Building an Open Shower
Open layouts are replacing walled-in rooms in newer homes, and bathroom layouts are no exception. The trend is to pay a lot of attention to bathroom details like tiling, fixtures and layouts, and focus on designing bathrooms like a spacious spa-like retreat. In many new homes, the tub and shower are separated. Open showers without curtains or doors, and in some cases without curbs or thresholds, offer an ease of use. When built correctly, an open shower design can add high visual impact to a bathroom and make the room appear larger. To avoid design problems with an open shower, however, consult with a professional contractor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Graph paper
- Shower tile
- Thinset tile adhesive
- Grout
- Shower pan
- Vertical shower heads
- 4-inch fiberglass flange
Instructions
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Check with your local building inspector to make sure you design the open shower in conformity with local building codes. Using graph paper, draw the layout of your bathroom to scale making sure to include windows and doorways.
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Select a location for the open shower and determine what size it should be. Keep in mind that the larger the open shower, the less of a chance that water from the shower will enter other parts of the bathroom. An open shower should be 36 inches by 36 inches if it includes a seat, and 30 inches by 60 inches without a seat.
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Visit a tile showroom to see tiling options for your open shower. Glazed ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles are good choices for a bathroom because they do not absorb water and can be cleaned easily. Ceramic and glass tiles are also fashionable and durable.
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Consult with an experienced professional to make sure the placement of the drain and the slant of the shower floor are adequate so water from the open shower does not splash into the rest of the bathroom. Install a shower pan of about 24 inches across at the entrance to the shower, and place a 4-inch fiberglass flange at the front to keep water inside the open shower. Use vertical shower heads for minimal splash.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose a shower pan that is compatible with the tile in the shower. Shower pans come in different surfaces including ceramic tile, natural stone and engineered solid surfaces.
Consider adding an additional drain to remove water from the open shower.
Using a standard size and shape for the open shower may save you money when purchasing such elements as the shower pan. The shower pan should be waterproof and resist mold and mildew.
Consult with a professional to make sure the open shower is designed and constructed in a way that will not allow water to enter the rest of the bathroom.
References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images
