Hi! The big window in the shower is part of my 1985 tract house and appears to be a problem for most homeowners in my neighborhood. The original installation was prone to leaks, with water penetrating the inside of the wall. Many neighbors use a shower curtain along that wall, but I wanted to have an unadorned window. We gutted the room, and hired a local "vinyl" window company to install the picture window. It's dual pane with patterned (Industrex) glass. The interior of the window was not rated to be used in a wet environment. The installer caulked areas he thought would be vulnerable. There is no way to know if water is going inside the window, but to my eye I think it's doing great. My tile installer used "old school" techniques, putting wire lath up with layers of mortar which he leveled perfectly. The tile is perfectly square and sits flush against the window. Along the bottom edge, he used sheets of vichithane (sp?) which is a sticky rubber product. He over-did that area to make sure water never entered the wall. The marble sill sits on top of the waterproofing system. A window in the shower is great and I love the design, however, I can't shower at night with the light on. I have no problems with a "peep show" as long as I shower in the morning with the light coming in from the outside. Hope that helps! P.S. The local window company convinced us they manufacture windows, but I suspect they are the same as big-box store retrofit vinyl windows. The rest of the house we used Renewal by Andersen and they're much better.

how long should I wait to use hydroban after sealing joints with mesh and thin set? I am a little worried that putting the hydroban on too quickly after thin setting the joints and niche that it may stop the thin set from curing. I thin setted one joint between the durock, the corners around the bottom and sides of a window, my niche and where the tops/sides of the durock meets the green board (above and in front of my shower). I thin setted in the afternoon and then went home to eat and shower. I then went back to my other house and started to apply the hydro ban above these areas except for the ones that had not dried totally (mainly the gaps between the durock and green board). Can I apply another coat to these area and then the field tomorrow? I read this on the Laticrete web site...does this apply to the thin set mortar being used to seal the corners/joints/niche etc. ? I am thinking this is talking about a floor application and hoping not thin set. 9. Allow wet mortars/plasters (deck mud consistency) to cure for 72 hours at 70°F (21°C) prior to installing LATICRETE Wateright Floor N Wall Waterproofing & Crack Isolation. BTW my niche came out great so far...It is huge because one of my walls along the shower is 6" deep. Thanks, Steve

I don't have a tub recommendation other than to beware that Jacuzzi type tubs sometimes have electric controls where they cannot be used with showers. Some use pneumatic switches to be safe around water. I will say that I think your contractor's gout suggestion is one I would not use. I have always use epoxy grout around water. Near sinks and in the washroom. It costs a lot more to begin with but it is impervious to water. Not my experience with any other grout. It is also impervious to mold and grime. Comes in any color. They used to carry it at Lowes (probably still do).

I feel like a glass tile might be nice with your flooring choice. I found this one on Tilebar. It is a bit dark maybe. Mangata groove cafe glass tile But there is also this, which is Crema. I think that is likely what you've got on your floor. This one is a good size 2X8 - so longer than your regular subway. Crema marfil 2 X 8 I'm sure if you look, you can find a ceramic tile to mimic Crema. I agree that white tile isn't the right choice. There is quite a range of colours in glass tiles and I'm wondering if that look nice in your bath. You mention you don't want bland and I think that more of the same as the floor might end up being just that, bland. Here is a glass sample, I don't know if it would be the right colour, but if you could find something similar colour to your grout choice, that might look nice. Loft smoky taupe