I think you are right to be concerned with a glass door leading into the bathroom. You'll need to do the naughty bits test before you go with that choice...hold up a quarter on one side of the glass, if you can see the outline of the quarter it's probably not a good choice for a bathroom door. If you can post a layout plan that may help folks on this forum spot any layout issues that may not be obvious from the description. But from what I can tell from the description the layout sounds like a good plan.

I was wondering how I could test the glass for adequate opacity. Is that quarter test really the way to do it?

The layout will be exactly the same as it is now since there really aren't any options. I think I posted the layout here a long time ago to see if there was much of anything else I could do with it and the consensus was leave as is. Below are a couple pics - there is not much more to it than you see there - toilet straight ahead, tub/shower to the left, vanity to the right. (And plunger strategically placed behind the wastebasket.)

The layout I'm really wondering about is the faucet arrangement in the not really designed for two tub that will have the hinged shower screen type door. Will that really work or am I trying to accomplish something that isn't really feasible?

Gibby, make sure you order that tub with the optional factory-installed tile flange kit I saw on the MTI specs page. Otherwise, you've got a drop in tub (I'm assuming from your measurements that this is the Andrea 4?) flush against tile walls with a shower head which will run water down the walls and into the seam where the wall and tub meet.

Personally, I can't imagine how you could use a tub that has only 21 inches in width of "floor space" for two people comfortably. (If I'm just not using my imagination enough, um, don't tell me!)

-- Eric

The quarter test seems to be the most common method for choosing opacity, at least according to the home decorating shows I've seen. Another option is to hold up your hand behind the glass. If you can make out your individual fingers that would not be enough privacy for someone who is undressing to use the shower, at least not in my opinion:-)

Unless you're very, very, VERY skinny dwarfs, that's not a 2-person tub. My DH wears a size 28 waist, and I'm a size 4, and there's no way that we can squeeze in our 66x36" tub together comfortably. Just not possible! It could be a 2-person SHOWER, with opposing heads, but for a 2-person tub, I'd require 42"x6', personally. And for me, that's uncomforably wide for one-person bathing.

As far as the deck-mounting plumbing--it depends on the tub. My master is going to have it, but it's only possible with a wide landing on the side, which makes the tub narrower.

If you have the light on in the bathroom, there won't really be any noticeable contribution from sunlight through a door opaque enough to be private, and you will be guaranteed to make guests uncomfortable if they use it.

Okay, well these are good questions and thoughts - what I need to hear. Definitely good food for thought - maybe it isn't worth the trouble.

Yes - I will definitely get the correct tub for a tub/shower installation. I have one now that seems questionable since water runs down onto the side of the tub and out onto the floor.

The tub floor space issue is a good question. I checked our current tub which is the same size only the floor space is 20 inches on one end and 17 inches on the other. We use it for two - I get the 17 inch end with the spout in my back - and I manage to squeeze to the side of that. I think the new scenario could be worse though with the glass screen door on one side and the tub filler on the other side. I'll have to test it a bit further I guess.

Just to clarify, I'm not considering this a tub for two in the luxurious spa bathroom sense. It's a tub for two more of necessity. He sits in the tub and reads sometimes for a long time. I need to get about my business and don't want to wait for him to get out nor do I want to go downstairs and use the shower in the guest bath. So I jump in sometimes. It's cozy but do-able - we aren't dwarfs but we aren't large people either - needless to say I guess - or we'd still be stuck in our current tub.

I will do further checking on the door. Even if light doesn't pass through I still like the idea of opaque glass - first saw this in a hotel I stayed at. Granted you generally don't have other people in your hotel room that you're concerned about seeing through your glass bathroom door. Guests don't shower in this bathroom - though they use it for other business - which they would not do standing right in front of the door. It would undoubtedly make for good conversation. The shy and modest could always use our lower level bathroom if they couldn't go in a room with a glass door.

i am also going to replce our current bathroom door with an opaque-ish door for the same reason you would like to---i think it will be lighter, brighter, nicer...however it will be in our master bathroom, so privacy isn't so much an issue.
i think if this bathroom is on the main level and is frequently used by guests, an opaque glass door would be fine as long as the toilet is tucked away and not in full view from the door...otherwise i think guests might feel uncomfortable, especially at night...

Gibby, To figure out the real tub size you have to look at the specs for the interior well of the tub, not the overall size. I have seen tubs that are the same size on the outside and have vastly different interior bathing well sizes. It depends on the curvature of the tub sides and the placement of the drain. I checked this out for the Andrew 4. The interior at the bottom is 21.25" wide increasing to 24" at the top. The length is good, 52 at the bottom and 58" at the top. I'd be more worried about the width than the length. 21.25 is snug.

