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The No-Threshold Shower: Accessibility With Style
Go curbless between main bath and shower for an elegant addition to any home
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to walk right into the shower without stepping over a threshold or tripping over a sill? Once considered only as a convenience for those with mobility problems, zero-threshold showers are now stylish additions to any home.
Adding a curbless shower is a relatively easy construction project. For a new house, simply specify one at the design stage so the proper foundation can be built. Though it's a little trickier to do when remodeling, as you need to consider potential structural issues, consider reworking the floor structure to get the needed recess. In either case, a zero-threshold shower can improve accessibility and your quality of life, especially if someone in your home has a disability, or is older and planning to age in place.
More: Smart Interiors for All Members of the Home
Adding a curbless shower is a relatively easy construction project. For a new house, simply specify one at the design stage so the proper foundation can be built. Though it's a little trickier to do when remodeling, as you need to consider potential structural issues, consider reworking the floor structure to get the needed recess. In either case, a zero-threshold shower can improve accessibility and your quality of life, especially if someone in your home has a disability, or is older and planning to age in place.
More: Smart Interiors for All Members of the Home
This continuous run of floor tiles from the main bathroom area into the shower exemplifies the streamlined and contemporary feel a zero-threshold shower adds to a room. The shower incorporates a standard round drain in the middle of the space rather than a trenchlike drain at the door. If you're emulating this design, just make sure the floor slopes toward the drain.
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| This design allowed the cabinetry to extend into the shower area, increasing the functional space in the bathroom. |
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| Here's a detail of a trench drain that can be used in a zero-threshold shower. |
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This threshold shower, which almost qualifies as a less-than-zero design, successfully combines two different flooring materials. The wood boards in the shower are spaced to provide drainage and prevent water from pooling. In a design like this, it's important to make the floorboards removable so the drain can be accessed easily.
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| Building a zero-threshold shower on a ground floor or in basement with a "slab-on-grade" is easy. In new construction, lower the slab a few inches at the shower location. If you're remodeling, you'll need to remove a section of the existing slab, a fairly easy and inexpensive bit of demolition. |
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| If the shower sits on top of a wood-framed floor, either notch the floor joists or reduce the joist sizing. Before doing this, be sure to consult with your architect to be sure there is adequate support and that the installation meets building codes. More: The Case for a Curbless Shower Design for All: Creating a Home That Works for Everyone |
Ideabook updated on Nov. 14, 2011.
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Note to builder ..... Please add.
The previous owner of my home became wheelchair bound and built a ramp to an elevated shower. Not cool. I wish they'd done what is pictured above.
they visually open the area.
We've been installing linear drains for several years now and one of our best allies for helpful guidance is John Whipple of By Any Design Ltd (a fellow Houzz member). He is the http://no-curb.blogspot.com/ guru.
Even if your bath does not allow for a no curb shower, you can install a low curb or ramp along with the linear drain. Also, linear drains come with many options like this water-activated LED light feature.
Please visit my blog site at http://www.no-curb.com for my design ideas and considerations. This drain shown was a custom one I had made for this particular shower set up.
John Whipple
By Any Design Ltd.
Can you raise the floor in the dry zones?
Gaining some height as you enter the room can do wonders. One it beefs up the floor improving the deflection and two provides a little safety net outside the wet zone.
Every job is unique.
All my private research has shown that the drain needs to be no less than 5/8" below the dry zone. And this is with zero safety factor.
Knowing this we take great care in placing the drain and grading the dry zones.
JW
Grateful to be steered in the right direction!
http://gamburd.com/category/home-mods/
I'm saying it should have a larger drain for that amount of water, general says not enough slope, we have adequate slope for any 2 headed unit 1/8"++ per ft.
Any Pros with thoughts or similar situations?