Enjoy These Advantages With A Walk-In Shower
Walk-in showers are a popular addition for remodeling projects. Homeowners like to get rid of their prefabricated shower-and-tub combination units in favor of the walk-in shower. While both types of bathing have their advantages, walk-in showers have their own unique set of benefits. Keep reading for the benefits you can enjoy with a walk-in shower.
Appearance
One of the reasons homeowners make the switch to walk-in showers is because of how they look. A walk-in shower presents a streamlined appearance. You don't have the visual weight of the bathtub. As home improvement expert Bob Vila points out, that streamlined appearance can open up the look of your bathroom.
The installers typically use glass to enclose the shower, so you also don't have the visual block of a shower curtain. Therefore, the tile work of your stall is more visible. You can choose special tile work for this space or pick a seamless appearance with the adjoining walls.
Customization
In that vein, another benefit of walk-in showers is they're more customizable than the combo units. You do have prefabricated models, but also a wider range of customization options.
For one, since the shower doesn't have to come as a full unit, you can choose from different glass styles for both the enclosure and the door. You can have a full enclosure or open it up by omitting the door if the splash zone permits.
You even have choices for the shower pan. Instead of a pan with a shallow curb to control the water, you could have the installers slope a tile floor to a drain in the back of the shower. That construction results in no curb.
Accessibility
Indeed, walk-in showers are part of Universal Design for that very reason — you can get rid of the curb. Universal Design practices aim to make spaces accessible to people of all abilities and ages.
People who are in wheelchairs can more easily access a curbless walk-in shower. It's also easier for the elderly, many of whom struggle to step over a tub and into the shower. Curbless showers are also easier to access for those who have any kind of foot or leg injury.
Space
A walk-in shower can take up less space than a combo unit. You only need enough space to comfortably bathe in the shower. You're not hampered by the predetermined size of a tub.
What's more, because walk-in showers are so customizable, you can design yours to fit into any space. For example, shower pans come in different shapes so you can even tuck your shower into a corner. Both of these qualities make walk-in showers ideal for small bathrooms.
Enjoy the above advantages with your new walk-in shower installation.