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Need ideas for walk-in shower materials
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| Sasquatch 2006-10-04, 9:25 am |
| We have a 5' x 5' walk-in shower in our new house we're building.
We're not putting a unit in there, as it's not a standard unit
dimension. Ideally we'd like ceramic tile, but now we're trying to cut
corners, and we're wondering if there might be in inexpensive solution
for wall material and floor base that would make a nice walk-in shower
for a few years until we get around to an upgrade. Any advise?
Thanks,
John
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| Kris Krieger 2006-10-04, 1:25 pm |
| "Sasquatch" <linux4all@yahoo.com> wrote in news:1159970434.394297.94670
@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> We have a 5' x 5' walk-in shower in our new house we're building.
> We're not putting a unit in there, as it's not a standard unit
> dimension. Ideally we'd like ceramic tile,
Two things to think about :
(1) Ease of cleaning (grout is a soap-scum magnet...)
(2) Footing - i.e., how slippery the floor is
> but now we're trying to cut
> corners, and we're wondering if there might be in inexpensive solution
> for wall material and floor base that would make a nice walk-in shower
> for a few years until we get around to an upgrade. Any advise?
Cultured marble for the walls, maybe? There are various colors. It's sort
of like Corian and SileStone, I think, i.e. mineral bits set into resin.
All sorts of colors and appearances, some are quite nice IMO. We got white
in this place (it's what was offered) but the available variety is
increasing.
It's really easy to clean.
The floor is another matter - don't want anything too slippery. If the
shower is too large for a pan, well, I don't know...how is pool plaster
made? Maybe something similar to that.
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| Warm Worm 2006-10-04, 9:25 pm |
|
"Sasquatch"
> We have a 5' x 5' walk-in shower in our new house we're building.
> We're not putting a unit in there, as it's not a standard unit
> dimension. Ideally we'd like ceramic tile, but now we're trying to cut
> corners, and we're wondering if there might be in inexpensive solution
> for wall material and floor base that would make a nice walk-in shower
> for a few years until we get around to an upgrade. Any advise?
>
Have you ever thought of a "wet bathroom"?
Wet bathrooms might be cheaper, easier to design and clean, and feel more
spacious.
I recall asking a question about wet bathroom materials previously on here
and I think Don gave me a building-supply reference.
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| "Sasquatch"> wrote
> We have a 5' x 5' walk-in shower in our new house we're building.
> We're not putting a unit in there, as it's not a standard unit
> dimension. Ideally we'd like ceramic tile, but now we're trying to cut
> corners, and we're wondering if there might be in inexpensive solution
> for wall material and floor base that would make a nice walk-in shower
> for a few years until we get around to an upgrade. Any advise?
First, 5'x5' isn't even close to being a *walk-in* shower, its way too
small.
In Florida such a thing is referred to as a Conch Shower because of the
inherent shape and of course it has to have a *Florida* name, thus, Conch.
It needs to be at least 8' long to keep the water from running out or
spraying out, into the rest of the bathroom.
10' to 12' would be even better. A proper walk-in shower isn't normally
found in homes under about 2500 sf living area.
Second, I thought and thought and have never came up with a viable/less
expensive material/method than tile.
(I do remember kicking the idea around in this group, like Richard said, but
don't believe a viable consensus was ever found.)
Pay attention to what Kris said, the grout is murder and the tile itself can
be a pain too.
In my last house we had a 4'x6' shower that was enclosed on all 4 sides,
from floor to ceiling, with a door opening (30"x80" etched glass
door-outswing) on one of the long walls.
