There are pros and cons to both. Curbless requires more- more time, more money, more waterproofing, more thought. When curbless is done right, it's great. When it's done wrong...well it's a very expensive mistake. You need good quality subs, proper waterproofing, and to plan it from the beginning.

The pros of curbless are that it's seamless, it's good for injuries or older people, and it does have a higher class feeling. If you opt for it I would use the same floor for the shower and bathroom floor.

TY Sina, our contractor wants to do curbless he likes the look and has done it many times before. I don't know though, hoping some others post some photos and experiences here.

I have a curbless shower. No water ever under the glass; it’s pitched properly. I used the same tile, but it was cut into small squares (rest of floor is 24x24) for safety.

If that’s newly built construction, it’s too late for curbless. The floor drop has to be designed into the plans from the architect. Unless you go back and drop the floor like a retrofit. That’s going to be expensive. If it’s a remodel, you’ll still need to drop the floor, and possibly waterproof the rest of the room. It depends on how large the space is, waterproofing choice, and your foundation type. Retrofit is harder and more expensive.

It's a renovation, they are coming to level the floor next week so that is why we're deciding now. After searching a bit just now we may just do a curb lol!

Oh I like that Dragonfly! Thank you.

Curbless would be best if you can manage it. Why? Medical reasons-

You never know what will happen health-wise. Rehabilitation following back surgery will require a healthy, gym-going, fit 40 y.o. to use a front wheeled walker for stabillity as they recover. Stepping over a curb or climbing/ descending a stair puts tremendous torque on the lumbar vertebrae (aka the lower back). Unless you're fond of sponge baths, opt for a CURBLESS shower. Your later years might find you with a hip replacement where a wheelchair is required . Roll-in, curbless shower is best.

DK Haas I don't live that way, in fear like that. Do people really do things to their house for those reasons fearing something may happen like that? We won't even have a tub in the entire house (3 bathrooms).

LOL too funny! It is not living in fear. It is making wise choices when remodeling a house. Many people prefer a smooth transition surface to a shower, due to their desire for a smooth entry. Increasing a home value is reason alone to do avoid a curb Master shower. I offered you practical info.based on medical knowledge. You can dismiss advice, it won't bother me.

No tub in the house? Although that may fit your lifestyle, not having a tub in the entire house is bad for resale, as many home buyers want a tub to bathe kiddos or pets.

Your latest post makes more sense, people just prefer a smooth entry. Do you have it? Like it? And we debated the bathtub/shower thing but didn't use a tub once in the last 5 years we had our last house and we have young kids. We're not worried about resale at the moment, and one of the bathrooms can have a tub added if necessary as it is the correct size (I know it's not easy to do but it fits there). Does a curbless shower increase home value more than one with a curb? I never would have thought..

Just one more comment, not to promote our frequent approach with the "minimal threshold", but all four of the above photos are from multi-million dollar homes of "mature" people. It offers the containment advantage while making it easier to transition if the need arises. This approach is being chosen more often today than curbless by our clients. Of course, we install all styles as well.

Notice Dragonfly’s above minimal curb has a beveled detail that allows a walker or wheelchair to roll over it more easily. It’s not a square edge blockage. Also notice that swoon worthy stone profiled moldings in shower #1. It’s those small details that matter.

It should be no shock that such craftsmanship was peer recognized! Congratulations Lee! https://www.tile-assn.com/news/468280/NTCA-Names-First-Tile-Setter-Craftsperson-of-the-Year.htm

waterproofing and grading are key, request a cappilary break if you dont want A mini curb like DragonMasters awesome builds.

Case how old are you and your spouse and how long do you intend to stay in your house?

We have curbless and have no problems with water spilling out.

No water spilling out in a curbless is due to a proper design with enough room in the shower.

Improperly Designed curbless are rampant though. You cannot create a curbless shower by “just“ taking away the curb on a standard shower. Especially not if it is a smaller space. Smaller showers will get splashout. Because they are too small to be curbless. The size has to work, and the math for the floor slope has to work. The waterproofing has to work. It’s all an interrelated system that starts with the proper design before the construction work even begins. It’s not a last minute, “Oh, I think we should do curbless.” Not unless you have lots of disposable income.

FWIW, my designer once had a client have a sewer backup in the shower shortly after their bath remodel. They had chosen a "curbed" shower, so it wasn't a disaster but it's something my designer considers now when deciding whether to recommend curbless or not. (I have an old home; we've replaced parts of our sewer line so we're good now, but it reminded me that this can happen.)

Curbless showers, the latest 'pot filler' being sold to homeowners. How in the world did anyone ever continue to live in a home after the age of 70 with a 4" curb in the shower?

Curbless so you can 'shuffle' into the space or use a wheelchair? There are plenty of other pieces of equipment required if you find yourself in that position. And don't tell me the shower is off a master bedroom on the second floor of a home not equipped with a lift! LOL

OK I'll get off my soapbox now.

If you can have it done properly, I'd always vote for curbless. And while we're at it, I'd go with groutless, too.

