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6 foot alcove, 5 foot tub

15 years ago

Another day, another issue. Today as we did out curved shower rod experiment I realized we have another problem. Out 5' Kohler Village tub is in a 6' foot alcove. It was designed this way on purpose to allow a one foot wide ledge or seat at the end of the tub. The idea was to have it about 3" to 4" above the 14" tub rim so it could be used as a seat, for all the products that my daughters have overflowing in their current bathroom, and eventually for grandchildren toys, etc.

Here is the problem. Although 6" shower curtain rods are available I hadn't realized until today (when I was experimenting with where to mount a curved rod)that the curtain would drape up over the 12" wide seat/product/toy area at the end of the tub. This will probably keep the shower water in the tub but it's not a very attractive solution.

The only idea I can come up with is to have the builder frame out for a standard 4-1/2" wide wall that would extend for one foot to end where the seat meets the tub. Then I would have a place to mount a 5' rod and the seat/product/toy area would be more like an alcove at the end of the tub than a seat open to the rest of the bathroom.

Any and all ideas are welcome.

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Comments (4)

weedyacres
15 years ago
I think your alcove solution would work.

You could also have him frame just a soffit out 12" from the wall instead of all the way down. The curtain would hang over the tub but not the deck part.

Or you could just not pull the shower curtain past the end of the tub, and leave the deck exposed.
jejvtr
15 years ago
fls
I have nearly same config - couldn't find a better pic but you can see rod, niche part of tub
I think you mean niche not seat right?

not sure I'm totally pic your issue - but if the niche is as wide or wider than the tub you will have water issues outside of the tub - if not, then the set up as pictured should be fine.

good luck
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heimert
15 years ago
What about cutting out (neatly) a corner of the shower curtain?
flseadog
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you, everyone. I did a walk through with the construction supervisor and plumber yesterday and they voted for building the wall out along the edge so I'll have a one foot deep recess at the end of the tub. The plumber particularly said that he has redone a lot of bathrooms and pulled up rotten wood because kids get carried away and aren't careful about water spraying out at the end of an open curtain. Jejvtr, picture your niche area but with just a wall that lines up with the outside edge of the tub and leaves the rest of the area open so it can function as a seat or a wide shelf for products and bathing paraphernalia. We do have another bathroom that has an extra 6" at the end of the alcove and we're going to do something similar to your niche in that one. Heimert, I love your creative solution. If the construction was already done I would do that but I'm going for the permanent fix. Thanks

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