I wanted the inside of my shower to give the impression of being underwater
so I put a Sand colored 2"x2" tile on the floor that had a slight texture to
it to prevent slipping. I then put 12"x12" mottled Blue textured tiles on
the walls from floor to ceiling. The ceiling was painted with 4 coats of
light blue FlexBon waterproof paint and there was 2 recessed waterproof can
lights in the ceiling. I used sand colored grout (sanded) grout on the floor
and charcoal colored, sanded, grout on the walls. All grout lines were kept
as tight as possible, less than 1/16". I'm one of those rare people that
doesn't like to see the grout but understands its purpose. Tight grout lines
require much more effort to deal with cause the grout must be physically
forced into the seams. Your shoulders will try to kill you. heh
Unless I win the lotto I will use tile the next time too but I won't used
textured tile as soap scum is very difficult to deal with, it gets in all
the nooks and crannies like you won't believe. We found that an application
of Old English Oil on the wall tiles about once a month helped to keep the
scum to a minimal and we kept a 12" squeegee in the shower and used it after
every shower. Yes, it was a lifestyle change and not one that I am willing
to repeat.
A whole house water filter would have helped a little as far as the minerals
in the water building up on the walls.
Do NOT use textured tiles.
Use the largest tiles you can find.
Keep the grout lines very tight.
Lastly, whatever you want done in your house, do it now.
I can't stress that enough.
Its amazing how little time you have to do stuff after the fact and there
never seems to be enough money to upgrade after you're moved in.
The lender will extend you a little extra leeway at the closing table when
the thing is done.
We spent, on paper, about $10k MORE than what our original loan docs
specified.
(I personally spent an additional $30k out of my own pocket on a multitude
of upgrades during construction that was not included in the loan amount).
I stubbed out and prewired for an outdoor kitchen on our porch by the pool
but for various reasons during the 4 years we lived there it never got
built.
I wish I would have built it during the construction process and been done
with it, cause in the end all I did was sell the whole thing 4 years later.
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"Sasquatch" <linux4all@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1159970434.394297.94670@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> We have a 5' x 5' walk-in shower in our new house we're building.
> We're not putting a unit in there, as it's not a standard unit
> dimension. Ideally we'd like ceramic tile, but now we're trying to cut
> corners, and we're wondering if there might be in inexpensive solution
> for wall material and floor base that would make a nice walk-in shower
> for a few years until we get around to an upgrade. Any advise?
>
> Thanks,
> John
>
Back in our hippy days, we built a shower with a small (48X48) tub base and
three sheets of marine plywood. Worked fine for several years. When we had
the money for tile, I power sanded the scum and paint off and tiled the
space. This lasted fine until the next remodeling about ten years later.
However since I've grown up, I wouldn't do it again as it really was tacky.
EDS
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| Ken S. Tucker 2006-10-05, 1:25 pm |
|
Sasquatch wrote:
> We have a 5' x 5' walk-in shower in our new house we're building.
> We're not putting a unit in there, as it's not a standard unit
> dimension. Ideally we'd like ceramic tile, but now we're trying to cut
> corners, and we're wondering if there might be in inexpensive solution
> for wall material and floor base that would make a nice walk-in shower
> for a few years until we get around to an upgrade. Any advise?
> Thanks,
> John
You've received good advice, as an alternative,
panel the shower. One can buy water resistant
panelling, varathane it outside and screw it on,
(whatever you decide, be sure no mold will grow).
Shower floors are treacherous, I prefer a bathtub
with a rubber bath mat, the mats are disposable
or easily cleaned, maybe a double bathtub ~ 5x5
would be good. I took a plastic lawn chair cut the
legs off for a bathtub stool, I can sit and bathe and
soak my feet in a tote, while I watch TV, nice...
Ken
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| Warm Worm 2006-10-05, 5:25 pm |
|
"Ken S. Tucker"
> Shower floors are treacherous, I prefer a bathtub
> with a rubber bath mat, the mats are disposable
> or easily cleaned, maybe a double bathtub ~ 5x5
> would be good. I took a plastic lawn chair cut the
> legs off for a bathtub stool, I can sit and bathe and
> soak my feet in a tote, while I watch TV, nice...
That's adorable. 
....You know, I've lately been thinking about shower/bath-treachery, as I
fell in a bathtub just last winter (as I was taking a shower with my arm in
a cast) for the first time ever in my life.
