Is 3ft X 6ft shower too long and narrow?

13 years ago

If I replaced my existing 3ft X 6ft combo bath/shower with a walk-in shower, will it be too long and narrow? Due to the placement of the window I can't make it any wider than 3ft. Two of the 3 walls are exterior walls, so I could put showerhead(s) on only on one of the 3 foot walls. I had considered reconfiguring the bathroom to have a separate walk-in shower and tub but that was becoming too expensive and I'm hoping this plan fits better into my budget, as it would not involve moving the plumbing stack. I think I read on this site that the water wouldn't even reach 6 feet and I don't see any reason to put a bench at the end because I can't imagine ever sitting down and holding the handheld showerhead. Can't think of what I would do with the extra 12 inches if we made the shower 3ft X 5ft, can you? So, what do you think of a 3ft X 6ft shower with only one showerhead?

Featured Answer

davidro1

13 years ago

It's a good shape. Long and narrow.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

rlthomas7
13 years ago
I'd look for a bench if for no other reason than shaving my legs. You need to be out of the spray for that! And that's also a good place to keep your shampoo, soap, etc. so that it's not getting wet all the time - the less water hitting this stuff, the less mildew and soap scum to clean later.
Related Discussions
How to prune and train peaches 2x6ft spacing?
Q
Comments (28)
I know it's an old thread, but I came across it and felt I could add something for other people wondering the same thing. Wow, so ok, this thread is... very interesting? Went from somewhat helpful to nursery bashing lol. There are four ways to control vigor/ size in a tree: Precocity, spacing, dwarfing rootstocks, and pruning out large branches. You can plant them 2ft apart in the row and 8ft alleys as a spindle if you want, or 20 ft apart as an open vase if you want (hint: the spindle is going to yield more than the vase per acre). The biggest thing to maximizing yields is maximizing bearing surface and light interception per acre. I use dual-leader UFO (upright fruiting offshoot) training for everything now. UFO was originally developed for spur-fruiting species (apples, plums, pears, cherries), but it can be modified to work with tip and year-old-growth bearing species (some apples, peaches, apricots). You just have to space out your uprights more and allow for limited lateral branching. For peaches, I plant trees 8 feet apart in row, with 7ft alleys (I use a TYM 234 tractor). I plant the trees at roughly a 45 degree angle. I allow the uprights on the primary leader to grow (keep terminal bud upright), and select one below the bottom cordon to train as the second leader. I then remove the other buds below the bottom wire. By the end of 1st leaf, you should have both leaders tied to the wire, and mostly filled the space between trees, you've pruned off the pendant shoots, and you should have some fruiting wood for next year. In the winter, tip back the fruit sticks and eliminate damaged/crowded wood. second leaf- limited fruiting possible, focus on establishing your uprights roughly every 10 inches (6 inches for spur bearing species) and finish filling in the space. Eliminate pendant wood, shoots sticking outside of the vertical plane, and any uprights beyond your "permanent" ones in late summer, after any harvest (limited regrowth that way). Next year's fruiting wood is now on the upright shoots. Tip back the fruit sticks and eliminate damaged/crowded fruiting wood. Third Leaf- should definitely get fruit, goal is to get your upright shoots to the top wire (which for a should be roughly 75% of your alley width, IMO). Same kind of pruning as previous years. At some point, your laterals are going to start to grow together, at that point, you need to do renewal pruning in the winter back to a bud near the upright. Once your uprights get to about 1.25x your alley width, head the uprights back to on bud above the top wire (otherwise you'll shade the bottom of the next row). As uprights approach 3/4 to 1 inch diameter at the base, take the largest one every year down to one bud above the leader (unlike apples and cherries, peaches don't regenerate as readily, so you need to give it the best chance). All renewal type pruning should be done before budbreak, to encourage vigorous regrowth.
...See More
Is 32" too narrow for a shower?
Q
Comments (19)
If you look closely at the pictures, you'll see chrome channel on the top of the pony wall and up the right side of the shower, which is what attaches the glass piece above the pony wall. The door is frameless, but I was told that the best structural support for the glass on the pony wall was to use channels, and I didn't want clips on the top part of the pony wall because of the water. Because I used chrome, I find that the channels are barely noticeable; that wouldn't be the case with other finishes. I would also think about how you want the door to open. For a long time, I thought I wanted the hinges for the door to attach to the glass above the pony wall, but my glass company convinced me that there were two problems with that. First, it would put too much strain on the glass above the pony wall and wasn't structurally the best idea (I would have to either add clips for the glass above the pony wall going into the ceiling or have a channel running across the entire top of the glass). Second, they convinced me that I'd want it hinged on the left so that I could open the door inward while getting out of the shower in order to prevent water from dripping on the floor and to be able to reach a towel on the towel hook. That wouldn't work if the hinges were on the right because the door would smack into the shower head/valve trim.
...See More
5 ft Slider or 3 ft Patio Door
Q
Comments (4)
Bear in mind that you will have a wider clear opening with the 3-0 door, but two feet less of day light opening. You might also want to consider a 5-0 patio style swinging door, (It is hinged in the center and one panel is fixed and the other swings open and folds against it). They are also called atrium doors (little a) and Verandah doors. It will give you just a few inches more clear opening width than a slider, but offers two panels of glass. These come as inswings only, and generally have a sliding screen that slides from the stationary panel to the operating panel to close.
...See More
5 ft slider or 3 ft patio door?
Q
Comments (11)
We bought it from Homedepot.com It seems to be a nice solid door for the money. It came Pre-painted and is available in other colors and ready to go. Very happy with the door. We had the trim carpenter that did all our trim and cabinetry install it and they did a fantastic job. It fit right in to the previous slider opening without any tear out or rebuilding of the frame area. Of course my DH watched the trim carpenters ease of installing it and said "I could have done that" : ) Pretty sure ours was righthand in-swing but I get confused on that. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202887216/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=Masonite+72+in.+x+80+in.+Pure+White+Prehung+Left-Hand&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202956615#.UC6rcKPHmKM
...See More
User
13 years ago
A teak bench would be a good addition to your shower. I'm not much for the built in benches, unless you have beaucoup space.