I am 5'7" and the bath closest to that I sat in was the Edenton by Mirabelle (a private label by Kohler sold only thru Ferguson). It was 45" long (and a tiny bit short for me) and 24" wide. I think you'll probably be okay with the MTI tub. If you can't sit in that exact one though, can you go out with your tape measure to some bath showrooms and see if you can find one close in size to the one you're thinking of and see how it feels when you sit in it?

With regard to glass opacity, well if you have a Lowe's near you maybe you can go to their door department and look at their displays. That's what I did. I was amazed at how SEE THROUGH the frosted and ribbled glass doors really were. I didn't need to wave my hand around or hold up a penny. If I could see the rack opposite the door display, it was a no go. There was only ONE glass style that was sufficiently blurry to conceal the scene behind it. Don't go by what you can see through glass samples, go see real doors. You don't want to be unpleasantly (and I mean UNPLEASANTLY!) surprised to learn once it's installed just how much you can see if you choose one that isn't private!

Just my two cents, but the glass door will be a hit on your resale value. And what if you have more than two demur guests who need the bathroom at once? Install a Solatube for natural light and keep the door solid. we have a Solutube in our two windowless bathrooms, and the amount of light is unbelievable, twice what a window would give off. We have the 10" sizes in our bathrooms. Cost about $500 each. Good luck!

*Completely* agree with cup.

Like busybee3, I'm also installing an opaque glass door into my master bathroom (but mine will be framed with wood, and it's a pocket door, too). However, since this is the master bathroom and only accessible to me (and - well, my dog), I'm not concerned with the glass factor. I'm only concerned with getting natural light in (no windows in mine either). As to how much more natural light it affords this windowless bathroom, we'll see. I think it's going to be a cool thing to have. Also a benefit though is that the bathroom is all the way in the back of the bedroom, such that the interior of the bathroom is not viewable unless you walk to the back corner of the room and stand there looking in (which I'm not expecting anyone but my dog to do). So, take these kinds of things into consideration.

I would love to hear more about this Solutube... what is it, where do you buy it, and is it the kind of thing you can install in a condo? I assume it requires some demolition into the roof?

Thanks flyleft, and long time no see (so to speak!). Solutubes are great ways to bring sunlight in, I have a one-story house and this is how it's done:

The installer cuts a hole in the roof and attaches the dome to the roof. Then he takes flexible reflective tubing material that brings the light to the room. He cuts a hole in the celing (try to make it the center unless you have a fixture there already, our bathroom lighting is above the sinks, so this wasn't an issue for either one of our bathrooms), attaches a thin sheet of plastic (it's like a lens) to cap off the opening and voila! In about two hours you have tons of light. No construction issues like with a sky light. Very easy.

We have had one for five years, never a leak. We had one installed last summer and no leaks thus far. Last summer we got a new AC/furnace, so we planned ahead and had the HVAC guys move the ductwork so that a Solutube could be installed in the center of the bathroom. There are a lot of options, you can even get a light installed in the Solutbe so that it supplies light at night as well.

For a while, we tried to turn off the room lights until we finally learned that you can't turn off the Solutube.

Google on it. It's a great investment and we will get a tax credit for the $500 we spent last summer to boot.

As I was reading the previous posts, I was also going to suggest the solatube option until I saw cup brought it up. An excellent way to get more natural light-we put one in the kitchen and want to add one to the hallway.

I'd scrap the glass door idea, at least with your layout. Looks like the toilet is directly facing the door. I think you'd regret that.

can you do a wall mounted filler on the long wall?

There are other ways to get the tub filler out of the way.

{{gwi:1414287}}

Thanks for all the great thoughts - this is really helpful.

I have been able to test this tub first hand for size (a longer one but same width) and it actually seems more spacious than what I have now - which I guess it is based on the inside width.

In lieu of the glass door, I have considered a solatube but in my experience in MN things like skylights and anything else that allows heat to go straight up to the roof aggravate the ice dam problem. I already have problems with that in this part of my house (in spite of various attempts to resolve) so the idea of this tube that allows all the heat in the bathroom to go straight to the roof makes me a little concerned on the ice dam front.

Yes, I'm sure the average home buyer would not like the glass door but since I have no plans to sell until they carry me out I'm not concerned about resale. My whole house is a little unusual and probably appealing only to a small subset of the market so this door would probably be a minor issue compared to the rest of it.

I can't put plumbing in the long side wall because it's full of pocket doors and duct work. This tub does have an option for a filler that comes out of the end of the tub that's kind of like that picture marcolo. It's below the water line of the tub but I didn't really like the looks of that. It might be something I should consider more closely - or look for something like you have pictured. I like the looks of those. That's a good idea.

