If you are planning to renovate your bathroom or looking to design a new one, it is important to know exactly what your options are before committing yourself to something which feels like forever. You may start from understanding what the term actually means, what are the advantages and disadvantages as well as it’s features.
So let’s get started!
What is a walk-in shower?
Many people think that a walk-in shower is just a stand alone shower without a tub underneath and while this may be correct to some extent, it does not fully explain the structure. A walk-in shower is actually completely without any doors and curtains. So that means if it’s a giant shower sans tub enclosed by a door, we wouldn’t actually call it a walk-in shower. Now this may differ as per different requirements. Some walk-in showers are enclosed by half walls while others may have half panes of glass but the idea is that it is completely or partially open so one can literally walk into it.
When asked by Interior designers about walk-in showers, they usually define it as “Walk-in showers are typically glass and have no tub or curb to step over in order to get in. It’s a streamlined look which makes a bathroom appear more commodious and spacious as they are mostly surrounded by glass with no or little frame.”
What is the design benefit?
If you plan to go for a contemporary or modern bathroom, a walk-in shower is your main ingredient. Absence of doors/curtains give a more accommodating and open space so it goes quite well with a tinge of aesthetic. However, as the name suggests, walk-in showers offer less privacy so if you’re showering with your bathroom wide open for anyone to walk on into, it’s on you.
As far as design is concerned, it mainly depends upon you as to how you would like to design your walk in shower. This in turn depends upon your bathroom measurements, wall designs to see if glass looks compliments the overall look, etc. Many walk-showers are square, rectangular or hexagonal and one can select between different color tiles to make it as bold as neutral as he/she may wish. One thing you need to make sure is that the inside of your shower should be swoon worthy because most of it would be quite visible to the outsider.
Advantages of a walk-in shower
As we all know, unlike standard stalls, walk-in showers have no curtains or doors, making your bathroom look more open and big with a clean-lined look. Prefab units have shallow curbs to prevent excess water from running onto the floor but many custom walk-in showers come with no curbs. Instead, they are designed with just a gently sloping floor which supports greater accessibility. This a great consideration to take in if you any of your family members or occupants have joint injuries or mobility issues.
Another advantage we have is that since walk-in showers are entirely made out of glass, this means that the continuous design, without moving parts, offers fewer chances for any accidents. In short, the fewer the pieces, the greater the whole.
It is also easier to clean. Since it is all glass we’re talking about, it is much easier to maintain than wiping steel or metal. Apart from that, there are fewer corners where water can gather and fewer places where dirt and grime can gather.
What are the setbacks?
Just like everything, walk-in showers have their share of drawbacks as well. Since it is an open shower, hot air is allowed to circulate freely in the bathroom and thus you may have a less relaxing atmosphere when you’re having a shower. All the hot air may create a high level of humidity in the washroom and therefore, this is something that needs to be taken care of.
A walk in shower does not offer the required level of privacy one may wish to have. It may not be a good idea to have a walk-in shower in a commercial place where it could limit the usage of the bathroom.
You are more likely to feel cold in a walk-in shower as compared to regular ones as it does not have a door or a shower curtain. However, you can overcome this issue by installing a glowing warmed floor or other related measures.
Another disadvantage is water splashes. There is a high possibility of water splashing into the rest of the shower. However, you can prevent this by installing the right type of shower base along with careful planning as water splashes can create a really untidy and messy look and could also prove dangerous if they aren’t wiped off properly.
How costly is it?
We all agree that walk-in showers are considered as one of the bathroom luxurious and luxury comes with expense. The least expensive prefab walk-in shower knit may cost between $800 to $2,500 as per size and quality. It might look simple in appearance but high quality glass and a hidden drainage system increases it’s worth.
If you’re good with plumbing and fixing, you can install shower pans and doors to save money but if you don’t have much expertise, professional help can add up to another $750 to $2,500 depending upon your bathroom interior.
All in all, a walk in-shower is a great facility and interior design to add into your bathroom that blends seamlessly with the rest of the space. While it may have a few downsides, you can always overcome the issue by installing relevant precautionary measures. Hiring a professional help is also a good idea as you not only benefit from the aesthetics but also its functionality and strategy in an accessible bathroom.
Now that you are fully equipped with basic “walk-shower knowledge” we would advise you to start looking to your bathroom space and record measures so you can have your dream walk-in shower with minimal flaws.