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Burnaby Location
4600 Hastings Street,
Map - Store Hours
604 299 0666
Langley Location
19300 HWY 10,
Map - Store Hours
604 533 8163

Knowledge Base

Custom Shower Guide

Custom showers are multiple-head showers. They consist of valves, water outlets, volume controls, shower heads, hand showers, or body sprays. Custom showers often require plumbing changes before installing. You cannot just simply add more shower heads or sprays to an existing shower stall or tub enclosure. Custom showers may require installation by a licensed plumbing contractor.
Grohe has created a Custom Shower Work Book that
can be downloaded here
Water Pressure
Water pressure is a critical factor in a custom shower. GROHE recommends at least 50 psi and a 3/4” water supply for a system with 3 or more outlets.
A large custom shower with 3 or more heads will require more hot water.
The larger the custom shower, (more heads, rain shower and body jets) the more hot water will be required. A water heater of adequate size and dedicated to the custom shower is recommended.
A dedicated 40 gallon hot water heater will supply a four-outlet custom shower for approximately 9 minutes (assuming shower heads are restricted and all are turned on for the entire duration).
Valves:
A pressure balance valve is not a high flow valve, and cannot be expected to supply adequate water volume especially in a multiple shower outlet installation.
Thermostatic Control Valve:
A single handle thermostatic temperature control valve, or a two handle thermostatic valve with integral volume control is the recommended control vale. 1/2” for showers with no more than 2 heads and 3/4” for showers with 3-6 heads. If the number of shower outlets desired is more than one valve can accommodate, it will be necessary to use two (or more) thermostat valves. It is not necessary to have a 3/4" supply line to use a 3/4" valve. A 1/2" supply line plumbed into a 3/4" valve will still effectively increase water flow, but a 3/4" supply line is preferred.
Volume Controls:
A volume control is a valve that turns the water on and off. Starting at the "off" position, you can steadily increase water flow through to the "full on" position. Volume controls do not control temperature. Custom showers are generally designed with separate on/off (volume) controls for each outlet. Usually one volume control for the shower head, one for the hand shower, and one for three body sprays. If the combined flow rates of the outlets exceed the volume control flow rate, there will be a reduction in performance.
Shower Spray Types
Showerhead
Fixed position, usually above shoulder level (on wall or ceiling). Water direction may be adjustable depending on fixture. Typically has 2 or more adjustable spray styles.
Handheld
Movable has hose connection. Can be mounted to shower wall with bracket or sliding bar. Usually has 2 or more adjustable spray styles.
Body Spray
Fixed position, usually at and/or below shoulder level. Usually In groups of 2 or more. Water direction may be adjustable depending on product.
 

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 Testimonials

Dear Norm: Please accept my sincere thanks for your input and consistent support on the design and implementation of the Laroche Residence. As anyone familiar with the project knows, it was a complex and demanding design on a difficult and unusual site. The design process involved a great deal of detailed preparation and the input of numerous participants. Your assistance on the overall lighting design, both interior and exterior, was consistently valuable, as were your many fixture recommendations. The construction of the home, which has taken upwards of two years to complete, required the full commitment of the builder and his team, as well as dozens of sub-trades and suppliers. Needless to say, coordinating all of this was at times both difficult and frustrating. However, I can say without hesitation that working with you and your team at Norburn was a pleasure. You quickly earned our confidence with your professional approach and maintained that trust with timely support and follow-up. As corny as it might sound, if every key supplier had a Norm Brown, my life would be a lot easier. Thanks again for the help and I look forward to working with you again in the future. Yours truly,
David Mailing
Architect


I have had the pleasure of working with Carol Smith at Norburn Lighting in Langley on both residential and commercial applications. She has been a great source of knowledge and takes pride in her work. A proffesional that you know your clients are in good hands with.Thanks for making my job easier.
Cindy Vodermayer/Colour Schemes


It was pleasure to deal with such a knowledge person as Carol, in respect to our lighting needs. Not only did we get excellent input but suggestions and options for unique and quality lighting for our home. Norburn lighting and yourself saved us lot time in solving our lighting requirements.
Thank you.
Martin & Toni Harman


My wife and I designed our "dream home" in South Langley. For our lighting and plumbing needs, our Builder suggested we visit Norburn Lighting. We were so impressed with their selection that we ended up choosing lighting and plumbing fixtures for our entire house through their Surrey store. In addition to offering a wide range of choice, we were also very impressed with the product knowledge and customer service provided by Norburn's Manager Carol Smith and her staff.
Greg and Whitney Chad


“Proper lighting is a critical component to creating drama in homes, and requires an expert to be able to work with Owners to guide them through the process” I have known Norm Brown for almost 20 years, and have always trusted his opinions for the location and types of lighting required to enhance the details of the custom homes that we build for our clients. With his outgoing personality, extensive knowledge of lighting products and lighting design, he is the only person that we recommend to our clients to work with for their lighting packages.
Mark Ashcroft
President
API Construction Ltd.


