I'm putting a bench in my not particularly large shower - replacing a typical tub/shower combo with one larger shower.

In the tub/shower, I had a stool which I found extremely useful for lifting my feet when performing various grooming rituals.

It's also extremely useful (as you wrote) if there is a possibility that one might have surgery - or one might think about aging in place.

But lots of people will recommend a removable chair if you need to sit so that's an option.

I am currently crashing in a rental while my condo is being remodeled and just took my first shower in it this morning and dearly missed someplace elevated to rest my feet on.

Too cold to sit on. If you need a shaving ledge, do a tall niche where the base is the right height for that purpose.

You can heat the bench if too cold is a potential issue but to be honest I prefer movable benches so I can sometimes sit under the rain head or out of the water stream to shave my legs. Or if two are using a five foot shower you can remove it. You can use a teak bench, garden stool or metal stool. The other option I would consider is a folded attached teak bench. Fold it up if you want a larger floor space in the shower and pull down to use. Teak is warmer than tile aswell.

My thoughts ...

Best choice: A removable bench. This non-permanent option allows you to move the bench around. You want it near the shower head? No problem. You want to take it out so you can wash a large dog? Again, no problem. You need to replace it with a hospital chair in your old age? You can do it.

Second best: A fold-down bench that isn't always in the way ... but, if you go this direction, but sure to placed a hand-held shower head near the bench.

I’ve had both. Last house, had built in tile corner bench (13 yrs, no leaks or issues with it). This house, no bench, so I bought a corner teak one. While I like the teak one — have to have something for shaving — it wobbles on the tile floor. The built in, of course, didn’t. So I prefer it. But if you’re not liking the idea of having one, a built in probably isn’t the best choice for you, since you can’t easily change it or move it.

I like the idea of the one Annette posted, looks like the best of both worlds ... space saver, easier to clean around, useful when needed.

I love a bench. Especially for shaving legs. I don't really use it to sit on. I think we cut ours down to just 8 inches so that it is mainly for shaving legs.

I have a teak corner bench. It does not wobble bc the feet have adjustable rubber tips. Of course your shower floor will be sloped so if you choose a removable bench, make sure the feet are adjustable.

roarah-

I'm of the opinion that heating the tile bench is a complicated solution to a problem that can be solved more easily with a removable bench. You'd have to get the surface temperature of the tile up to nearly the water temperature (usually about 105 degrees F), meaning you would only want it on when you needed it, so you would need a switch to turn it on. You would also have to remember to do that well in advance of the shower to give the heating elements time to heat up all that thermal mass, and then you would want to remember to turn it off. I'm also not a big fan of electric heat mats embedded in mortar, because, when they fail, the only solution is to tear everything out. Just my 2 cents....

I love my built-in quartz top bench. After an exercise session, I can sit there and let the hand held's power spray ease my soreness. The hand held's spray warms it up (takes only a minute), while I'm under the fixed shower head. My shower is oddly shaped, roughly 4' x 4.5'; the bench is recessed into the same wall as the shower head.

I am in the process now and opted out. I am going with sliding shower doors that will open on either end. Will get a teak bench if I feel I need one.

I have a 4x4 shower & we put in a small "foot bench" for leg shaving. Otherwise we didn't want to give up the space for a sitting bench. We also have small children that love showers & we didn't want to give them a place to climb, stand, jump, fall, etc.

We decided no bench in our 3'x65" shower stall. We use a (movable, made for shower) plastic and metal stool ($25 at amazon) instead. A friend has a triangle shaped teak wood stool that I think looks great - like a spa (about $110 at amazon).

(1) I didn't want to deal with even the risk that the tile guy/GC installing it poorly; (2) think I'd always hit my shins on a stone or tile bench, and (3) I can never un-see the marble bench at a friend's house: butt cheek imprints (permanent). Ugh.

I think at 4' x 4' there is still ample room to move in the shower.

Our shower will be 36" x 60", frameless glass, and we've decided on a folding teak bench as well. Just ordered last week and it's out for delivery today:)

https://www.teakworks4u.com/collections/teak-wall-mounted-shower-benches/products/24-teak-wall-mount-slotted-shower-bench?variant=26116250755

Karri, that's a beauty. Please post some pictures once it's installed. Did you order the Plantation teak or the Burmese teak? From the description, it sounds like the Plantation needs a little more upkeep - do you know what's required?

We ordered the Burmese teak, in hopes that the slightly darker tone will coordinate better with our walnut vanity and trim. We shall see! I'll post pics when it's in - might be awhile though:). The teakworks4U website provides lots of information on cleaning and maintenance - basically, brush with a soft bristle brush and mild detergent when cleaning the rest of your shower.

The foldable bench seems like an attractive option but wondering how sturdy it is. Surely you can’t climb on it, and why would you, but doesn’t look too sturdy even for leg shaving or tempory sitting.

