Opening up the shower....or not

9 years ago

Hi all. I am about to embark on a remodel of our master bathroom and I have a lot of general planning questions. The house was built in 1998 and there's nothing majorly wrong with the bathroom -- things are just showing their age (faucets are leaking, sink is rusting, tiles are loose, etc.) The bathroom has a separate shower (about 36 x 70) and drop-in jacuzzi tub.

My first question is about the shower -- I am actually pretty happy with the size and setup. It is very enclosed -- tiled floor to ceiling on all sides and tiled ceiling. The entrance to the shower is a glass door with about a 1 foot gap above it, then wall above that to the ceiling. And while I know that the current trend is to open up the shower to the room, I actually like the enclosure -- my husband or kids will often come in to grab something from the bathroom while I am in the shower and I do not think I would like to be standing there in a shower with no walls or all glass walls. Plus having the walls like that traps the steam in the shower area and keeps me warm, which I like.

However, having the shower all enclosed like this has also been problematic. We do get mold growth on the caulk and grout. We put a vent fan in the shower area itself and run it while we are showering and for 20 minutes afterwards (it's on a timer) but still experience the mildew. I am thinking I could solve this by picking better grout and perhaps drying the shower after every use, but I am also wondering if opening the shower up a bit would help as well by not allowing so much steam buildup in the first place.

I would miss my steam buildup from a warmth perspective, but a contractor I spoke to suggested putting a vent fan/heater unit right outside the shower area to help with that -- I am not sure if that would solve the problem though, and it might be weird (and not very energy efficient) to run a heater in summer so as not to be cold in the shower.

I guess I am just looking for thoughts/experiences as far as opening up the shower. Basically, I am pretty sure I don't want to do the glass walls/no walls thing, but I could keep the tiled walls and stop them a couple feet short of the ceiling, I guess. Either even with the top of the glass door or perhaps where the wall starts above the door (so about a foot from the ceiling) That would still give me privacy in the shower while allowing steam to escape. If I did this ,though, I wonder: 1) what to put on the ceiling of the shower area -- it would be weird to have an area of tile that just stops, right? I'd probably just paint it like the rest of the ceiling. And 2) how that would affect the look of the walls from the outside -- right now I have artwork hung at normal eye height (not there in the picture below, but it is now hanging on the wall above the toilet paper holder) -- if the walls were 2 feet shorter, I'd either have to lose the art or move it down which might look stupid. And on the back wall of the shower (where the hanging shelf is in the picture below -- that wall separates the shower from the tub), I was considering putting some recessed shelving/cabinetry -- again, I fear it would look stupid to stop the cabinets 2 feet from the ceiling.

I'd love to see some pictures if anyone has shortened their shower walls like this. Or hear your general thoughts on the matter. This is a huge investment for us and I am terrified of making a decision I will regret! Thanks!

Featured Answer

nancypblake

6 years ago

for mold control: go to beauty supply and buy 20 or 40 volume developer.

it is hydrogen peroxide that is 12% (the 40 volume) as opposed to regular drug store kind being 3%. it comes in liquid and cream. you can put the liquid in a good spray bottle or even a small pump sprayer with a wand and just squirt down yr shower sometimes. it is really fast with the wand. plus i put the cream in a large, wide mouth squeeze bottle with tip just squirt it wherever i see it starting. next time i get in the shower i rinse it down. you can get a nice size squeeze bottle at a restaurant supply place. it will sting yr hands but you just rinse it off if you get it on you. no biggy. but it inhibits mold growth. i have a tiny bath and mold grows so quickly there.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

mrspete
9 years ago
I'm interested in the same question, and we're going for something of a half-way approach.

Our current shower has "real walls" on three sides and a door on the fourth side. It's a bit cave-like, and -- yes -- we also have problems with mold.

In our retirement house we're planning a LARGE shower with "real walls" halfway up . . . and some glass at the top . . . plus a glass door. A person in the shower will be able to see out /light will come in . . . but his or her body will mostly be hidden by the wall -- it'll be about shoulder height. We're also planning to hide shower-stuff niches in that "real wall" so our junky looking shampoo bottles will not be visible from the bathroom itself.

The guy who just did our girls' hall shower /is going to re-do our master bath shower soon suggested that we install a solartube in the shower. He promised us it'd bring in some light /reduce the cave-look. Because we plan to sell this house soon and want to keep costs to a minimum, I'm not doing it, but the thought might interest you.

I love the idea of a vent INSIDE the shower. I think if we had that now, most of our issues would be solved.

I suggest you give yourself a break by AVOIDING white grout. And go with large-scale tile. In my girls' shower, I was hesitant to use the 12x12 tile that the tile guy recommended . . . but I'm so glad we did. We have large tiles on the wall and small tiles on the floor -- perfect.

For warmth, can you have heated flooring under the flooring of a shower? I'm definitely having it in my bathroom, and IF it can go into the shower, I'm running it there too.

