[Ice10]

I’ve just started preliminary design and layout of my first walk in shower and I’m looking for suggestions, opinions, or recommendations from those with experience.  Are there any features you've found that you can’t live without or ones that you have that you find you never use?  Things I’m thinking about are shower heads (multiple heads, rainfall heads, waterfall heads, etc), heated floors (winters get chilly here), lighting and ventilation options, benches, etc..

We have a large bathroom so the footprint that I have to work with is 42” wide by up to 84” long (with a 9’ ceiling).  Two of the walls are exterior and I was going to leave one end of the shower open, should I also consider leaving a gap between the wall and the ceiling on the remaining wall to improve ventilation (I was thinking about maybe a 12-18” gap, possibly with a glass insert but maybe it should stay open?)?

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Digi-G]

I've redone a couple of showers.  I don't know much about the shower head options you mention but I would highly recommend a bench.  I did a corner bench but one that goes the width of the shower would be nice too.  Make sure you slope the top for runoff and I suggest making the front face of it vertical (i.e. you don't want any space underneath it).  You won't always need a bench, but when you do, you'll be glad you have it.

I like the idea of having the shower open, if you can - keeping glass clean is a real PITA.

Are you planning to build an in-wall niche, to hold soap and shampoo?  I think those are much more attractive, and more durable, than the add-in corner options.

They make several gyp boards for shower applications to put behind your tile, but the concrete boards seem like a better, more durable choice.  All concrete boards aren't the same either - the ones from Lowes and Home Depot differ considerable, with one being pretty rough and the other being much more precision (sorry, I don't remember which store had which - you'll know when you see them).

Good luck.

[Big Red Machine]

I think an opening up high on each end so air can pass through and out to a nearby fan would be a good mold control technique.

Sometimes gentle water falling is nice and sometimes high pressure jets are nice.

Think about getting old or resale and some tasteful grab rails will be a good forethought.

Maybe music?

[David C]

I’ve had an open shower before and ended up putting up a shower curtain. It was too cold when drying off. They make a glass that is a couple of hundred bucks more but is supposed to greatly reduce water spots. We use a squeegee after each use, only takes a minute and it helps as well

[dpatters]

We have had an open shower for a couple of years. We also love our heated floor. The bench at rear of shower is really nice (not in pic). Also linear drain below block window.









Don P

[Ice10]

Thank you all for the help.  Part of the reason for the walk in shower, besides just liking the concept, is to prep for future limited mobility.  To respond to the comments, once I have the old shower out and frame out the new I’m definitely going to make sure that I have installed backing in the stud bays for future handrails.  Along with that will be alcoves for shampoo, soap, etc that are roughed in. It’s interesting to hear about a bench, I’ve not considered one but may have to revisit this (especially for our possibly less mobile days).

I like the idea of music and some sort of curtain as I’ve heard repeatedly about how cool it can get once the water is turned off.   I want to avoid glass as I’m damaged from when I was a kid and we had to squeegee the *#@& glass off after each shower so I’m leaning towards having an open gap on the one shower wall.  Glass can look very cool but I think the ventilation is more important.

Wow, dpatters, that’s a great looking bathroom!  I like that tile work!

Any thoughts or experience with a smooth transition into the shower (as opposed to a lip to keep the water in)?  I’d like to avoid having one and I think proper placement of the shower heads and the size of the shower will allow me to have a smooth transition into the dry part of the bathroom, which will be tiled anyway.

Thank you again, this information is so helpful and appreciated.

[dpatters]

Our floor slopes slightly toward the block window from about four feet out then waster goes out linear drain. There is no lip. The whole 8x8 room is totally waterproofed using the Schluter System. The tile is porcelain and the vanity top, shower, bench, and storage cabinet have quartz tops.

Don P

[dpatters]

Feel free to PM me. I have detailed pics of entire remodel.

[WGH]

Experience counts, make sure the tile guy has done many walk in showers. A properly designed shower pan with a liner should be required.

All plumbing should be new, this is the only time you get to replace everything. If on the ground floor dig a hole and replace everything from the P-trap to the main line. Homes from the 1950's did not include a tub vent, put one in.

