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Walk In Shower Splash

6 years ago

We are having a home built and the floorplan includes a 36” x 67” walk in shower. The shower head and valve are on the long wall in the plan, seemingly at the midpoint of the wall, so approximately 33.5” away from the entry. It seems like water would be spraying out of the entry onto the tile. I’ve been trying to figure out how much “splash” space is recommended, and I’ve read in a couple different places to allow for 6 feet of space outside a walk in shower entry. That seems like a lot. But we also won’t have a rain shower type showerhead. I like a handheld showerhead to wash my hair, and my kids if needed!
One other models of this particular floorplan shows the showerhead on the far wall, opposite the entry (but they kept the valve on the long wall, so you can turn it in without getting sprayed). I’m thinking maybe I’ll try to get them to move our showerhead to the other end.
The other issue is I worry about it being drafty. We keep the house pretty cool, but we have always had showers with doors. Which wall would you mount the showerhead on?

Side wall, adjacent to the entry
Far wall, opposite the entry

Comments (28)

  • 6 years ago

    A picture of the bathroom layout would be helpful.

    A heater in the bathroom so it can be warmer during the shower?

  • 6 years ago

    I hate a cold, drafty shower. Why don’t you just put a door? At least make sure they build the proper support in the wall so a door can be added later if you change your mind.

  • 6 years ago

    I’ll get a picture of the entire bathroom layout. This is a builder, so it’s not custom, and it doesn’t currently come with a door. We could possibly add a door later. The opening is 23-24” wide I believe.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    If the builder is dis-allowing you to have a door, is it in your contract that they will waterproof the entire bathroom floor outside the shower and put proper blocking in wall for future door? They shouldn’t have it three ways in their favor: no door, no bath floor waterproofing, and no proper blocking in wall so you can add door later.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    See if you can take each of existing showers for a "Test Drive".

    As far as drafty showers, a shower curtain on a pressure rod may be a temporary solution.

  • 6 years ago

    Here is the entire bathroom

  • 6 years ago

    Mount the shower head on the far wall (the one nearest the toilet) and the controls near the opening, so that you can turn the water on before you enter the shower. There is no rule that says the controls have to be in line with the shower head.

  • 6 years ago

    suero, that is my preference. The builder is considering it a customization even though we initially found this in a virtual tour of our floorplan built in a nearby community. I’m waiting to hear back on what they want to charge for this

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Keep in mind showers generate moisture in the air and the last thing you want in a clothes closet is moist air . . . other than a tyrannosaurus rex.

  • 6 years ago

    well our shower is 3x5 or 3x6 and has shower heads on both short walls. our entrance is on the long wall, right next to one of the heads. granted, we rarely use the head right inside the opening, but when we do, we don't get that much water outside (being careful). we never get any water outside from the other head.
    that being said, put the head where you want it. I don't think you'll get that much water splashing out unless you take really exuberant showers.

  • 6 years ago

    @Mark Bischak, Architect, velociraptors are worse in a closet than T. rex-- more manoueverable, meaner and more useful arms.


    Velociraptor Free Counter! · More Info


  • PRO
    6 years ago

    I heard they died off because of mold and mildew in their closets.

  • 6 years ago

    I can’t change the entrance (but I’m going to see about what it would take to block the wall for a future door), plus move the shower head to the far wall. Honestly it’s just about the only thing in the house I don’t love. This builder does the same general bathroom layout in many of their floor plans.

  • 6 years ago

    Completely agree with Mark. I already hate the idea of having a clothing closet in the bathroom but I guess this is the way of the future. To me it is even more to consider when you have carpet in your closet too. ;)


    Suero makes an excellent suggestion. It shouldn't be a customization but whatever helps you protect your home long after the builder leaves your community is what matters.

  • 6 years ago

    That’s what I think too. I’m hoping we can make this work. It’s a well rated builder, but this is not custom. I am showing them their own virtual tour of the same house they built in another subdivision with the layout suero mentioned and they’re saying it would be a customization 😒 (see the picture above) Doesn’t make sense to me.

  • 6 years ago

    My closet is a walk through with a door into the closet from the bathroom and another door into the closet in a vestibule outside the bathroom. We really like it.


    I never worry about moisture into the closet from my bathroom..but your setup would concern me. That closet looks like it wbe prone to moisture issues.

  • 6 years ago

    It may have been custom in the other house as well. Models (virtual or real life) very often show upgraded and sometimes even "custom" features.

  • 6 years ago

    I understand models are loaded with upgrades, but the one with the switched showerhead was an inventory (spec home). The sales rep was confused by it. She said they would not normally change something like that in an inventory home. The only thing I can imagine is if someone plunked down money to build, made this customization, but then backed out of the deal. Anyway, I was just wanting opinions on where others might place the showerhead, and It sounds like most would choose the end of the shower.
    More info I reached out to a friend who built a home with this builder; her shower setup is similar, but is open on both ends with closet doors around the corner from the shower entries. She said they never have an issue with water splashing out. So at least I have someone with real world experience in a similar setup, if I don’t want to pay for any “customizations.” I have included a picture of the virtual tour of her floorplan.

  • 6 years ago

    ILoveRed, I would love a picture of your setup if you can share one. I’m not understanding it.

  • 6 years ago

    I don’t know if this will help you Sarah...but here it is. I purposely had my closet placed in the corner (an architectural faux pas) because I have close neighbors on that side ..


    my shower does not have a door either. i like it. I have the Panasonic vent fan with heater in my shower but I rarely turn on the heater.




  • 6 years ago

    I don't think you will have much issue with splash if you put it on the long wall. I do think it's an odd size though and 36" deep may feel cramped when the width is there.


    As for the door - most of the heat and steam go UP - not as much pours out horizontally

  • 6 years ago

    just_janni, thanks for your input. My husband brought up the point today that we can always twist the showerhead a little bit towards the closed end as well, it’s not like you have to stand directly in front of where it is mounted to shower.

  • 6 years ago

    I have a long narrow shower with showerheads halfway and no door.

    We put a heat fan right after you step in which works great.

    We have a ledge on the skinny far wall for putting a leg up for shaving, resting if needed and storing our stuff.


    Here's some pics.





  • 6 years ago

    @ILoveRed - we just installed a Panasonic Heat Fan and the electrician made a comment about the heat going up with the fan. Do you find that to be the case?

  • 6 years ago

    I’d be concerned about water, even just a bit, on a tile floor outside the closet. Will the closet floor be tile? Anyway, that’s an oft-traveled area, and could be slippery.

  • 6 years ago

    My closet shares a wall with the showerheads for our huge three showerhead shower and my clothes have never gotten moldy or mildewy.

  • 6 years ago

    Mainell....I think it heats the shower enough that I don’t tend to use it..I get hot easily.


    my daughter uses my shower with her kids in with her. and they do use the heating fan. She says it heats well.

  • 6 years ago

    @ILoveRed - thanks for the info. Guess I’ll find out in the next week or so. It’s cooling off here. I hate getting out of a hot shower to a cool room.