Dear Mr. Brown, We have now completed our new house and would like to thank you and your group at Norburn. From the your first review of our plans where you eliminated 25% of our lights but rearranged what we had and provided much better lighting solution than we would have had without that review. Additionally, the competitive pricing you provided and very timely delivery of our orders, made your organization stand out among the many suppliers we utilized.
Thanks again! Don Jewell, West Vancouver


I want to thank Laurie Harley for the great help in assisting me in the lighting and plumbing needs for my store. I tried all the big box stores and wholesalers but was only able to get what I needed at Norburn. Stock and service! What a concept.
James Yauk


Over the years I have used many lighting suppliers through different organizations in my architecture, design and project management career. What I believe in and expect for a lighting supplier is customer service, knowledge, and leadership. This I got from Norburn Lighting in the past fourteen years. The best part of it is that many of the people that I deal other than the manager at Norburn Lighting have been working there for many years. This tells you something about how the business operates. The size of the lighting store is not a mega lighting store but do provide a great selection of interior and exterior lighting. It helps if you are dealing with knowledgeable people and a great leader. This leader I am referring to is Norm Brown who manages a few of the Norburn locations. What I like about this guys is his knowledge on lighting. He is a Certified Lighting Consultant and is part of the American Lighting Association. He provides lighting designs and has taught my staff about lighting designs. I have been fortunate enough to know Norm for over twenty years since the Guillevin International Co formally Gough Electric. He provided me the service and the straight goods time and time again and have saved a lot of money on lighting that I followed him. Not that I listen to him all the time.....certainly we have difference of opinions on lighting but that is half the fun in debates. Sincerely,
David Wong - Director of Design and Development
WHG Design Ltd


During the past few years, Norburn Lighting has helped make several of my design projects a success. The knowledge in their products and fast delivery makes them stand out over the rest. I'm happy to use Norburn Lighting for future projects.
Mario Szabat, Designer
Projekt by Design
projektbydesign.ca


We found the outstanding customer service provided by Norburn to be above and beyond all of our expectations. From start to finish - Jim Wong went out of his way to provide us with exceptional assistance and follow up to ensure we were completely satisfied. The competence, experience, product and design knowledge of Norburn Lighting staff enabled us to install a superior lighting system that has more than met our needs in every aspect. By working with Norburn Lighting we achieved superlative results and we would highly recommend their company to everyone.
Diane Goos - West Vancouver


For several years now I have been working with Norburn Lighting and Bath in their Burnaby location. I always think of them first when designing a client’s kitchen or bathroom. Without a doubt they supply me with the best service in the lowermainland and for that reason I go out of my way to work with Alan Ladha at this location. Allan is responsible, knowledgeable and pleasant through out all of our business dealing and never do I feel that any request is too small. Along with Allan, the entire staff is helpful welcoming and very service oriented. Kudos to all of you for making every trip a happy experience. Anita Harder
Owner Shalimar Design & Consulting


Dear Norm, Please accept my sincere thanks for your input and consistent support on the design and implementation of the Laroche Residence.As anyone familiar with the project knows, it was a complex and demanding design on a difficult and unusual site. The design process involved a great deal of detailed preparation and the input of numerous participants. Your assistance on the overall lighting design, both interior and exterior, was consistently valuable, as were your many fixture recommendations. The construction of the home, which has taken upwards of two years to complete, required the full commitment of the builder and his team, as well as dozens of sub-trades and suppliers. Needless to say, coordinating all of this was at times both difficult and frustrating. However, I can say without hesitation that working with you and your team at Norburn was a pleasure. You quickly earned our confidence with your professional approach and maintained that trust with timely support and follow-up. As corny as it might sound, if every key supplier had a Norm Brown, my life would be a lot easier. Thanks again for the help and I look forward to working with you again in the future.
David Mailing
Architect


Dear Sirs, We have been dealing with Norburn Lighting for as long as I have been in business as it is the one trusted lighting store I can fully rely on to assist my clients with their needs, whether it be new construction, renovations, purchase of new lighting or just information on current lighting trends. In particular over the past 2 years we refer clients and associates to Elizabeth Zunti. Her customer service skills, combined with excellent knowledge of all areas in lighting more than exceeds customer expectations and assists in taking the anxiety out of the process. We have no hesitation in recommending Elizabeth and the staff at Norburn to our existing and future clients.
Design Happens Inc.

 

 Staff Profiles

Stefanie Fielding Stefanie Fielding
Lighting Specialist Showroom Supervisor, ALA Lighting Specialist
SheralBlack Shearal Black
Lighting Specialist Showroom Manager, Over 20 year's experience in residential and commercial lighting and plumbing. ALA Lighting Specialist.
Norm Brown Norm Brown
 Certified Lighting Consultant Norm is an internationally recognized lighting educator. One of only two Certified Lighting Consultants in Canada. He has over 30 years of residential and commercial lighting design experience.
Laurie Harley Laurie Harley
 Lighting Specialist Plumbing Showroom Manager Laurie has over 20 years of in the kitchen and bath industry and is an Certified ALA Lighting Specialist
colleen James Whelan LC
 Commercial Lighting Specialist 20+ years experience he holds the top North American accreditation in lighting from the NCQLP (National Council of Qualifications for Lighting Professionals) The LC Standard.