My tentative verdict concerns the design of our bathtub which seems
inherently unstable in light of its very rounded edges from the walls to the
base. IOW, there's less level standing room; if your foot lands any nearer
to the side of the tub, it lands on the rounded part. So if that rounded
part or your foot happens to be slippery-- and even if not quite-- and you
have one arm in a cast and soap in your eyes... Well, it was an accident
waiting to happen. More R&D and ergonomics!
| |
| Ken S. Tucker 2006-10-05, 5:25 pm |
|
Warm Worm wrote:
> "Ken S. Tucker"
>
> That's adorable.
> ...You know, I've lately been thinking about shower/bath-treachery, as I
> fell in a bathtub just last winter (as I was taking a shower with my arm in
> a cast) for the first time ever in my life.
Check this guy out...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G...ife_in_politics
as well as John Glenn other friends of mine have had
accidents in showers, WARNING, DANGER, DANGER.
> My tentative verdict concerns the design of our bathtub which seems
> inherently unstable in light of its very rounded edges from the walls to the
> base. IOW, there's less level standing room; if your foot lands any nearer
> to the side of the tub, it lands on the rounded part. So if that rounded
> part or your foot happens to be slippery-- and even if not quite-- and you
> have one arm in a cast and soap in your eyes... Well, it was an accident
> waiting to happen. More R&D and ergonomics!
Yeah, wifey showers standing, so I installed lots
of hand holds, me I sit on my cut down chair and
shower. I enjoy when wifey sits on the chair so I
can do her back, the tub is elevated so I can just
roll my office chair over and scrub her. I like washing
a girls back, and every person I've met likes having
their backs scrubbed, I even wash men's back's too.
What I like to do is include a massage, in the case
of men you need strong hands to dig in to improve
circulation, while the ladies perfer a gentler touch.
Ken
| |
| Kris Krieger 2006-10-05, 8:25 pm |
| "Ken S. Tucker" <dynamics@vianet.on.ca> wrote in
news:1160064078.727380.278470@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>
> Sasquatch wrote:
cut[color=darkred]
solution[color=darkred]
shower[color=darkred]
>
> You've received good advice, as an alternative,
> panel the shower. One can buy water resistant
> panelling, varathane it outside and screw it on,
> (whatever you decide, be sure no mold will grow).
I've seen that. The biggest problem is that any seams have to be
covered over, and the seam covers I've seen look tacky.
Related Q., is countertop laminate not useable in a shower?
> Shower floors are treacherous, I prefer a bathtub
> with a rubber bath mat, the mats are disposable
> or easily cleaned, maybe a double bathtub ~ 5x5
> would be good. I took a plastic lawn chair cut the
> legs off for a bathtub stool, I can sit and bathe and
> soak my feet in a tote, while I watch TV, nice...
> Ken
>
The problem with tubs is climbing in and out of 'em. I guess it's OK if
one's balance is good, but I got my fill of repeatedly falling while
climbing out of the bleeping bathtub. I *finally* have a dedicated
shower. I guess y'all would call it "small" or even "tiny" (4' square I
think), but compared to past stuff, IMO it's downright *blissful*...
The cultured marble is kind of plain (white) but at least I can keep up
with it - and it's very bright, esp. with the one half-glass wall and
the big glass door.
There is a separate tub also, which is actually quite large. For me,
it's somewhat useful as a "utility sink" - lots of room for potting
plants, cleaning out the bird's cage, and like that.
The pool will have steps *and* a safety bar, so that'll be just fine.
But bathtubs - forget it. I'm just lucky I never broke any bones...
| |
| Ken S. Tucker 2006-10-05, 8:25 pm |
|
Kris Krieger wrote:
> "Ken S. Tucker" <dynamics@vianet.on.ca> wrote in
> news:1160064078.727380.278470@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>
> cut
> solution
> shower
>
> I've seen that. The biggest problem is that any seams have to be
> covered over, and the seam covers I've seen look tacky.
