That isn’t curbless and you can’t get a walker or wheelchair over that.

Thanks Monique. It is ok if a wheelchair or walker could not be used, because, due to the location of the bathroom in the house, the entire bathroom would not be accessible to a person needing a walker or wheelchair.

I am wondering if anyone knows if there is a structural problem with having a 2 cm high threshold on a shower that has otherwise been buildt as a curbless shower. The practical effect would be that you'd have a 2 cm "curb," but the shower would otherwise be curbless. This has been suggested by the contractor, but I am wondering if anyone has had practiclexperience with doing this, or if anyone knows of a reason not to do it.,

I cannot see any reason it would not work as long as it is properly detailed and waterproofed.

I see red flags. I've personally used two curbless showers, and they both leaked terribly all over the bathroom floors. Water all over the floor, the need to bend over and clean water off the floor are bigger dangers than stepping over a minimal curb.

- A curbless shower can be done as a part of a new build, but it's super difficult to complete correctly as a part of a reno. A curbless shower is also quite expensive and will probably leak.

- What kind of foundation do you have? Don't say slab. DON'T say slab.

- How large is the existing shower you're reno-ing? You need something like 4' each direction -- the actual rule is 1/4" slope per foot -- study up on that slope stuff 'cause physics is a bitch and will win every time. Ditto for water. A curbless shower requires much more space than a normal shower.

- Has your contractor actually installed a curbless shower himself? How many? Can you see them /talk to the owners? Don't be his guinea pig.

- Did he say a 2 cm curb or a 2 inch curb? 2 cm is less than 1". A plain /non-curbless shower can have a threshold as low as 2" -- and, yes, you can absolutely run a shower chair over that bump -- remember that shower chairs have larger wheels /aren't the same as wheelchairs. And you can't take an everyday wheelchair into the shower -- you need a hospital shower chair, which isn't particularly expensive.

- Are you in a wheelchair now, or do you have a debilitating disease that suggests you might be moving in that direction? If so, maybe your curbless shower plan is a good one. But do not build a curbless shower "just in case". The chances of you becoming completely wheelchair dependent as a part of natural aging is very slim. Most people, even those who need a walker or a wheelchair, can walk a step or two into the shower. It's too much money /too much risk of leaks to do it "just in case".

- You might consider a transfer seat /bench instead of a curbless shower. It can accomplish the same task, but it's not going to leak, and it's a more surefire way to get yourself into the shower with less possibilty of leaks and a whole lot cheaper.

- Consider all the other details of your shower: Be sure to get a hand-held shower head on a "slide" so you can lower it to a seated position. And build in storage for your shampoo, etc. that you'll be able to reach your things from a seated position. Place your shower controls in such a position that you can reach them without entering the shower. Place your towel racks so you can reach them from inside the shower (don't allow a glass door to block your access); though, if you're going "all out", get a body dryer like the Tornado, which eliminates the need for towels. Consider that if you need a walker or wheelchair, you probably won't be able to use throw rugs -- so consider instead heated floor tiles. And grab bars -- go ahead and put them in now; if you try to add them later, you'll probably ruin your waterproofing (ask me how I know). ALL of these details will serve you better than a curbless shower.

It depends on the waterproofing choice and the structural build alterations. You have to recess the shower area 4”, to build it back up to be even with the room floor with with mud or foam. That’s expensive to do those structural alterations. You might as well do a standard curbed as add 8 -15K to the job and still get a 2” curb. What’s another 2“ at that point?

Dumb question maybe but can you just swing the door in instead of out? Which side it’s hinged from and access to the controls is key.

This is the one thing that I don't like about my zero threshold shower. I HAVE TO swing the door in as to not mess with the shower mat that is outside the door and that I like to have when stepping out of the shower. It's in my master, so it's a large shower, and what I wanted - but I kinda would have liked the flexibility to push the door IN when entering the shower and then OUT when exiting. In the pool bath, I have a shower pan from Kohler that gives me a 1.5" or so step up and that allows the glass shower door to swing either way and it clears the rug. Nice...