An all weather outdoor shower is easily done by locating the mixing valve inside the house and use a coupling shaft to locate the handle on the outside. You must use a standard tub type lower faucet (with the pull up to activate the shower) to allow the system to drain out when the shower is done. You also have to make sure everything slopes in direction of the water flow. We live in Bancroft Ontario so winters are well below freezing and we have been showering outside for 3 winters. Only issue we have is the shower head will freeze so we typically remove it after a shower or shower without it on when really cold. The system has worked well and it helps that nothing special needs to be done by anyone. no inside valves to close etc. Just turn off tap and everything drains.

Hi Nic, I've been stuck with shower-over-baths in a few rentals and they can be slippery death traps! They also get grotty in summer with bare feet, post beach showers etc which limits usage as a bath anyway. If your kids are old enough I'd go for just a nice big shower area or a separate shower with a compact freestanding bath if you can fit one. If your kids are little or the above won't work for you here's some tips to make a shower over bath safer and easy to use: - Pick a bath with an absolutely flat bottom and anti slip texture at the shower end (those suction anti-slip mats are worse than useless). - Position the shower screen so that you can step straight onto the anti slip part. - Make sure the bath edge is low enough for the kids to enter end exit easily. - A hand held shower head that can move up and down would be a nice addition. Hope that helps! Good luck with the new bathroom :)

I really like the look of the separate bath and showers, it seems a little less budget. Plus, there's something kind of worrying about a bath and shower combo - does anyone else get worried about slipping?

I am trying to source (in New Zealand) a shower tray which will fit into my alcove Sized 1900x1000 for the shower. Thus far for that size (and I have searched online and in merchants) found only tiled over solution to completely cover floor space. Not totally happy to have this as feel that tiles will be slippery when wet. Whereas have found smaller acrylic trays that are described as non slip even tho they are smooth. Can anyone suggest a supplier that they have used for trays and hinged/pivot doors of the size I require? Or if place a shorter acrylic tray to the length (probably 1200mm) of the glass wall, as will create a walkin with what do I cover the remaining 700mm of the alcove floor? The bathroom floor will not be any kind of tile, more likely to be a textured vinyl plank.