>
> Related Q., is countertop laminate not useable in a shower?
>
>
>
> The problem with tubs is climbing in and out of 'em. I guess it's OK if
> one's balance is good, but I got my fill of repeatedly falling while
> climbing out of the bleeping bathtub. I *finally* have a dedicated
> shower. I guess y'all would call it "small" or even "tiny" (4' square I
> think), but compared to past stuff, IMO it's downright *blissful*...
> The cultured marble is kind of plain (white) but at least I can keep up
> with it - and it's very bright, esp. with the one half-glass wall and
> the big glass door.
>
> There is a separate tub also, which is actually quite large. For me,
> it's somewhat useful as a "utility sink" - lots of room for potting
> plants, cleaning out the bird's cage, and like that.
>
> The pool will have steps *and* a safety bar, so that'll be just fine.
> But bathtubs - forget it. I'm just lucky I never broke any bones...
Kris, this is a bit "delicate". but I made the aforementioned
chair "bum base" equal to the edge of the bathtub, so the
user swings her legs over the tub surround onto the carpet,
and from there, surrounds herself in a warm towel and sits
in the living room to dry off. Weather permitting, she nudes
out on the porch, that's the best ... air dry.
Why the f**k is life so complicated???
Girls like to be washed, and boys like to wash them!!!
Ken
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| Dezignaré 2006-10-05, 9:25 pm |
|
"Warm Worm" <warm@worm.ca> wrote in message
news:eg3m6o$qfp$1@luna.vcn.bc.ca...
>
> "Ken S. Tucker"
>
> That's adorable.
> ...You know, I've lately been thinking about shower/bath-treachery, as I
> fell in a bathtub just last winter (as I was taking a shower with my arm
> in a cast) for the first time ever in my life.
> My tentative verdict concerns the design of our bathtub which seems
> inherently unstable in light of its very rounded edges from the walls to
> the base. IOW, there's less level standing room; if your foot lands any
> nearer to the side of the tub, it lands on the rounded part. So if that
> rounded part or your foot happens to be slippery-- and even if not quite--
> and you have one arm in a cast and soap in your eyes... Well, it was an
> accident waiting to happen. More R&D and ergonomics!
Every shower made should have a seat in it! How is a guy to REALLY wash his
feet, especially with a big beer belly hanging in the way, or a gal to shave
her legs without standing precariously on one foot like a stork??? LOL -
IMHO Dezignare'
| |
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| "Warm Worm"> wrote
> "Ken S. Tucker"
>
> That's adorable.
> ...You know, I've lately been thinking about shower/bath-treachery, as I
> fell in a bathtub just last winter (as I was taking a shower with my arm
> in a cast) for the first time ever in my life.
> My tentative verdict concerns the design of our bathtub which seems
> inherently unstable in light of its very rounded edges from the walls to
> the base. IOW, there's less level standing room; if your foot lands any
> nearer to the side of the tub, it lands on the rounded part. So if that
> rounded part or your foot happens to be slippery-- and even if not quite--
> and you have one arm in a cast and soap in your eyes... Well, it was an
> accident waiting to happen. More R&D and ergonomics!
The shower in our master bath is, at 30"x30", unserviceable so I've been
taking my showers in the other bath on the 2nd floor (theres a 1/2 bath on
the 1st floor) which has a fiberglass tub/shower/surround.
Jeezis christ on a banana peel.
I know exactly what you're talking about with those round corners.
Wanna compare pulled groin muscles?
2 weeks ago my wife got the brainy idea to scrub the damn thing with some
sort of industrial cleaner and it was slippery as ice for 3 days. sheesh....
After my garage/workshop/office is complete I'm gonna gut that master bath
and the central theme will be a giant shower with nozzles all over the
place.
When thats done I'll deal with that torture chamber in the other bath.
| |
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| "Ken S. Tucker"> wrote
> I even wash men's back's too.
Back hair fetish huh?
My sympathies.
