Bathroom Shower

This is an excerpt from the Book called “Bathrooms A Sunset Design Guide” Continue reading to learn more about Bathroom Showers , thanks to the author.

Showers

A shower can take up a small corner of the bathroom, share space with the tub, be constructed for two, or double as a sauna.

Tub-Shower Combinations

When there isn’t enough room for a separate bath-tub and shower, the tub often doubles as a shower. You can buy a prefabricated bathtub-and-shower module, but most people choose to tile the tub surround in a material of their choice.

The main challenge with a tub-and-shower combination is the door. The least expensive option is a shower rod and curtain, but glass shower doors are often preferred. Architect Beth Gensemer often uses frameless glass bifold door that come in 2-foot pieces and can be folded flat against the walls when you need access to the tub. Other options are to use a fixed glass panel that extends only partway across the tub, or to install a glass panel on one side and a glass door that swings open into the room on the other.

Shower Stalls

Prefabricated shower stalls come in one-piece units or as multiple pieces that can be assembled on site. Ranging in width from 32 to 64 inches, they include the shower pan (floor), walls, and sometimes a ceiling. Doors and faucets are usually sold separately.

Most shower modules include sculpted soap and shampoo niches, and some have built-in-ledges for sitting. They can be installed between three walls or in a corner and are made of fiberglass-reinforced acrylic, plastic laminate, or synthetic marble. One-piece units are usually reserved for new construction, as they are too big to move through existing doorways. Buying a prefabricated shower stall will be less expensive than creating a custom shower, because it comes with a pan and you don’t have to cover the walls with tile or stone.

Besides being relatively inexpensive, prefabricated shower stalls can be installed quickly, and you won’t have to regularly maintain caulk or grout in the shower.

ARCHITECT ANNE LAIRD-BLANTON ON

Recessed Shower Niches

Add recessed niches to the walls in a tub-and-shower combination so you’ll have a place to put shampoo bottles other than on the edge of the tub. “Whether you’re working with mosaics or 12-inch-square tiles, make sure the niche is sized to work with full tiles. Cut tiles will break up the pattern and your eye will be drawn to them, whereas using only full tiles provides a seamless look”.

Custom Showers

A shower can be built anywhere and in any configuration as long as you have access to plumbing lines and can install or build a shower pan. While your builder can hand-float a shower pan, you’ll save some money by opting for a prefabricated shower pan. “Prefabricated pans are safe, watertight, and easy to install, and they come in a variety of attractive finishes”, says architect Dennis Fox. “Plus, the money you will save in labor form not having to float a custom shower pan will allow you to use a nicer material on the shower walls”. Shower pans come in a range of sizes, but hand-floating the pan may be your only option if you are planning an odd-sized or unusual design.

A new option for custom showers is the infinity drain. Inspired by the trench drain, an infinity drain allows you to pitch the surface in one direction (as opposed to four directions for a standard center drain), opening up a wider range of options in shower floor materials. The drain itself can be anywhere along the run, and there are several lengths, finishes, and styles available. Infinity drains also meet ADA requirements for barrier-free entry showers.

Equip your custom shower with anything you like, such as a bench for sitting or to facilitate shaving your legs, a high window to let natural light in while maintaining privacy, or dual showerheads so two people shower at once without arguing about who is hogging the water.

Shower Doors

Tempered glass shower doors can be clear, frosted, or etched with a design of your choosing. Framed glass enclosures are less expensive than frameless because they use a lighter-weight glass, but they don’t visually recede as well because of the metal tracks surrounding them. The tracks themselves are also hard to keep clean. Frameless glass enclosures are mounted to the walls and floor (or tub) with small clamps that are barely noticeable, but without a frame to catch it, water will drip onto the floor when you open the shower door. While they are beautiful and make your bathroom feel larger, clear glass doors will need to be wiped down after every use if you don’t want to see water marks. People tend to keep a squeegee in the shower for this purpose.

Open Showers

Hate to feel boxed in? Consider an open shower, which has either a half wall or nothing at all to prevent water from spraying into the bathroom. In a large enough room, this usually isn’t a problem, especially when the rest of the room is also tiled and easy to wipe doors if necessary. You can have a step down into the shower so you won’t have to worry if the drain ever backs up, but this is usually possible only in new construction where the floor can be built at varying heights. “In an existing bathroom, you can sometimes cut away portions of deep floor joists to get the right slope so you can step down into the shower, but you will need to consult with an engineer and may have to add additional floors joists to compensate”, explains architect Dennis Fox.

For a modern look that’s also wheel-chair accessible, build a curbless shower so the bathroom floor simply extends right into the shower area. This style is also more common in new construction because a contractor will need to custom-float a large portion of the floor to ensure that it slopes toward the drain.

ARCHITECT DAVID GAST ON

Constructing a Steam Shower

Building a steam shower requires additional steps beyond those typical of a regular shower. “For example, it is necessary to slope the ceiling so condensation runs to the walls rather than dripping down on you”.

Steam Showers and Dry Saunas

Custom and even prefabricated showers can be turned into steam showers with the addition of an electric generator that heats water and sends steam out through nozzles placed low on the shower wall. For a true spa experience, build a bench in the shower so you can lie down and enjoy the steam. You may also want to include speakers, LED lights that color the steam for relaxation or revitalization (depending on the hue you choose), fragrances, and an iPod docking station.

The steam generator will need to be installed in an accessible spot either within the bathroom or in an adjoining room. It also requires a dedicated water supply line and a dedicated 240-volt circuit. Existing shower enclosures will need to be weatherstripped to ensure that the steam doesn’t escape into the bathroom, where it will cause moisture damage. And the ceiling should be tiled to protect the drywall from condensation.

If you have the space, a separate dry sauna kit that is not used for showering can be installed in the bathroom. These are constructed of clear Western red cedar and include benches for multiple users. A dry sauna may have the same electrical and plumbing requirements as previously described, or you can purchase a heat therapy room that uses radiant heat so no water line is necessary.

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