Nero Round Range

Nero Round: shower heads, arms, shower knobs, mixers and bottle traps

Nero Round is a selection of Nero pieces drawn with a round profile. It covers round shower heads in 200mm, 250mm and 300mm, shower arms, a round pull knob for frameless glass, mixers and outlets, and 40mm round bottle traps for wall hung basins. The finishes include chrome, matte black, brushed nickel, brushed gold, brushed bronze, gun metal and graphite, and the pieces are made to match each other across the bathroom.

People search for it as Nero round and Nero round shower heads. This page sets out each type with the sizes and ratings that decide fit. For the full Nero lines, see Nero showers, Nero shower arms, Nero taps and Nero wastes and traps.

What is in the range

Finishes

The round pieces come in chrome, matte black, brushed nickel, brushed gold, brushed bronze, gun metal, graphite and matte white. Chrome is bright and plain. Matte black and matte white are flat. Brushed nickel is a soft silver, brushed gold is warm, brushed bronze is a deeper warm metal, gun metal is a dark grey and graphite is a dark grey between nickel and black. Not every finish is made in every piece, so check the finish on the exact piece, and keep one finish across the shower, the mixer and the trap so the pieces agree.

Showers

The round shower heads are rated WELS 3 star at 9 litres a minute. Choose the diameter by the size of the recess and the arm that carries the head.

Taps

Wastes and traps

Bathroom Accessories

Choosing a round shower head

A larger head covers more of the body but spreads the same flow thinner, so a 300mm head feels softer than a 200mm head at the same pressure. The G1/2 thread is a common standard, so the heads fit most shower arms, but check the thread on the arm you plan to use.

Wall arm or ceiling arm

A wall arm carries the head out from the wall, and a ceiling arm drops it from above. The arm length decides where the water lands, so measure from the wall to the centre of the shower floor and choose the arm to put the head over the middle of the recess. A ceiling arm suits a recess with a low or sloped wall, and a wall arm suits a standard recess. See Nero shower arms for the lengths in each finish.

The round shower knob

The round shower knob is a complete pull knob set for a frameless shower screen. The round profile measures 25mm with distinct grooves, and each side extends to a length of 43mm. It suits 8mm, 10mm and 12mm glass and needs a single 12mm hole in the glass. It is made from brass. Check the glass thickness and the hole before you order, and have the hole drilled by the glass supplier, since drilling toughened glass on site is not possible.

The 40mm round bottle trap

The 40mm round bottle trap suits a wall hung basin and a 40mm waste connection. It is made from brass and hides the plumbing under the basin, so it is the part everyone sees under a wall basin. Match the finish to the tapware, and check that the basin waste is 40mm before you order. A second version, the Round Bottle Trap II, has the same 40mm sizing and is easy to clean. See Nero wastes and traps for the full set.

Planning the wall

Wall mixers, wall taps and spouts go into the wall before the tiles, so settle the position, the spout reach and the finish while the wall is open. Measure from the finished tile surface to the centre of the drain to choose the reach, so the water lands in the middle of the basin or the bath outlet and clears the rim. Check what sits behind the wall, and fix the body to a nogging or a bracket so it holds. Waterproofing behind the body matters, because a missed seal is a leak inside the wall that cannot be fixed without opening the tiles.

Shower heights and positions

Mark the shower positions on the wall frame before the lining goes up. The centre of a fixed head outlet is usually 2000mm to 2100mm above the finished floor, or 2100mm to 2200mm for a tall household, and a ceiling mounted rain head sits at 2100mm to 2200mm depending on the ceiling height. Wall arms project 300mm to 400mm, and a ceiling arm can be 100mm to 600mm long. A mixer goes at 1000mm to 1100mm from the floor, and a diverter system needs two outlets at different heights, so the plumber must know both before the wall is closed.

Pressure, flow and head size

The supply decides how big a head can be. Round fixed heads usually run from 200mm to 300mm. On a low pressure supply, a smaller head of 150mm to 200mm gives a better spray, and a head larger than 250mm can feel weak unless a pump is fitted. A typical shower flow is 5 to 9 litres a minute, and a flow restrictor in the head keeps the use down. A simple test is to time how long a 10 litre bucket takes to fill. If it fills in under 60 seconds the pressure is good for a large rain head. A tank or gravity supply is usually best with a 3 star head.

Reading the WELS rating

WELS is the Australian water efficiency label, and more stars means the fitting uses less water. A basin mixer can reach 6 star because a basin needs little water. A kitchen mixer sits at 4 or 5 star because a sink needs a larger flow to fill a pot, and a shower sits at 3 or 4 star because the flow has to be large enough to rinse. Wall mixers and shower taps do not require a rating of their own. Read the rating on the exact piece you are buying, and use a licensed plumber to fit it.

Choosing the waste

A slotted waste is used with a basin that has an internal overflow, and an unslotted waste where there is none, so check the overflow before you order. Most basins need the waste bought separately so it can match the tapware. Chrome, black and brushed finishes, and mushroom or button pop-up styles, are the usual choices. Choose the waste when you choose the tap, so the metals match.

Caring for the tapware

Clean the tap with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then rinse and dry. Avoid cream cleaners, citrus based cleaners and abrasive pads, because they scratch the finish. Dry the tap after use in a hard water area. Unscrew the aerator now and then and rinse it, since scale builds up there first and shows as an uneven spray.

Before you order

Choose the finish across the room first. Choose the shower head by its diameter and the arm by its length and its mounting, settle the wall positions and the shower heights at rough-in, and check the glass thickness before you order a shower knob.