Isn't there a 12 step program for that? LOL
Saw a thing on the Travel Channel in Greece where they have them big bath
houses and large hairy men with mustaches wash each other.
The soap sudz were flyin' and everybody was gruntin'.
Looked kinda scary..........
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| Ken S. Tucker 2006-10-06, 9:25 am |
|
Don wrote:
> "Ken S. Tucker"> wrote
>
> Back hair fetish huh?
> My sympathies.
> Isn't there a 12 step program for that? LOL
> Saw a thing on the Travel Channel in Greece where they have them big bath
> houses and large hairy men with mustaches wash each other.
> The soap sudz were flyin' and everybody was gruntin'.
> Looked kinda scary..........
As a kid, my Old Boy would take us to some
cottage or another every summer weekend and
I'd massage his neck cuz it got stiff from driving,
I was in the back seat doing nothing anyway, and
it became a habit, recall this was in the 50's-60's
before the ergonomics of head-rests, it was good
excersize for the fidgety hands of a brat, so doing
massage and back washing is now second nature.
You really can't wash your own back really good,
and many women aren't that strong, so if a guy or
gal is standing in the shower I hold them under the
breast area and can really scrub hard with a face
cloth on the back, it's worth the pleasure groans:-).
But while you're at it, take a look at the back for
anything unusual, especially a mole that might
need a medical opinion, melanoma or something.
One old friend jumps in the shower while the wifeys
yak in the kitchen, just because I'll do his back
while we yak, his wifes problem is she has DDD
tit's, (biggest I've seen, and all real, actually it
causes back problems, I guess she's a victim of
hormones, I have big hands and I need both to hold
just one of her boobs), so she has problems doing
it for him.
Ken
| |
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| "Ken S. Tucker"> wrote
his wifes problem is she has DDD
> tit's,
> I have big hands and I need both to hold
> just one of her boobs),
Some people were just born lucky I suppose........
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| Ken S. Tucker 2006-10-06, 1:25 pm |
|
Don wrote:
> "Ken S. Tucker"> wrote
> his wifes problem is she has DDD
>
>
> Some people were just born lucky I suppose........
Maybe, I put on some big fake tits and man
it's fun for the first 10 minutes, but then it's
something women need to be respected for
to own I mean. Seriously, put on tit's for awhile
and get an idea of the ergonomics, should be
a course for all architects!
Ken
| |
| Kris Krieger 2006-10-06, 5:25 pm |
| "Ken S. Tucker" <dynamics@vianet.on.ca> wrote in
news:1160089514.093656.193320@c28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
[ ... ]
>
> Kris, this is a bit "delicate". but I made the aforementioned
> chair "bum base" equal to the edge of the bathtub, so the
> user swings her legs over the tub surround onto the carpet,
> and from there, surrounds herself in a warm towel and sits
> in the living room to dry off.
Sounds like a nifty invention. That'd actually make a tub useable...
((Grab bars only work if the walls etc. are arranged conveniently; if
they're inside the tub, that's OK for standing up, but no help for climbing
out...))
> Weather permitting, she nudes
> out on the porch, that's the best ... air dry.
>
> Why the f**k is life so complicated???
> Girls like to be washed, and boys like to wash them!!!
> Ken
>
See, now *that* is altruism and generosity (reference Don's post re: the
lottery ;) ) Giving up your own time to please your Significant Other!
What a kind and generous and self-sacrificing sould you are! =;-)
| |
| Kris Krieger 2006-10-06, 5:25 pm |
| "Don" <one-if-by-land@concord.com> wrote in
news:eg4dab01tka@news1.newsguy.com:
> "Warm Worm"> wrote
>
> The shower in our master bath is, at 30"x30", unserviceable so I've
> been taking my showers in the other bath on the 2nd floor (theres a
> 1/2 bath on the 1st floor) which has a fiberglass tub/shower/surround.
> Jeezis christ on a banana peel.
> I know exactly what you're talking about with those round corners.
