What You Need To Know About Walk-In Showers
Many homeowners are adding walk-in showers as they are spacious, easy to maintain and add a look of luxury to the bathroom. Also known as Roman, doorless or roll-in showers, the decision to add a walk-in shower is one that should not be taken lightly. Before you decide to eliminate your shower doors or curtains, it is important to know all the advantages and disadvantages of walk-in showers.
Advantages Of Walk-In Showers
There is no doubt that the hardest part of any shower to clean is the shower curtain or shower doors. In addition, shower enclosures allow soap build-up and may have water spots or streaks that are almost impossible to remove. Walk-in showers are also easily accessible. If there is a chance an elderly relative could live with you or you plan to grow old in your home, a walk-in shower with no door or curbing makes it much easier for someone in a wheelchair to access the shower. Walk-in showers must be customized for your bathroom which means you can get the features that are important to you. However, one of the best features of a walk-in shower is the luxury it adds to your bathroom. They are open and spacious, giving your bathroom a spa feeling.
Disadvantages Of A Walk-In Shower
If you must remove the bathtub entirely to fit the walk-in shower, it could lower your home’s value as buyers often want a bathtub. However, there are also buyers who will find the luxury of a walk-in shower appealing, so this may not be an important factor in deciding to install the shower. Even if you are well-versed in do-it-yourself projects, you will want to call a professional to help you with a walk-in shower as they can be complicated.
Walk-in showers take up a lot of space in a bathroom, so if your bath is small, a walk-in may not be the best option. Because they are open, the showers are not private which can be a concern for some. Water will escape from the shower, especially if you choose not to install a curb. Choose materials like stone, porcelain, glass, quartz and metal both inside and outside the shower as these substances are more water resistant than other building materials. Open showers can get drafty, but you can install heated flooring or towel racks to offset this issue.
Tips For Designing Your Shower
A walk-in shower can look out of place in the middle of the room, which is why designers tend to put them in the corner. This helps you maximize your space and allows for around six feet of open space around the shower, something contractors recommend. Minimize splashing by installing a rainfall shower that points straight down and remember to angle the floor so excess water drains properly. You may need to add multiple drains to be sure water drains evenly. A glass half-wall can help contain splashes and still give you the open feel you want in the shower. Low curbs can also help contain water but this will make the shower harder to access by someone who is disabled. Add a steam bath for additional luxury.
