*Collaborative Post
Walk-in showers and wet rooms are a very popular and stylish way to fit a small bathroom for a spa-like vibe. Although walk-in showers were historically only advised for ground floor rooms, times have changed and they’re now appropriate for almost anywhere that you can also install a bathroom.
To do the best job possible, you’ll need to consider several things before jumping straight to installation.
Equipment
You’ll need to gather a selection of tools and equipment, like circular saws, screws, and hammers. Sealant is one of the most important elements to remember before getting started.
If you don’t use sealant, you’ll damage your falls and walls with water leakage. It won’t take long for this to cause mould problems and wear away at the structural integrity of the room, which is extremely costly to fix. Make sure you install a waterproof subfloor to guard against any accidental leaks.
Size
Walk-in showers are ideal for smaller bathrooms. They maximise the space in so many ways: you’ll get plenty of plot for the shower itself without stealing too much from the rest of the room.
It’s unlikely you’ll have a whole room devoted to a walk-in shower. So, even with such a democratic option, you’ll need to do your measurements carefully to accommodate everything else.
There will need to be enough floor area for a soft slope towards the drain so the water won’t spill into the rest of the room.
Inclusivity
If you’re looking for an inclusive option, a walk-in shower is the ticket. Even though it’s a good option for so many people, make sure you buy fittings that suit the intended purpose. For example, if you suspect there’ll be a user with limited mobility include secure fixtures like shower seats and bars in your calculations. Allow for the room required to install these without intersecting other sanitaryware, otherwise you’ll find your bathroom isn’t fit for purpose when it’s all finished.
Cleaning and materials
If you’re not fond of bitty or meticulous cleaning, you’ll find walk-in showers to be more your cup of tea. Without as many detailed components, they’re not as difficult to keep clean. If you go for a walk-in shower with no enclosure, there’ll be even fewer components to clean.
However, tiles have the potential to gather dirt or mould if you don’t engage in at least some small amount of basic maintenance. Make this as easy as possible with a protective coating so that grime won’t embed in the walls. Alternatively, you could consider acrylic wall panels as an extremely low maintenance option that is easy to install, thereby reducing labour costs.