Curbless showers, the latest 'pot filler' being sold to homeowners. How in the world did anyone ever continue to live in a home after the age of 70 with a 4" curb in the shower?

Why don't you show what the heck you have no clue about. The truth is that if someone has issues which both my Mom and Dad had, climbing over even a 4" curb can be dangerous. And for my Mom especially with Parkinson's, that 4" curb might as well have been Mt Everest. Trying to navigate a single step was dangerous for her balance and would take her several minutes.

Curbless so you can 'shuffle' into the space or use a wheelchair?

Yes so you can shuffle into the space without having to lift your feet and possibly lose your balance.

There are plenty of other pieces of equipment required if you find yourself in that position.

Yes, grab bars. But even using grab bars can be an issue to someone who has a handicap.

And don't tell me the shower is off a master bedroom on the second floor of a home not equipped with a lift! LOL

Well there I'll agree with you 100%

OK I'll get off my soapbox now.

Maybe you shouldn't have gotten on it for this issue.

My Grandpa will be turning 91 soon and uses his late 1960's 3x3 shower with a 4" step with ease. My grandmother (God rest her soul at age 77) suffered from Parkinson's Disease and only had trouble during her last 6 months of life. My Grandpa or myself would help her step over for her tri-weekly shower. Then during the last 2 months a day nurse would help. My grandparents built the house when they were in their late 30's.

Guilting a designer for pointing out a market exploitation helps noone.

It's not a market exploitation. It's common sense ADA adjustments. And additionally if your grandma didn't have the curb, chances are she wouldn't have needed you to help her over the curb. Frankly there's more dignity in being able to still shower ones self than needing the help of an elderly man and your granddaughter.

I just liked the look, my contractor mentioned it and I thought I'd ask here. No need to be super passionate about it lol. I won't use the medical aspects to make my decision as we luckily don't need to. After looking through a ton of pictures this weekend I think I like a curb there better to break it up and be able to use different tile in the shower part.

Casa I like the look of the minimal curb like Dragonfly shows. Gives you a division between shower and bathroom but also will allow you to shower for example if you ever in the future need knee or hip surgery, or even if you just do something like herniate a disc. (Ask me how I know about the disc and stepping over a curb.)

cpartist I like that too, I'm going to talk about it with my contractor today but feel like we'll just do a normal curb.

Curbless requires more- more time, more money, more waterproofing, more thought. When curbless is done right, it's great. When it's done wrong...well it's a very expensive mistake.

Yes, as a long-time reader of this board, I've read more than one account of curbless-gone-wrong. Admittedly, people are sometimes quicker to share bad things than good things, but I'm convinced that the above statement is true.

Putting in a curbless shower will definitely cost more, and good plumbers aren't easy to find. You need to be BEYOND SURE of your plumber's abilities before you start down this road.

If that’s newly built construction, it’s too late for curbless.

I'm no expert, but I think this is true.

What we call "minimal threshold" can also be a nice alternative.

This is exactly what I've decided to use! A minimal threshold only has to be 2" high. That's not much. A wheelchair or hospital bathing chair can easily fit over this small height.

Don't neglect to pair it with grab bars.

I don't live that way, in fear like that.

The line between fear and wisdom can be awfully fine. I do think some things discussed on this board are a little "over the top", and lots of people worry about the wrong things ... but this discussion isn't one of them. A curbless shower will cost you big bucks, but a minimal threshold won't cost any more /less than the more typical 6"-ish model ... yet it could be helpful later on. When the gift-to-future-me doesn't require any more space or cost, it's an easy choice.

Does a curbless shower increase home value more than one with a curb?

I doubt it. I think it's one of those things that might make your house stand out from the crowd /might help it sell faster, but I don't think a future buyer would be willing to pay more for curbless.

Curbless showers, the latest 'pot filler' being sold to homeowners. How in the world did anyone ever continue to live in a home after the age of 70 with a 4" curb in the shower?

They fell and became statistics in study about "bathrooms are the most dangerous room in the house". After a couple falls, they "made do" with sponge baths when they could no longer step into the tub.

By your logic, we could all build a pit-latrine out back -- it was good enough for great grandma.

Yes so you can shuffle into the space without having to lift your feet and possibly lose your balance.

My grandmother could walk all day long (with her walker), but "stepping up" was challenging for her.

Plenty of people don't have a medical issue now. That doesn't mean that they won't, and a lot sooner than they might have expected. Rather than saying that I'm not disabled, I say that I'm "temporarily abled." We're all one drunk driver or one sprung disc away from regarding a four inch curb as something close to an ascent of El Capitan.

It's fine if people don't want to consider accessibility issues in their 30's and 40's. But it isn't being paranoid (or gullible) if you choose to do so.

in our last home, we had a minimal curb installed in the master. just a 3/4 inch, probably, piece of threshold. it was so helpful to me, when I had footvsurgeries, and my elderly motherinlaw , when she stayed with us to recuperate, that all three showers in our new home are zero entry. I love them . And so do our guests.

like the look of the minimal threshold. Is that what it's called? or? A quick google didn't give much info....and no grout floor? is this not slippery? curious. Although I love the feel of little tile on my feet...Thanks.