A Few Good Reasons To Install A Walk In Shower
Just about everyone has seen or maybe even used a walk in shower. From fitness clubs to luxury bathrooms, they fit right in. From the practical, to the fun, to considerations for seniors or handicapped persons, a walk in shower is a great choice.
First, the practical. A walk in shower can be a simple cube to step into to rinse off sweat after a hard workout or an alternative to a full bathtub in a small bathroom. Having one also eliminates the need for a shower curtain with the accompanying tugging and mildew. When you are remodeling to add a walk in shower, you have the opportunity to redesign your whole bathroom in a way that flows better. If your bathroom is small and closed in, you can switch out the cabinets or the sink to open it up and provide more space to move around. As you build your new bathroom, you have the opportunity to replace old and broken tile and fix any leaks.
Second, the luxurious. A walk in shower can be a spacious retreat. While a glass enclosure with a door is a popular design, you can also create one at the end of a bathroom, using glass blocks to form the wall of the shower. If your bathroom has enough space to support it, you can add a large walk in shower with a dressing or drying area at one end. Put in a nice bench, or even use the area for a deck. Quartz tile and multiple shower-heads can also add to the luxury feel. Some high end models even come with remote controls! Even if you don’t have the budget for high end tile, adding a walk in shower can provide a larger space to move around – which is a form of luxury by itself.
Third, a walk in shower can be a great option for seniors or those with handicaps. As we age, it can become harder and harder to move around. The loss on independence is frustrating, and for many of the elderly, it’s very embarrassing because they can’t do things on their own anymore. A young person thinks nothing of stepping over the side of the tub to take a shower, but for someone who uses a walker, the tub might as well be a mountain. However, a walk in shower can eliminate a lot of this frustration and embarrassment. It will assist caregivers with helping a senior to wash. This is especially helpful for caregivers who many not be physically strong. Even someone with limited mobility can usually get inside a walk in shower. Extra safety features can be added easily: a textured floor for slip resistance, a chair or fold down bench, large, easy to turn faucets, and a removable shower head. A walk in shower can also minimize the amount of water spilled on the floor since they are large enough to dry off inside. This lessens the chance of slipping, which is a benefit for everyone, not just seniors and the disabled.
Last, but not least, a walk in shower can be truly customized for a particular space or need. Some designs, as mentioned above, are more a “wet room” than a shower. With this design, a portion of the room becomes the shower, the sides made of glass or glass block without a separate door, just an opening. Even if you don’t have the room to add a large shower, there are a lot of shower kits that could be a good fit for your space. Especially if you need to configure your bathroom for an elderly person. There are some walk in shower styles that are the same length as a bathtub with the drain at the same end. This means you can add convert your bathtub without too much effort. Or, put a round or octagonal walk in shower in the middle of a bathroom with the rest of the room around it. Not for every bathroom, but would fit in well with some houses.
A walk in shower is a feature limited only by your imagination. While they offer a contemporary design and way to update an old bathroom, they also offers many benefits that can’t be ignored. Between the uses and the benefits, a walk in shower is a great addition to any bathroom.