Windows in the shower get corroded, my contractor suggested replacing the window with glass block, I'm happy I did.

The showerhead is a Hansgrohe Clubmaster Handshower 3-Jet, 2.5 GPM on a adjustable vertical rail. The 3 jet options: regular, massage, and gentle, is very nice. I also have a flow knob above the temperature valve so the water pressure can be adjusted, full on is too powerful.
https://www.hansgrohe-usa.com/articledetail-clubmaster-handshower-3-jet-2-5-gpm-28525001

The glass shower door has to be squeegeed and wiped down every time but you get used to it. The glass door unit, installed with hardware cost $1000. I took a shower before the glass was installed and the entire bathroom got wet, no open shower for me.

Before - the etched swans in the sliding shower door was a nice touch along with the indestructible thick set pink ceramic tile. I bought my house "as-is", the seller moved to assisted living, she didn't clean much in her later years.


After - bathroom is standard 5' x 9'


 

[BobM]

We have about a 2-3" drop from our regular floor to the shower. That helps with keeping water in the shower area, but if you are thinking access in later years with a wheelchair you may not want that. I do think some kind of seat is a good idea. My wife uses that to shave her legs. Also add in a hand held shower head. That helps with shower lheaning, dog cleaning and overall usefulness when you need to point the water at something other than just "down".

[dpatters]

Plus 10 on the glass block in shower area. We took out a regular double hung window and put in the block.

[mcgsxr]

I imagine you have to decide now if you will be using a wheelchair in there or not - that's a whole other world of lipless/wet room in my estimation.

If like me you want to not have a tub/shower combo, and just have a walled in shower I can offer what I did in my basement.

I went with a standard 32x60 shower so I could use pre made floor drain kits with slope etc - the kerdi kit I used also included the "lip" where the shower ends and the rest of the bathroom begins - both the floor and lip were foam and then covered with kerdi membrane.

I did concrete board with kerdi membrane.  I kept the plumbing on an interior wall.  I installed a barn door style glass shower door setup - has a 12 inch gap at the top of the "wall of glass" to help with moisture escape to the ceiling fan.

I put in a timer for my fan - I run it 60 minutes after a shower.

I don't wipe the glass wall daily.  I find with monthly cleaning (DIY mix of white vinegar and dawn dish soap as the soap - and then I use a kitchen sponge with one green side and one less abrasive yellow side) its all good.

I loved our heated floor for the 12 months it worked.  The last 24 months I have ignored it - or swore at it.  I tried replacing the wall portion, but it still trips the GFCI - I figure there is an issue with the toilet seal - nothing else ever has water around it.

Good luck!

[richidoo]

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. Thank you in advance.

https://www.smarthome.kohler.com/smart-shower-speaker-moxie

We have a couple of these, they work well!

[Ice10]

WGH, that’s an impressive transformation!  I do plan on replacing all plumbing and lighting fixtures and will inspect all drain/water lines when they get relocated. 

I was actually against the idea of a handheld shower head but I forgot how easy that would make washing the dog.  And a pressure valve would be great too.

I appreciate all the help.  I’ve learned a bunch and it’s really making me consider things that I previously wasn’t aware of or wasn’t considering. 

[JLM]

Glad I found this thread.  Worked 26 years around healthcare construction and have seen all sorts of accessibility and assisted designs.  What you're considering is call universal design and with more older folks wanting to stay home is increasingly popular.  The best shower design:

- Use a simple side access 4ft x 4ft footprint.  Not too deep to transfer into, enough elbow room, not too far to reach the controls from a bench anywhere in the stall.  Obviously no shower stall door.  Mount shower curtain rod 4 inches inside the stall to keep water inside.

- Leave a 5ft x 5ft clear floor space outside the stall for wheelchair access.  Match one edge of the clear floor space with the "front" (shower head) end of the stall and extend the clear floor space one foot beyond the end of the stall so that the large back wheel of the wheelchair can be out of the way for a lateral (side-to-side) transfer to a bench located along the back wall.  Transfers are very important considerations as mobility challenges develop.

- Don't use a fixed bench.  Hopefully you'll never need it and if you do a portable one will be more comfortable and can be swapped out/moved for whatever your changing wants/needs might be.  Look for suction cup type of feet to keep it securely positioned.

