So, you love walk-in showers, however, you HATE the idea of cleaning pools of water off the bathroom floor. And this is not to mention your concern about these pools causing leaks in the floor below.
Given your desire for a walk-in shower – and goal to minimize (or eliminate) water on the bathroom floor you’re trying DESPERATELY to figure out how to make these conflicting goals work together!
And if this is your dilemma you’ve landed on the right article.
Below I’ll share 7 ideas (and the pros and cons of these ideas) on what systems you can use to minimize (or better yet eliminate) water on your bathroom floor with a walk in shower. I’ll present them from least expensive to most expensive. At the end of the article let me know which ideas you think are ‘spot on’ (bad shower pun #1) and which are ‘all washed up’ (bad shower pun #2).
Let’s check out the ideas.
Idea #1 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– Use a shower curtain (or weighted shower curtain)
If you’re looking for the ‘budget basement’ walk in shower, and at least want to reduce water on the bathroom floor, a shower curtain is the way to go. However, I’ll warn you, this low-price option comes with its downfalls (read about them below).
Pros of a shower curtain
They’re cheap. Shower curtains are ubiquitous (my fancy word of the day which means you can find them ANY-WHERE). They won’t cost an arm and a leg either.
You can get shower curtains in virtually any decor. Shower curtains come in various colors, styles, and patterns, and check out the clear design below where you can put your iPad or iPhone into the shower curtain while showering (and I wonder why this picture of this ‘device-enabled’ shower curtain WAS NOT of a 350 lb. guy with a beer belly? Just asking for a friend).
You can maintain your privacy. If you don’t like to show off your 6-pack (or I joke about working on my 1 ½ pack), and want a low-budget walk in shower, curtains are a good choice.
It’s simple to install. It’s easy to install a shower curtain. Any DIY’er can do it. You don’t need a professional contractor.
The opening is as big as the side of the shower you’re entering – With a shower curtain, you can get ‘full access’ to the shower. If you have a family member who needs assistance, a caregiver will appreciate how simple the curtains make it to assist your loved one.
Cons of a shower curtain.
Shower curtains don’t last! When you buy a shower curtain, be prepared to buy SHOWER CURTAINS. They get moldy. They get scummy. They’re a PIA to clean. It’s not a ‘one-time’ expenditure.
If the curtain isn’t weighted, water WILL be on the floor. Shower curtains are notorious for letting water onto the floor. Just ask my wife. When our boys (who are now fully grown men, except when they’re asking us for a loan!) were little we’d always find water on the bathroom floor with their tub/shower unit with a curtain. And while a curved shower curtain helps – you’ll still find water on the floor or problems with woodworking which get ruined when water finds its way out of the shower.
It’s not an ‘upscale’ look – If you’re looking to create a ‘wow’ bathroom – you won’t get it by buying a standard shower curtain. Maybe you’ll get it if you buy the $6,000 custom shower curtains pictured below that Dennis Kozlowski from Enron fame purchased. These curtains are now exhibited in ‘Fraud Hall of Fame’ (or should I say Hall of Shame?).
Idea #2 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– Use fixed shower glass
Perhaps you’ve gone into a fancy hotel (like my recent stay at the Kimpton Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh) where you saw a fixed glass shower creating a walk in shower (and if you’re in the ‘Burgh I’d suggest you check out this hotel -it’s fun and hip). IMHO it was cool (like you’d expect with an upscale urban retro hotel. So, if you’re thinking about using a fixed glass for a walk in shower what are the pros and cons of this system?
You can use a standard shower pan. This can be an important advantage. With fixed glass, it can be positioned on the ‘centerline’ (which is the middle of the shower curb), anchored to the side of a standard shower pan, and then you’re ‘good to go.’
It can be relatively cost-effective to customize to fulfill your desire for privacy. It’s not too expensive to get obscure fixed shower glass if you want more privacy for your walk in shower.
Image Source: www.wayfair.com
You can make it any size you’d like. Vary the width, and vary the height. It’s simple to change a custom fixed glass system.
It’s simple to install. Fixed glass is anchored on one wall and sealed at the bottom. It’s Easy-Peasy to install.
Cons of a fixed glass shower
The biggest negative of fixed glass is water coming out – Since you need to leave room to get in – (I’d allow a minimum of 20” for the entry), and the fact the fixed glass is straight, it doesn’t do the best job keeping water inside the shower. And unless you have a wider shower (I’d say 66” +) I’d expect water spillage with a fixed glass shower.
