Shower/bathroom design help

8 hours ago

I'm in the early stages of thinking about a bathroom remodel. Haven't talked to any contractors yet.

We have a large garden/oversized tub that I want to convert to a shower (there is no separate shower--just the tub with a shower head.)

The bathroom is not large. The basic layout is fine. What I'm unsure of is how to handle the shower opening. I'd prefer a hinged door, as sliding doors seem like a pain and people say the tracks get gross, but I'm not sure they still really have tracks? But not sure we have room for a hinged door. If we have a sliding door, it would make sense to open on the window side where there's more room to get in and out and not getting in right under the spray. But we wouldn't be able to reach in and turn on the shower from that end. So I think both sides would need to slide open, which apparently is a thing that exists.

But maybe a smallish hinged door could go kind of in the middle? I read that doors can be 24-36 inches. A 24" door might fit and still be able to swing open and not hit the toilet. Or if we do a sliding door, maybe that goes in the middle, rather than on one end?

Any ideas, opinions, warnings, things to think about?

Other input is welcome as well, though I don't see any reason to change the basic footprint.

The drawing isn't 100% accurate, but you get the idea I hope. 1 square is 1 ft.
The little wall between the vanity and toilet has a medicine cabinet and I think I'd like to keep that. It also holds the toilet paper holder.
The plumbing needs to pretty much stay put--the other side of the bathroom is the outside of the house and I don't want to put pipes there and it would cost a lot more to move all the plumbing around.

Featured Answer

marilynmontano

6 hours ago

Sliders are perfect for this application. I wouldn’t worry about it getting gross. Just keep it clean as you go and give it a good scrub every so often.

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Comments (9)

RNmomof2 zone 5
8 hours ago
With your bath oom layout, I would think a swinging door wouldn't be the easiest to do. Which way do you think it would hinge? Is it going to swing back against the toilet or to the wall? Are there towel rods on that wall? A slider would allow you to step into the shower without maneuvering around a door. I feel that when you see the doors that swing there is nothing else around the shower (walls).

Do not be surprised if the grumpies show up and get on you for not just adding this question onto your other thread instead of starting a new one.
Claire S
Original Author
7 hours ago
last modified: 7 hours ago
Oh, I thought it was more appropriate to start a new thread for a different question. I think the other question has run its course and this one is about a lot more.

Thanks--if we got a swinging one, I think it could possibly be in the middle-ish and swing open and avoid the toilet? Not sure. I'm also now reading about code and how you actually have to be able to reach the knobs from ouside the shower. One website showed a little door just they add on the faucet side just big enough to stick your arm in just to reach the controls.

https://www.dtglassinc.com/code-requirements-blog
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Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
6 hours ago
44x59 is a large shower. If you plan to keep the valves on the same wall access is the question.

Consider visiting a shop that specializes in shower doors for some expert & experienced advice.

A double slider will allow "dry" access to the shower valve for warm up as the least cost.

Hinging a door in the middle will need some structural support.

Talk to the experts.
Claire S thanked Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
Claire S
Original Author
6 hours ago
@marilynmontano I'm bad at housekeeping beyond the basics, but yeah.
marilynmontano
6 hours ago
They’re pricey but there are newer sliders that have a rail at the top rather than track at the bottom. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwiYn-KGv5SWAxWMd38AHRtJCEUYACICCAEQHRoCb2E&co=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyuDTBhB-EiwANCQhLA4aTMHu7o_TzCOoyrbcnPnB62aQXtUJpIW8IwgLTFoMFg-7MCeCURoCnNQQAvD_BwE&sph=&cid=CAAS9QHkaKjUnBVUszupNAA98TK4NOj7xIzddj1fI5E37HSzme5wEX0ryDpUoybqobk1QFjJggw5bT6cK8ww7UNSKryXWJJCFf-vIDFCDsdoF_2Not0bcJFOSvCUhYv6-zaSEUS2VxUnfDLzqbfulrerxfd3BIq3cTOfBhctXvmxdlId8MLS0Qv5iX8Zk7Tceo7RnHmdtnbJL17_ZS8C2f1Y3kfuUeebXn7nnNHzFdswJIdat6OeAmCjK_ObcS6xP0oZvQ8s7Z7KjTlrMj6x6dDgBVH_idYA9zFIksOfOIcVJtcPjPXuR8oPBKa9wazBnIWFAmYuLf7qBQ&cce=1&sig=AOD64_2vkadaIlenTNZeacZpkwGZ_eDpXQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjkoNuGv5SWAxWxmmoFHScMENwQwg8oAHoECAoQGQ&adurl=
marilynmontano
6 hours ago
https://s3.img-b.com/image/private/t_base,c_lpad,f_auto,dpr_auto,w_70,h_70/product/vigo/vigo-vg6041mgcl6074-7756769.jpg
marilynmontano
6 hours ago
Welp, links aren’t working but here’s a pic.
RNmomof2 zone 5
2 hours ago
I'm confused about "I think it could possibly be in the middle-ish and swing open and avoid the toilet". Are there limiters or stops on glass swinging doors to stop it from hitting the toilet?

How deep will the shower be, are you using all of the space where the tub is? That changes things on a swinging door and also makes a slider accessible from both sides. We have a slider and I get in one side and my DH uses the other. (Not at the same time!!)