- Recommend sloping the entire bathroom floor and stall pan towards a linear drain that runs the full width of the stall opening to eliminate any pooling outside the stall, a washcloth/towel plugging a small drain, and providing a smooth gentle transition into the stall.  Bath/shower floor should be have texture and not slippery when wet. 

- Suggest two long grab bars on front and side walls, so to be fully accessible from anywhere in the stall yet not against your back while sitting against the back wall.  (The best assisted position for the bather is to stand with legs spread facing into the corner using the grab bars to provide good access to the under arms and crotch.)

- Obviously a shower head on a long flexible hose would be needed.

- Keep top of shower curtain below ceiling to allow for better ventilation.  Locate exhaust fan inside stall for most effective capture of odors/moisture.


Other accessible ideas:

- Access into the home is the first priority.  Eliminate ramps (anything with a slope of 1:20 or more, 1:12 is the code limit but that is very steep).  Avoid any thresholds if possible, as trip hazards, and wheelchair barriers.

- Access throughout the home is the second priority, no point in having an accessible shower/etc. if you can't get to it.  Use all 3ft wide doors with 4ft wide hallways.  Layout furnishings, especially bedrooms to allow a 5ft x 5ft clear floor space in the room and 3ft clearances around each piece.

- Avoid bathroom sink vanity cabinets under sinks and pedestal sinks to provide knee/toe space.  Center sinks at least 15 inches from side walls.  Keep mirrors as low as possible (ideally bottom of mirror is within 40 inches of the floor). 

- Provide space beside toilets to allow a lateral (side-to-side) transfer and center the toilet 18 inches from a side wall that has a long grab bar and toilet paper holder within easy reach (don't make user get off the toilet or stretch to reach).

- Consider wheelchair access to the kitchen (avoid wall hung cabinets and consider providing an 8 inch by 12 inch toe spaces).  Keep access to daily items in the kitchen, bath, phone, etc. within seated reach.


All this takes considerable planning and additional space.  Simple bathrooms feel huge and can be the size of a small bedroom.  But the benefits are safety (falls being a major concern among the elderly), and the ability to stay at home well into the later years.  Aging in place has been a eldercare buzz word for decades and a constant challenge as needs change. 

[Russell Dawkins]

Experience counts, make sure the tile guy has done many walk in showers. A properly designed shower pan with a liner should be required.

All plumbing should be new, this is the only time you get to replace everything. If on the ground floor dig a hole and replace everything from the P-trap to the main line. Homes from the 1950's did not include a tub vent, put one in.

Windows in the shower get corroded, my contractor suggested replacing the window with glass block, I'm happy I did.

The showerhead is a Hansgrohe Clubmaster Handshower 3-Jet, 2.5 GPM on a adjustable vertical rail. The 3 jet options: regular, massage, and gentle, is very nice. I also have a flow knob above the temperature valve so the water pressure can be adjusted, full on is too powerful.
https://www.hansgrohe-usa.com/articledetail-clubmaster-handshower-3-jet-2-5-gpm-28525001

The glass shower door has to be squeegeed and wiped down every time but you get used to it. The glass door unit, installed with hardware cost $1000. I took a shower before the glass was installed and the entire bathroom got wet, no open shower for me.

Before - the etched swans in the sliding shower door was a nice touch along with the indestructible thick set pink ceramic tile. I bought my house "as-is", the seller moved to assisted living, she didn't clean much in her later years.


After - bathroom is standard 5' x 9'


 

Wow! What a transformation!!! You must be pleased.

[Ice10]

Thank you JLM for sharing your knowledge and thank you all for your input.  Both my wife and I agree that we’re going to remodel our smaller bathroom, with a more traditional bath/shower enclosure, before we take on the much larger master bath.

After seeing the transformations that have been shared I’m more excited than ever!   

[WGH]

Wow! What a transformation!!! You must be pleased.

Yes, thank you. Once in a while I get inspired.

I bought the old house in 2012 and lived in it for 3 months before the remodel. I attacked the tub with a wire brush and pumice stone before using it.

[smilesrs]

WGH, really nice professional job.  I love the way you designed the tile floor.  You should be proud