Your long slim shower could one day be a useful feature in a handicap bath.
chloe5
13 years ago
I just finished my 3x5.5 shower and I love it. It is a perfect shape for a shower. I am hoping to get away without any shower doors and the primliminary showers we've taken seem to indicate that we'll only need a glass partition and not a full shower enclosure. I highly recommend the teak bench.
auzzy
Original Author
13 years ago
I was planning to do a ledge for shaving legs rather than a built in bench. I had read here that if you want a bench later a teak one could be used instead. Chloe5--Is your shower also an alcove with tile walls on 3 sides? Where is the glass partition going to be installed and how big is it? Not sure how this would work. You'd need glass at the showerhead end and you'd want to be able to turn on the faucet without having to step inside the shower but then enter at the opposite end? Would love to know how you have planned this out. Thanks.
sundownr
13 years ago
We have a shower that is appx 3' x 8.5' in one bath and appx 3' x 6' in the other bath. They both have walls on three sides. We did a half wall with glass above it and no door on one and we did install a door on the other one. We had the shower controls installed in the half wall so you can reach in to turn the water on and not get wet.

Here are photos of both.
http://www.pbase.com/cjw/image/122768183
http://www.pbase.com/cjw/image/122768166
glsreads
13 years ago
I'm also doing a 3x6 foot shower. It'll be an alcove with three tile walls. Currently planning just a shower curtain as there's not enough room between shower and toilet for a wall and I'm not good at keeping glass clean. I'm debating between a tile shower bench at the back end and an installed fold-up teak seat somewhere along the 6' wall. If I go with fold-up seat do I center on the wall? Suggestions? Really appreciate all the before and after pictures! Can't wait till I can share my own project.
marie_louise
13 years ago
I think it sounds perfect.

Our current master bath shower is 3 feet wide and 5 feet long, with 3 shower heads in a U-shaped configuration. The door is at the back half of one of the 5 foot walls. If it was 3x6, I could put a bench at the short end opposite the shower heads.
houseful
13 years ago
Could you install the shower head on the six foot wall? That would give you more elbow room. Install the bench on one or the three foot walls. Also consider a hand held so you can rinse the shower walls when you clean the shower.
auzzy
Original Author
13 years ago
Unfortunately the only interior wall is 3 ft. The 6 ft wall is an exterior wall, and I've read here not to put plumbing pipes in an exterior wall if you leave where the temp falls below freezing.
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
13 years ago
How about a rain shower overhead? You could even couple that with a traditional showerhead on the short wall with a diverter control....
auzzy
Original Author
13 years ago
I've seen lots of photos of the rain shower heads but not sure I understand their purpose and why people like them. Don't they pour water right on top of your head? When would you want to use it instead of the handheld showerhead?
jimnyo
13 years ago
sundownr, don't know if you're still on here, but i love the pictures of your bathroom. in the first one, may i ask where you got the long framed mirror and why you chose to put it up to the backsplash, as opposed to have the frame extend across the bottom of the mirror too? thanks!
Stacey Collins
13 years ago
I don't recommend installing the showerhead on the long wall in a shower that shape, even if it is an option.

Our shower is 3' x 5' with the showerhead in the middle of the long wall. it's somewhat awkward moving to one side or the other of the spray. I'd much preferred it to be in the far, short wall, but I could not because it's an exterior wall. But if the showerhead is on one of the short walls, there is a lot more open space (outside the spray) to move around in, which is nicer....
HU-407411262
2 years ago
I have got my new bathroom constructed recently and still waiting to use it as I have not shifted to my new house yet. I have given 36" X 72" space for my shower area which will be covered with partition glass wall. Will that space be sufficient for shower ? Photo is attached of design

Pls
Nancy in Mich
2 years ago
You may want to start your own thread with your question. People often ignore when a ten year-old thread pops back up with a new comment added.

Is 3ft X 6ft shower too long and narrow?

davidro1

Comments (16)

rlthomas7

Related Discussions

User

chloe5

auzzy
Original Author

sundownr

glsreads

marie_louise

houseful

auzzy
Original Author

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

auzzy
Original Author

jimnyo

Stacey Collins

HU-407411262

Nancy in Mich

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Is 3ft X 6ft shower too long and narrow?

Comments (16)

Related Discussions

auzzyOriginal Author

auzzyOriginal Author

auzzyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

auzzy
Original Author

auzzy
Original Author

auzzy
Original Author