates a particular contamination risk; the installer must choose protection appropriate to the actual arrangement and premises. Water Regs UK explains shower backflow requirements. Avoid extending or relocating the hose without checking the installation.
Ask when the shower can be used. Sealants and other materials may need curing before getting wet, so a completed fitting visit does not always mean immediate use.
Upkeepone uses qualified engineers and plumbers appropriate to the work. For electrical work, our engineers are registered with NAPIT or NICEIC where applicable. Specialist installations, including facilities used by vulnerable people, need their requirements assessed separately; describe the setting when you enquire.
Check attendance with your postcode
Shower fitting in London, Essex and Kent
London, Essex and Kent are the priority areas for regular enquiries. We also cover Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Sussex. Other UK areas are considered by request.
Attendance depends on the postcode, installation, access, travel and appropriately qualified engineer availability. Send those details before relying on a proposed date. Explore our plumbing services for other work that may need coordinating with your shower project.
Before choosing the fittings
Shower installation questions
Can a new mixer shower use the pipes already in my bathroom?
Sometimes, but the new valve must suit the supply and connection layout. Exposed valves need suitable inlet spacing and secure fittings. Concealed valves can have different bodies, depths and access requirements even when the visible controls look similar. Share both model details before buying, and allow for a site check if the pipework cannot be seen.
Is a thermostatic shower suitable for a combi boiler?
Many thermostatic mixer showers are designed for combi systems, but the specific model must suit the available hot and cold supply, running pressure and flow. A large rainfall head or several outlets may need more water than the system can deliver comfortably. Check the shower specification and have the installation assessed before choosing the fittings.
Do I need a shower pump with a gravity-fed system?
A pump may be an option for a compatible stored-water system, but it is not automatically needed or suitable. Tank position, supply arrangement, available water and the chosen shower all affect the decision. Do not buy a pump simply because the flow feels weak. The plumber should establish the cause and select a suitable arrangement; a conventional shower pump should not be assumed suitable for a combi or mains-fed system.
Can you replace a concealed shower without removing tiles?
Access depends on how the existing valve was installed and whether its body can be reached or reused. Some work is possible through a designed service opening; a different valve may need the wall opened and repaired. Send the model details and describe any access panel. Tile removal, replacement and making good should be agreed before work starts.
Does fitting a new shower include the tray and enclosure?
Only if they are included in the agreed scope. A valve replacement, a tray change and a complete shower enclosure are different jobs. List the fittings you want supplied or installed and ask about drainage, wall preparation, waterproofing, tiling, sealant, removal and disposal. A wet-room conversion or wider bathroom alteration needs a separate assessment.
When can I use the shower after installation?
Ask the installer at handover. The shower needs its installation checks completed, and any sealants or other materials must have the curing time specified for the products used. Fitting being finished does not necessarily mean the shower can be used immediately. Keep the instructions and follow the agreed first-use and care guidance.
Should a leaking shower be replaced rather than repaired?
The source needs to be identified first. A valve, hose, waste, seal or concealed pipe can require different work, and a visible damp patch does not establish which part has failed. If repair is your main concern, describe when the leak appears and whether it continues when the shower is off. Stop using it if doing so causes further damage, and arrange an assessment before ordering a replacement.
Describe the shower you want to fit
Tell us what you are keeping, what you are changing and your postcode. With the model and bathroom details, we can discuss the suitable assessment and quotation route.