Another thing that interests me is a Tornado Body Dryer. It's designed for handicapped people, but I think it'd be useful for us as we age too. It's like a large hairdryer . . . but it's for your whole body. I suspect that it would ALSO dry the shower a bit, which would cut down on the mold issue. It's expensive -- something like 2K -- but I think it's a splurge we're going to make.
numbersjunkie
9 years ago
mrs pete, since you are planning to sell soon, why would you spend 2K on something that might not appeal to potential buyers? And then pass on a Solartune that can brighten the space for not much $$$?
Related Discussions
exposing roof trusses to open up ceiling?
Q
Comments (30)
I figure after demo part I’d just need to do the insulation between rafters.. then cover with drywall, plaster, paint.. ? Have you been to the attic? Got any wiring up there? Any ductwork? Any plumbing vents? What is your plan to vent the roof? How are you going to insulate? What R value will you have? How do you plan to brace the trusses? What about climate control--HVAC? You will be adding a lot of cubic feet of new space that, in all likelihood, your HVAC system isn't designed to handle. Not only additional cubic feet but also the problem of stratification. How & to what do you plan to fasten the new drywall? You can't fasten drywall into the side of the truss; you will have to install some nailers/ ledgers to fasten drywall to. Trusses are typically constructed of 2 x 4's. Of particular note, the top chord is a 2x4, meaning there will be 3.5" between the roof deck and the bottom of that chord. Which will be buried in insulation. So, you need to realize that you will not see that top chord from the room below. What is you plan to deal with/ cover the gaps in the drywall caused by the trusses themselves? IOW's, what you want to do is a good deal more complicated and labor intensive than what I *think* you are thinking it will be.
...See More
Should porch be opened up to Pool Deck?
Q
Comments (13)
Agree that removing the screens would make the covered area more inviting when viewed from the pool and would enhance the connection between the covered space and the pool area--if you're sure that bugs won't be an issue. (There will probably be less breeze under the roof than out in the open.) As a compromise, is there any way to make the center bay fully openable (and also closable if needed) and leave the screening in the bays on either side? As for fire, the least expensive option is a freestanding fire bowl/table surrounded by chairs, most logically in the far corner near the tall palm, it seems to me. (Do I see a fire bowl there already?) A permanent fireplace could also be built in the space between the paving and the back fence, I suppose, centered on the left-side paved area for furniture arrangement on both sides. A more expensive option would be a double-sided gas fireplace set next to the spa, so it can be enjoyed from the spa itself or from a seating area behind the spa, overlooking the pond and woods. I can't tell whether extending the paving there would make a large enough seating area, or whether the retaining wall would have to be moved farther out as well.
...See More
How to open up u-shaped kitchen?
Q
Comments (21)
yes.... open at the dining nook side ....maybe 3 steps beyond the existing narrow passage to come around and enter ??..... when in the kitchen you will have that 3- wall usage which helps. It's going to feel open with your oversized NOOK? and on to larger family room just beyond.....also w/ wet bar [I'd do that] ... the side where the stool sits up near the picture on the wall could have a little turn to make a small G extension if you want two stools. Do you have 10 feet across? so the extension for two stools at 48 inches across or so can be accommodated.....but your ?NOOK? is so large and family room will expand .....sometimes people head to the larger more inviting spots I find ..to heck w stools at a counter. Unless you want to actually replace the table/chairs w a much larger island for seating and really comfortable stools. I dont see a comfortable generous island in there along with your larger nook left intact to be workable. But the two stools could be okay if you think there will be occasional use. I think I'd just sketch up the U shape w closure of existing narrow entry for starters.....then modify w small section for stools and just think over the goals etc. here is a G shape... that seating on the extension of the G would be an option to consider.... this one below has the seats more on the interior side as opposed to coming off your exterior wall.....anyway.... you have to figure out all your goals....storage/ work space/ seating/ etc. .
...See More
Will it RUIN a Historic home if I open up the Kitchen to Dining room?
Q
Comments (57)
I walked into an brokers open years ago, a small beautiful Spanish style home that was just an untouched jewel box. It was being sold by the ex-wife of the owner at the time, for way under market at $350k. Never let your ex sell your house! A friend of mine had just said to me that if I ever see a small character house for him to let him know. I called him immediately and told him to come see this house. He said he couldn't leave work. I said, "I have your house you need to come now... 'right now!'." Lucky for him, he did. He put in an offer that morning and got the house! A number of years later he was featured on This Old House as he added a period appropriate 750 sqft addition. He added a family room on the back that was adjacent to a bigger open kitchen, it had the historic details of the rest of the house. It was a nice well-proportioned addition. He also gained a view of the lake by going a little out of character, the pay off was great. If you can find the two episodes I think it was nice way to update and keep the character of the place. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/los-angeles-house/21017409/los-angeles-house
...See More
jewelisfabulous
9 years ago
Stopping the walls a couple feet from the ceiling would look VERY weird, in my opinion. My advice is to either keep the set-up the same (full height walls) and look for a mold/mildew resistant grout or go with glass walls with a vent/heater directly above the shower (not outside of it).
mrspete
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
NumbersJunkie, Clarification 'cause I probably wasn't particularly clear:

Current bathroom -- we are skipping the solartube, which was going to run about $600 and probably wouldn't add to the resale value.

New house bathroom -- among other things, we are planning the 2K Tornado body dryer. This is the house in which we plan to stay . . . forever. In the new house, we're much more willing to splurge on a few things here and there.

JewelIsFabulous, I'm trying to attach a picture of a bathroom with a half-way wall as we're planning. I did say shoulder height, but you have to understand that my shoulder is pretty close to the floor. This isn't my favorite picture (too much marble, which I personally do not like), but it's the one I have saved as a photo.
ceezeecz
9 years ago
I think this works because of the high ceilings plus the two windows, especially the one in the shower.
jlc712
9 years ago
Could you put in a transom window, up high on the tub side wall, that you could open from inside the shower? I don't know how practical it is for upkeep, but it would look nice with your style, and would help vent moisture.

Opening up the shower....or not

nancypblake

Comments (7)

mrspete

numbersjunkie

Related Discussions

jewelisfabulous

mrspete

ceezeecz

jlc712

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US