It can be hard to reach the valve to turn on the water. If you use fixed glass (and you leave the valve to turn the water on the ‘plumbing wall’) – it’ll be difficult to turn the water on without getting wet. And there’s nothing more ‘refreshing’ – sarcasm intended – than getting a blast of cold water first thing in the morning!
Idea #3 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– Use a combo ‘fixed and pivoting glass shower screen.’
It’s funny how few people know (or consider) this option. It combines a small piece of fixed glass with a pivoting glass door on the end. A common size includes a 23” section of fixed glass with a 15” pivoting glass door on the end (for a total width of 38”). So, what are the advantages/disadvantages of this system?
Pros of a combo ‘fixed and pivoting glass shower screen.’
It’s reasonably priced. While this option is more expensive than shower curtains or a piece of fixed glass, it’s more cost-effective than a standard bypass shower door (where 2 doors move), a full glass enclosure, or the glass block or curved walls (for walk in showers) discussed below.
You can use a standard shower pan. This can be an important advantage. Standard pans are less expensive than custom pans and are available from stock. So, if you need a quick turnaround, glass shower screens are readily available, without needing custom products.
You’ll get a larger opening – yet still keep the water INSIDE the shower- where it belongs. Since the pivot door at the end of the system can be angled inside when you’re showering, you can keep more water inside the shower than with a straight fixed piece of glass discussed in idea 2.
You can use this option even in a narrow 48” wide walk in shower. With the standard fixed glass discussed in idea 2 – if you try to use it in a small shower (say one which is 48” wide) there will be A LOT of water coming out because the glass will have to be very small since to allow room to get in. However, with a pivoting screen on the end you can still use a system with a 23” fixed glass door and 15” pivoting door in a 48” space. So, it’s possible to create a small walk in shower with this glass option.
You’ll have a bigger opening to get in than with a fixed piece of glass. Since this system uses a pivoting door at the end which pivots 180 degrees into the bathroom – if you put a standard (38” total width) combo system in with a pivoting door, you’ll have close to a 36” opening to get in a standard bathtub to shower conversion (which is 60” wide). This can be HUGELY important if you have a person who is larger or needs a shower that is accessible due to mobility challenges.
Cons of a combo ‘fixed and pivoting glass shower screen.’
It’s not the least expensive system. If you’ve got to go low, low, low budget, shower curtain or fixed glass will be the ticket. This option is in the middle of the cost alternatives for a walk in shower.
Idea #4 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– A straight glass block shower wall
Ok – I know you either LOVE glass blocks or you hate them. And no matter which side of the ledger you fall on, I’ll bet you a dollar to donuts’ (yes, the weirdest saying ‘ever’ – say that in a Valley Girl voice!) there’s a lot of cool options with glass block showers you’ve never seen.
So – IF you’re open to the idea of a straight glass block shower wall – but don’t know the advantages and disadvantages of it for a walk in shower, read on.
Pros of a straight glass block shower wall.
It’s not the most expensive option. Yes – glass block walls aren’t a cheap date. However, they’re also not the most expensive options (you’ll find curved and bent glass, curved glass blocks, or a framed wall to cost more for walk-in showers). The straight glass block wall will be more expensive than shower curtains, straight fixed glass, or the combo fixed/pivoting glass door.
You can do some cool/funky designs. If the ‘generic glass wall’ just ain’t your thang, then check out the wonderful things you can do combining sizes and patterns of glass blocks. A walk in glass shower DOES NOT need to look generic. As the song below by Charles Wright says, “Express Yourself!”
If you don’t like people seeing your ‘hot bod,’ glass block offers high privacy. Not everyone wants to see everything hanging out! Glass block walls are available in high privacy patterns.
The glass block wall can be prefabricated so even a DIY’er can install it. Yes, it can be a MAJOR PIA to ‘attempt’ to find a mason contractor to install glass blocks. However, what most people don’t realize is you can get premade glass block walls which are as simple to install (even with a funky design) as a kid putting LEGO blocks together! Yes, I’m not ‘joshing’ you here (and does anyone even use this term anymore? It brings me back to my junior high days).
