Showerhead Features, Finishes and Styles

By Brian Simkins

There are many things in the house that we use everyday to which we don't give much thought. The showerhead is certainly one of those things. If you are like me, the last thing that you are thinking about in the morning is what you could possibly do to make your daily shower a more pleasant experience. Most of us just want to know which way the coffee is. But right now you're awake, and if you are reading this, you must be thinking about showerheads. Whether you are remodeling your entire bathroom or just thinking about making a small improvement, keep these options in mind as you make a very simple upgrade to your daily routine.

Features and Spray Patterns

Structurally, there are two different types of showerheads. The first is a fixed head. The showerhead is threaded directly onto the supply arm that protrudes from the wall. Most have a swivel in the neck that will allow the user to aim the water spray in the general direction that they want. For the most part, the height on fixed head shower systems is determined by how high the plumber ran the supply line up the wall when the house was built, but there are a few designs that have a two piece neck. This allows for greater flexibility in height and allows the user to adjust the showerhead for more comfortable use. No one like to use a shower that doesn't allow them to stand comfortably under the spray.

The second type of shower head is a hand-held unit. These are attached to the wall by a length of flexible tubing. The hand-held unit itself clips into a hanger that may be mounted at the end of the supply arm or on a bar that allows the height of the clip to be adjusted. There are many benefits that come with these handheld units. They make it very easy to bathe children, and they are often used in handicapped accessible bathrooms because they can be used while sitting down.

The most important features that draw many to consider a new showerhead are the variety of spray patterns available. Depending on personal preference, you can find everything from a very wide, circular head that produces a rain-like shower, to a head that produces a hard, almost sharp stream. There are also many variations in between these two extremes and most manufacturers offer adjustable models so that one showerhead can be used in a household of many people, allowing everyone to shower happily.

One of the most popular styles is a pulsating showerhead. A mechanism inside the showerhead causes the water to come out with varying bursts of pressure, creating the feel of a massage. Many products within this style are also adjustable, allowing for the amount and type of massage pressure to be personalized.

Showerhead Finishes

Another feature to consider is the finish of your showerhead. The availably of finish options for custom bathrooms has increased quite a bit in recent years. Choosing the finish used to be as simple as deciding whether you wanted chrome or brass. That was it. With the onset of the recent interior design boom though, manufacturers have realized that homeowners want the opportunity to customize their living spaces and to make them as comfortable and unique as possible. They have done quite well in expanding their portfolios when it comes to finish options. The old stand-by finish options are of course still available, but there are several new players on the market that can really liven up your space. Of course, it makes sense to have all of the fixtures in the bath space match, so it is recommended that the rest of the fixtures in the bathroom be purchased to have an identical finish as your fantastic new showerhead. Having said that, let's look at a few of the finishes that are available.

Traditional chrome is shiny and works very well in most bathrooms simply because it matches basically everything. The downside is that it tends to show water spots, and requires constant wiping and cleaning in order to maintain its shine.

A brushed finish is often called a brushed nickel by some manufacturers, while others refer to it as brushed chrome. This has a matte finish and is much less reflective than its chrome counterpart. It does a much better job of hiding dirt and water spots, and gives a bathroom a much softer and warmer feel.

Brass fixtures do not seem to be used as much as they once were, and they tend to have a smaller style selection available than do the chromes and brushed nickels. This simply marks a trend in style. From the standpoint of functionality, there is no difference. The brass fittings tend to require a little more cleaning than do the others, but if your goal is to create a luxurious and rich looking space in your bathroom, then this may be the way to go.

Oil rubbed bronze has become an immensely popular look in the past few years. It is a dark finish, almost black, that has highlights of the bronze showing through it. This is a popular finish to use in rooms that use a lot of dark wood in the trim work and on the floor. They are also very popular in bathrooms that use a lot of rustic looking tile. When it first came out, the available selection with regard to styles was fairly limited. With the immense popularity of the color though, most manufacturers have stepped up the availability of this finish and now the selections are quite good.

As mentioned above, if you are changing your showerhead simply because you want to change the color or finish, then it's a good idea to go ahead and do the entire bathroom (i.e., the lavatory faucet, the bathtub filler, and the shower valve system). If, however, you simply want to change the function of your shower, then you should have no trouble at all selecting a showerhead that meets your needs and improves the quality of the time that you spend there. You shower everyday - make it something that you enjoy!

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Brian Simkins is a freelance writer living in Chicago. He enjoys using his 14 years of home improvement experience to educate and equip new home owners.

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