> Wanna compare pulled groin muscles?
Amen. My one med makes me a bit shaky (and it's not like I've ever had
any sort of athletic grace to begin with...), and that cure, tho' useful
for water drainage, was a real hazard.
THe big garden tub in this house (a.k.a. my "utility sink") is less
curved on the sides than are more typical tubs. Go figure. But I like
my dedicated shower
> 2 weeks ago my wife got the brainy idea to scrub the damn thing with
> some sort of industrial cleaner and it was slippery as ice for 3 days.
> sheesh.... After my garage/workshop/office is complete I'm gonna gut
> that master bath and the central theme will be a giant shower with
> nozzles all over the place.
> When thats done I'll deal with that torture chamber in the other bath.
One thing that might help a littel is an etching compound. At least,
we'd done that to an enamelled tub some years back. I don't know
whether there is a new product for these acrylic tubs.
Maybe I should invent an Adjustable Tub Insert - a nonslip gridlike
thing that can adjust to various tub sizes/shapes, be safer for
showering, allow water to drain through it, and be bleachproof (so it
can be sterilized every so often ;)...)
| |
| Warm Worm 2006-10-06, 8:25 pm |
|
"Ken S. Tucker"
>
> Warm Worm wrote:
>
> Check this guy out...
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G...ife_in_politics
> as well as John Glenn other friends of mine have had
> accidents in showers, WARNING, DANGER, DANGER.
Wasn't he the first man on the moon? One small fall for man maybe?
>
> Yeah, wifey showers standing, so I installed lots
> of hand holds, me I sit on my cut down chair and
> shower. I enjoy when wifey sits on the chair so I
> can do her back, the tub is elevated so I can just
> roll my office chair over and scrub her. I like washing
> a girls back, and every person I've met likes having
> their backs scrubbed, I even wash men's back's too.
> What I like to do is include a massage, in the case
> of men you need strong hands to dig in to improve
> circulation, while the ladies perfer a gentler touch.
>
I prefer a gentler touch too, and usually dry, and call it an FTC, or
(light) finger-tip caress.
Once introduced, my ex's couldn't get enough... Funny, but I'm getting
deja-vu... Have we spoken about this before? Let's look up Google Groups
under FTC or caress... Yup:
---
54 From:Private - view profile
Date:Mon, Feb 17 2003 8:29 pm
Email: "Private" <priv...@address.com>
Groups: alt.architecture
"barlowco" <barlo...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> I don't know a woman architect alive who can afford to "keep" a man...
It's very possible! I probably could could get my cost of ownership down to
a mere $140 US per month. ;-)
Why, my partner easily spends that on "frivolous" items alone.
Certainly with my FTCs (finger-tip caresses), home cooking and baking, etc..
I'm a steal at many times that!
---
It will be my fourth anniversary on here soon!
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"Warm Worm" <warm@worm.ca> wrote in message
news:eg6ua1$rqn$1@luna.vcn.bc.ca...
>
> "Ken S. Tucker"
>
> Wasn't he the first man on the moon? One small fall for man maybe?
>
>
> I prefer a gentler touch too, and usually dry, and call it an FTC, or
> (light) finger-tip caress.
> Once introduced, my ex's couldn't get enough... Funny, but I'm getting
> deja-vu... Have we spoken about this before? Let's look up Google Groups
> under FTC or caress... Yup:
>
> ---
> 54 From:Private - view profile
> Date:Mon, Feb 17 2003 8:29 pm
> Email: "Private" <priv...@address.com>
> Groups: alt.architecture
>
> "barlowco" <barlo...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> It's very possible! I probably could could get my cost of ownership down
> to
> a mere $140 US per month. ;-)
> Why, my partner easily spends that on "frivolous" items alone.
> Certainly with my FTCs (finger-tip caresses), home cooking and baking,
> etc..
> I'm a steal at many times that!
> ---
>
> It will be my fourth anniversary on here soon!
Owww! Lets have a party! I have the papers! heh heh
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