Glass block walls don’t show water marks or hard water deposits. Glass blocks are simple to clean and don’t show spots like clear glass. This can be a HUGE advantage if you’re the resident ‘cleaning lady or cleaning guy’ in your home or are a bit on the O.C.D. side.
Glass blocks are sturdy. Since glass blocks are 3 1/8” thick- and anchored every 16” – you won’t need to worry about the wall falling over…. E-V-E-R!
Cons of a straight glass block shower wall.
It’s thick and takes up more room. Since glass blocks are 3 1/8” thick vs. a piece of flat glass (which ranges from 3/16” to ½” thick), the glass blocks – if you don’t have a deep shower – will eat up precious elbow room.
It’s not as contemporary (if you use standard wavy glass block) – The reason some people don’t like glass blocks is they associate them with the traditional wave pattern with one block stacked on another. It doesn’t look as contemporary as a clear glass shower wall. However – there are little-known contemporary glass block patterns in metric sizes like you’ll see below you should check out.
Straight walls let more water out – Just like with the fixed glass shower discussed above – if your shower isn’t wide, with a fixed glass block wall more water will escape.
Idea #5 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– A framed wall in the front of the shower entry
At first glance most people would say, “Mike, are you nuts? A framed wall isn’t expensive to build, how could it be the 5th most expensive option on your list?”
And while it’s true a framed wall isn’t expensive, when you use a framed wall to partition the shower, you’ll need a ‘custom offset shower pan’ (see the drawing below) which is built around the framed wall. And the problem is this type of pan ain’t cheap! This option also requires wall surrounds (grout free shower wall panels or tiles) on the inside of the shower.
Anyway – let’s look at the pros and cons of a walk in shower using a framed shower wall.
Pros of a framed wall at the entry of a walk in shower.
It’s not hard to build. Framed walls aren’t expensive. And on the inside of the shower, you can use the same waterproofing techniques (whether you’re using grout free shower panels or tile) on the wall surrounds.
You can use the inside (and outside) of this wall to ‘hang stuff.’ If you need a grab bar on the inside of the shower, or a towel bar or toilet paper holder on the ‘bathroom side’– the framed wall provides structure for this.
A framed wall is private. You can’t see through a framed wall (unless you still own a pair of those X-ray goggles advertised on the back of comics books in the 1960’s – Ok, I’m showing my age here….).
Framed walls are sturdy. As long as the wall is properly anchored, it’s not going down, unlike what could occur with a thin and cheap glass shower wall.
Cons of a framed wall at the entry of your shower.
It’s thick and takes up more room than glass. Since a framed wall is 4” thick – it occupies more room than fixed glass (which is 3/16” to ½” thick) and reduces elbow room. If you’ve got a shallow shower this’ll be a problem.
It blocks light – Especially if you’re building an age in place shower, your goal should be to maximize light. A framed wall blocks light.
A framed wall requires a custom shower pan AND wall materials on the inside– Because your pan will need a ‘cut out’ where the framed wall is going – this will require a custom shower base. Also, you’ll need to cover the inside of the wall with grout free shower panels, or tiles (and if you’re looked at the cost of professional tile setters these days, you know they aren’t cheap)!
Idea #6 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– A curved glass block shower wall
It brings style, uniqueness, and curvature you don’t see in most bathrooms.
And while there are advantages of this system (and I’ll tell you my company has been supplying and installing glass block showers since 1977 – so I know a thing or two about them), you’ll also want to know the drawbacks. Learn more below.
Pros of a curved glass block shower wall.
It looks cool. Curved glass block walls are show-stoppers. They have uniqueness written all over them.
Wave pattern glass blocks offer privacy. Curved glass block walls are usually made with the ‘wave pattern’ – which obscures the views.
The curved glass block wall can be prefabricated so even a DIY’er can install it. When someone thinks about a curved glass block wall, they immediately think, THERE’S NO WAY I COULD INSTALL THAT! And I’m here to tell you nothing could be further from the truth. Since you can buy prefab curved glass block walls (and stone or ready for tile shower pans to go with them) a curved glass block walk in shower doesn’t require a ‘contracting vet’ to do the job. As a matter of fact, 40% of the people who buy curved walk in glass block showers from our company are DIY’ers!
Glass block walls don’t show water marks or hard water deposits. Glass blocks are simple to clean and don’t show spots like clear glass. This can be a HUGE advantage if you’re the resident ‘cleaning lady or cleaning guy’ in your home.
