Blog What size former is best

What Size former do I Need? How to Measure up

Depending on the size of your bathroom the standard and most common size shower areas are between 1000mm x 1000mm and a rectangular area of 1500mm x 900mm, or 1700mm x 800mm which is a popular bath replacement size. If you are thinking of a square shower area there are former sizes available from as small as 800mm x 800mm. A comfortable square shower area size is 1000mm x 1000mm or larger. We would also recommend with smaller formers (shower areas), incorporating a shower screen or enclosure to stop excess water from lying on any objects located close to the shower area.

Some formers can be trimmed by up 100mm without affecting the fall gradients however which ever edge of the former you decide to cut remember that you will be cutting off part of the gradient, so once the former is in position the cut edge will be slightly lower than the existing floor. To get over this you can build up the tiles with adhesive when tiling to tie in with the existing floor tiles. Trimmimg to former also allows you to move the waste position if it collides with any under floor obstructions; bear in mind, however, that this will affect the overall size of the former. The best approach is to measure up accurately before ordering and for unusually large and awkward shapes, OTL offer a bespoke service for any size or shape of former with the waste positioned accordingly.   

      

What if I don’t want a Shower screen or enclosure? What size shower area would be big enough to not need one?

The recommended size shower area for which you would not need an enclosure is 1200mm x 1200mm or larger. However this can depend on the type of showerhead being used. If you have body jets these project a horizontal spray of water that will not be caught by the gradient in the former?

Bear in mind that whilst the shower is in use excess water will splash outside the immediate showering area. For a smaller shower area of say 1000mm x 1000mm this will cause a problem as water will not drain away if it sits on a flat surface, so  it is always best to extend the falls (size of the former) to a suitable size.

Experience

There have been incidences where clients have purchased formers 800mm x 800mm or 900mm x 900mm and not enclosed them or had any screen protection. Excess spray has projected past the former gradient area and sat on the flat surface or built up and ran to other areas of the bathroom/wet room. In most cases this situation can be resolved by installing a surface mounted screen or full enclosure.