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Plumbing Bathrooms

Change or keep footprint in 8x7 hallway bathroom

2 years ago

Complete gut and remodel of upstairs hallway bathroom, which is 8 by 7.5 ft. I plan to replace the tub/shower combo with a walk-in shower. My plumber says moving plumbing fixtures is possible but more costly. I cannot move the walls or the entry door -- I can change the window.

I have tried (on paper) every arrangement I can imagine. Of the attached two layouts, which do you prefer?

The first layout (with green rug) keeps the same footprint and has a shower with exterior dimensions of 60 X 42 inches, with 20-inch deep vanity. The second layout (with black rug) has a shower with exterior dimensions of 54 X 48 inches, also shown with a narrow vanity. I can adjust the shower dimensions to allow for a deeper vanity. Both layouts allow for 36-inch space for the toilet.

Constraints: I am in California where shower pivot doors are required to open outward and not inward, and the shower door cannot conflict with the entry door. The shower control valves must be easily accessible from both inside and outside the shower, and I want to avoid having the valves on the exterior wall. I added a built-in bench in my downstairs guest bathroom and want to include a bench, if possible in this bathroom.

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Comments (3)

Jake The Wonderdog
2 years ago
I think the original layout is the best (green rug). It feels more spacious and avoids a window in the shower area (always a bad idea). It's also going to involve less moving of plumbing. When I get out of the shower I'm looking for space to dry off / put on a robe. The original layout has that right outside the shower while you have to move to the side to try to find room on the second layout.
plan2remodel thanked Jake The Wonderdog
Karenseb
2 years ago
My daughter is doing a similar layout to your bottom picture. You could switch the toilet and shower in the second picture to avoid changing out the window.

Also, I would rather a 36 by 54 or 36 by 60 shower so that you have a more spacious walkway in front of the vanity.
plan2remodel thanked Karenseb
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plan2remodel
Original Author
2 years ago
I am attaching layout #3 with red/yellow rug. In this configuration, the exterior dimensions of the shower are a maximum of 42 X 54 inches, which gives me an interior of about 36 X 48 inches. There is a heating vent in the ceiling that would conflict with a wider shower. The shower pivot door needs to go on the lefthand side of the shower (to avoid conflict with entry door). This requires that the side wall (next to the toilet) be at least a 6" wide pony wall with glass above it hinged to the ceiling, and shower control valves on the inside of the pony wall.

One aesthetic issue with layout #3 is that from the hallway, I would see a blank wall with no focal point. Either need to continue an interesting tile across this wall, add artwork, or move the window. The existing window is 21" wide and 42" high.

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