Glass blocks are sturdy. Since glass blocks are 3 1/8” thick- and anchored every 16” – you won’t need to worry about the wall falling over…. E-V-E-R!
Cons of a curved glass block shower wall.
It’s thick, takes up more room, and is (permanently) curved into the shower. Since glass blocks are 3 1/8” thick vs. a piece of flat glass (which ranges from 3/16” to ½”), and if you don’t have a big shower –it’ll eat up precious elbow room. Also, since the curved glass block wall ‘bends into’ the shower – you have to be thoughtful to not use it in a shower that isn’t deep (if your shower depth is 34” or less, I’d go with another option).
It’s not as contemporary (with the standard wavy glass block) – The reason some people don’t like glass blocks is the standard wave pattern is a traditional/transitional look. If you want a contemporary look –go with glass shower walls or a contemporary straight glass block wall (like you’ll see in the picture below).
You may need to ‘talk your contractor off the ledge’ for them to agree to install this material – I’ll be honest with you, many contractors are ‘freaked out’ about using glass blocks (and especially a curved glass block wall). They’ll think, “Who in the Sam Adams (ok, they’ll likely use more ‘flowery’ language than this) is going to install this wall?” And IF (and only IF) you attempt to find a mason to install this wall, I agree with them. However, with the premanufactured glass block curved sections, it can be done by any handy contractor – or even as a DIY project.
Idea #7 to prevent water on the floor of a walk in shower– Custom curved and bent shower glass
This IS NOT an option you’ll see often, but when you do you’ll think it’s the ‘most interesting shower wall in the world.’ It’s a Dos Equis special!
Curved and bent glass for a walk in shower is sleek and contemporary. It says I own a custom home. It says I can afford the coolest stuff in my shower. It says I’ve arrived.
And of course, while that’s the good news, the bad news is – this isn’t affordable for most owners. So, let’s look at the pros and cons of curved and bent glass walk in showers.
Pros of curved and bent glass.
It looks unbelievable! Curved glass showers are what you see in high-end interior design magazines. It takes an owner who wants to show off their great taste to use this product.
It can be custom shaped. Unlike glass blocks which are made with standard sizes and shapes, curved and bent glass can be shaped to a specific radius.
You can get high privacy switchable curved glass. Imagine flicking a switch, pressing a button, or using your smart phone and your glass wall can turn from clear to obscure. This is all possible with curved glass.
Curved glass is structurally strong. Although you do need to be careful in the installation of curved glass, it’s structurally strong (especially if it’s laminated).
Curved glass eliminates the ‘boxiness’ of a bathroom design – Curves command attention (hey, Beyonce has made a living specializing in ‘curvature,’ shall we say). For a custom bathroom –a rectangular shower is ordinary, a curved shower is extraordinary.
Image Source: Creative Mirror
Cons of a curved and bent glass.
It’s NOT a cheap date! Yes this glass will cost FAR more than the curtains discussed in Idea 1. For the glass alone (without installation) you’ll pay from $70 to $120 per square foot for curved and bent glass. The switchable smart glass will be from $85 to $120.
This is a specialty product your corner glass shower WILL NOT offer – Don’t expect to go to your local glass shop and get help with curved and bent glass. This is a specialty manufactured (and installed) product.
Finding installers could be tricky – Since this glass is expensive – some glass installers want no part of the risk associated with putting these curved walls up (and when you do find an installer, don’t expect them to be named Billy-Ray Bob’s Bargain-Basement Glass Shop)!
Which walk in shower system(s) do you love? Do you need help with the design – and supply of products for a walk in shower?
So – here’s 2 questions for you:
Which of these walk in shower systems would you use to keep water off your bathroom floor if money was no object?
Which of these systems do you think makes the most sense for your project (sorry to now go all ‘practical’ on you)?
I know walk in shower options can be confusing. There’s no one best system. It depends on the size you need, your budget, your tastes, and your (or your contractor’s) installation capabilities.
If you’d like help sifting through these choices – and/or finding a supplier for several of the walk in shower options mentioned above, contact a shower designer at Innovate Building Solutions. Call 877-668-5888 or request a Free Design Consultation.
Thanks for reading (and putting up with my humor along the way)!
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