Depends on a person I guess. We had a teak stool in previous shower and I literally couldn't use it. I didn't feel it being sturdy at all. It threw me off and I had dizzy spells. When remodeling new place we put in a (quite big) bench, and it has a hand held shower next to it too, but I'm usually doing fine with an overhead one..no, it's not too cold. And I bless this bench every day. I plainly feel much more safer this way.

Some things are pretty universal, and some, are just not.

Yes, we're going to use additional blocking as well. We started out with the idea of a permanent bench but this seems a better option for us. We tried one out at the bathroom showroom and it seems very sturdy; holds up to 300 lbs (when properly installed). We won't be performing any acrobatics on it, lol! I'll definitely post photos, probably in June or July when we get that far:).

I also would be hesitant to rely on a fold out attached shelf - especially for the length of the shower. It seems as though if it collapsed from the wall, it would be a very expensive fix in terms of waterproofing. The bench I am having built is fully supported and is not merely a ledge.

I don't like a separate stool because you have to clean around it or find someplace to store.

I had an operation several years back and the ones that are "safe" for use are pretty bulky and even those don't have backs which are helpful if one is lightheaded or doesn't have perfect balance for whatever reason. Those attractive small stools aren't really functional if you really need them - at least in my experience.

Aging in place may or may not be relevant to others. I am now capable of standing while showering but at some point I may not be - and certainly may not be for periods when I might be recuperating. The built in bench is sturdy - provides functionality and at least for me is easier to clean and doesn't have to be stored.

"one is lightheaded or doesn't have perfect balance for whatever reason"-yes...that would describe me pretty well.

While somebody else might have no problems, or yes problems but different type of problems.

My mom is 91. When she was still home and I helped her in the shower I always worried about the unsteadiness of her shower seat and her tipping backwards.

at my house, when she showered she seemed more secure on my built in bench seat. I just put a towel on the top of the seat before she got in. I did worry about her sliding off and had to remind her to move back frequently.

She is in assisted living now and has a deep fold down seat in her shower, but it is on the side of the shower and quite large. Much larger than any of the seats I have seen posted here.

eta....so I am using a built in seat in the shower in our new house.

Helen-

A wall-mounted seat should not collapse if it is properly mounted. That simply means wood blocking is installed prior to tiling that allows long enough screws to go into something solid. On the other hand, trying to intall one in an existing shower where you don't have blocking, or studs, in just the right places would be unwise.

Here is my perfect bench. Matches the shower pan. Stable. Cheap too.

We're putting in 4x5 shower no bench. I have a bench now and 1) when do I ever have time to sit in the shower? 2) kind of grosses me out to sit on it 3) if you want a whole bench to shave your legs, put in a strategically placed corner shelf or a teak stool (my plan) 4) if it's on the wall away from the water stream, when would you sit on it?

I put a fold down teak bench in the shower of my previous home in Virgina and loved having it. We just ordered one for our new Florida condo. I found it handy to fold down to use when shaving my legs.

If I just needed a foothold for shaving, I would put a 4" ledge in one end.. Toiletries can sit on it, as well. I have used a fold-down shower bench at a hotel handicapped shower and it held my 310 lbs fine. I was impressed with it and even measured it to be sure that if I ordered one for home, I would get one at least that size. I believe it was only 14" deep and 21" long. My shower (which is going to be installed in the next few weeks after 4 years of planning!) is 37" deep and 62" long. I decided not to get a built-in bench because I cannot predict what I may need. I may need the space for a wheelchair. I do have a large plastic seat and I can get the back for it. Hubs takes it out of the shower when he showers, so it does not get wet every time someone showers. I have it set so that it is easier for me to rise, so it is hard to use it to shave. I did get a corner grab-bar/shelf that I plan to set at a low height to use for resting my foot on to wash.

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Another consideration for me is that I have a rainhead going into the center of the shower for use by me. Hubby does not like getting his face wet. I will enjoy getting wet all over, not just half of me at a time, which is the experience in a normal shower. I freeze for a while in the cold weather, under the regular shower head, until I can rotate enough to get warm all over! So by having a portable stool, I can position it under the rainhead.

I also like removeable benches. If you need more room ...to say...wash a big dog....it's available by removing the bench.

If you are putting the bench in for disability reasons and do not yet understand what the needs will be, you may find a movable bench will be a better choice. It allows so many more options for assistance, for increased height in case of someone having trouble rising from a sitting position, or arranging things to suit supporting a limb that must remain straight and elevated. Sometimes a bench recessed into a wall just won't work. In many showers, there is still room to use a portable bench, though, even if a permanent one is there already. In others, it might be better to simply plan to purchase whatever bench or chair is needed when the need arises.