I really feel like I have been analyzing everything to death - worse than my kitchen remodel - and I would not have thought that possible.

Look at the tub itself, then. Some have room--others don't.

I've been looking at that Kohler laminar tub filler now - that might be just the thing for my situation. Does anyone have one of those? Are there any drawbacks to that kind of thing? I would have it in the wall vs. ceiling. Does it fill at the same rate as a regular tub filler? I wonder if you could use that like a tub spout with a shower diverter and one set of controls - or if it requires it's own controls. I don't fully understand all the plumbing requirements when you have something more complicated than an old fashioned tub/shower combo arrangement.

Gibby:

Solatube now makes a barrier (it's like a double lens with space in between) that prevents cool air/heat loss up through the tube itself. This feature was not available when we installed our first Solatube, but we have it on our second oneÂthis is why we get a tax credit, it's an energy saver without draining another source of energy.

Gibby I saw you lots on the kitchen forum and you were always so helpful. I agree the bath project in a lot of ways took more analysis & research time than the kitchen. It's hard to believe all the little pieces a 5 x 7 ft space needs & how many decisions like yours are needed especially with the TKO personalities we have. On the pocket or glass door....I was advised against it from the angle that sound permeates more through a glass or pocket door. No one's comfortable knowing others in the house or walking by are hearing your private bathroom noises. My inside opening door into my 5 x 7 ft bathroom does not bother me and isn't in the way. I copied this plan from someone here for a 5 x 8 ft. room.

I really like the wall mounted tub faucet idea like a previous poster showed. The post hear on "Plumbing 101" by mongo will be helpful with the shower pole with a handheld attached idea feasibility and "what do I need to make it happen."

Okay, better look into the solatube a bit more as an alternative to the glass door - and plumbing 101. Thanks!

gibby, I too, live in MN but we haven't had any trouble with leaking (as is more common with sky lights) or ice dams since adding a solatube. I'm not trying to talk you into something you may not want, however, it really is a viable option.

Good luck with your bathroom.

suska - great to hear the solatube is working well in MN. Does it end up covered with snow in the winter or does it somehow melt off and let light in? How long have you had yours? I am definitely going to look into it more closely.

Do you have to hire a special installer for the solatube or can any good contractor install one? If a special installer is needed, how do you find one?

you shouldn't need anyone special to put it in. a good gc should be able to do it.

i don't think you lose all of your heat out of it but i would think that any warmth going up there would just help to melt the snow off of the roof.

gibby-
I think ours has been in for 2-3 years, I'd have to check with DH to be exact. He put ours in himself, but he is a real DIYer. He did our roof, so he had no qualms about cutting a hole in it. He did laugh about the claim that it's done in 2 hours. He said we'll see, but it really didn't take a whole lot more than that. As long as the installer is careful about sealing the edges completely, there should be no water problems. I don't remember any lengthy periods with snow covering the lens, but next snow we get I will have to make a point of watching for that. It sticks up above the roof maybe 6-8 inches, and some people think they are kind of ugly (sort of a dome or mushroom shaped) but that has never bothered me. We bought ours at Menard's.

I just wanted to stop back and thank you all for your opinions. I really do appreciate it. I'm rethinking all my "weird" ideas and looking into the Solatube and laminar flow tub filler.

Thanks so much - the advice I've rec'd on the GW forums has been priceless.

Gibby:

The only application I might give pause to recommending a Solatube is where the dome is visible at the front elevation of the house. Our Solatubes can be seen along the sides, but with the angle of our hipped roof lines, you cannot see any vent stacks or either Solatube when you stand directly in front of the house. Now as you walk around the house, you see them (of course). We have a brown roof and they really have a low profile so they don't jump out at you. And since most bathrooms are towards the rear of the house, this shouldn't be a problem, but thought I'd mention it. I believe that the Solatube brand can only be installed by dealers or contractors, but that might be the case in Texas. Home Depot also sells a comparable product, but I don't know about the quality. We bought the 10" diameter tube with a plain opaque lens, and it gives off plenty of light. Any bigger and we'd have to wear sunglasses in our bathrooms!

Here is a link that might be useful: Solatube

Thanks Cup! Mine would not be visible from the front so no problem there - plus I live in the woods so it's not like you really stand in front of my house and take note of something like that. I talked to my contractor and he has installed quite a few of them without any problems so I seriously think I am going to go this route. I'm so glad you guys provided that feedback. DH is happy about this as he had concerns about the glass door - though he was going to let me do it.

Still looking into the laminar flow filler and how to make that work with the other stuff that would be in the tub/shower.