How To Install A Handicap Shower
Updated March 24, 2022
You and your married man have had 'the talk' near Mom moving in. Y'all both know it's the right thing to practise. It certainly won't be simple. Since Dad passed away 2 years ago Mom'southward mobility has been headed in the wrong direction.
Yous worry about her living alone.
If merely she would clothing the panic-alert necklace you bought her last yr.
If only you didn't accept to worry almost her climbing over the tall tub track. Inbound a slick bathtub is an blow you don't want to encounter happen.
If only she didn't alive twoscore minutes away. So you lot could check on her more oft.
Every bit Mom is crumbling – y'all're aging besides quickly besides just worrying nigh her.
You and John take come to the decision Mom moving in with you the kids is the right plan. Mom has finally (after many long-nights of conversation) agreed. Giving upward her completely contained lifestyle is not an easy matter to do. Now you need to make your home safe for her (since this is a fundamental reason you're making this move in the showtime identify). You know the bath is the first place she's at chance of falling. Yous know your ane-slice fiberglass shower on the outset floor isn't whatever meliorate than what Mom has today.
The 'ADA showers' yous've seen await like a bad flashback to when you visited Mom in the hospital – yuck! Y'all and John are looking for an answer to the question of how you lot tin can create a stylish attainable shower which doesn't scream out 'Mom or Grandma lives here!'
In this article my goal is to give y'all 5 1/2 practical (and picayune-known) secrets to design a gimmicky and stylish accessible shower. At the end I'd love to hear your feedback which ideas can assistance your side by side project and other ideas y'all have I haven't mentioned. Let's check out these secrets.
Little Known Secret #ane – Don't even remember about using an ugly white fiberglass roll in shower pans. Use a wet room or a solid surface shower pan.
If you've had the 'pleasure' (sarcasm intended) of attempting to clean the bottom of the fiberglass shower pan in your kid's bathroom y'all know it's incommunicable to get the brownish grime off the lesser. Zip (and I mean nothing) get those stains out. And so why apply a standard fiberglass coil in shower pan when yous know it's going to await lousy shortly thereafter?
The good news is at that place'southward two improve options.
#1) A one level moisture room finished with a tile flooring. Moisture rooms are one level bathrooms. In that location is no curb for Mom to stride over. They are completely waterproof. Without the 'lip' to pace over they will work well if she needs to arrive with a wheelchair or a walker. If you want to go 'style bonus points' – use a linear drain system so you lot can use big format tiles. These big tiles are hot, hot and hot in design today – and cuts downwardly the number of grout joints. That's a double bonus.
#2) A solid surface shower pan with a low profile curb and ramp extension kit – On the other paw, if the thought of grout (and cleaning grout) makes you lot interruption out in hives use a solid surface shower pan. In that location are ramped versions (which unfortunately shout out to me – wheelchair) or you can go with a 'low-profile' (which has a small 1 ½" curb height) and add a ramp extension kit you can remove at any time. With this pick yous become a overnice-looking base which doesn't have a permanent ramp.
Picayune Known Secret #ii – Use stylish wall surrounds with zero maintenance. The "No-Tile, Tile Wall"
The reason yous're having Mom move in is to savour time with her and continue her safe. The problem is if your fourth dimension gets sucked up helping maintain her new infinite (and shower), information technology doesn't allow y'all time to spend with her.
I fourth dimension-consuming (and nasty) maintenance nightmare in bathrooms are tile grout joints. About people Dearest tile. They Detest cleaning grout joints. I'grand going to share with you a new way to enjoy the look of tile without grout joints.
Enter the "No-Tile, Tile Wall."
Not sure what a no-tile, tile wall is? Well – information technology'south a high-pressure laminate shower wall panel system which is 100% waterproof and looks exactly like tile. The laminate is applied onto a three/8" thick sturdy marine class plywood which is attached to your studs.
What's cool is you can install them yourself with snap-together panels which click and seal to each other (like a floating floor system). This DIY friendly system can be essential if finding a competent contractor in your town is like a needle in a haystack.
These panels are contemporary, fashionable and come in different 'tile' (OK – actually non-tile) sizes, patterns and textures. The "no-tile, tile wall' is the tile expect minus the maintenance hassles.
There are choices in this line to create a Farmhouse, Contemporary high gloss or even a Modern Minimalist look. How absurd is that?
Little Known Surreptitious #iii – A little thought into shower heads tin can make an piece of cake to use (and safer) shower
We're all used to the stationary shower caput with controls underneath to mix the water temperature. However, this traditional setup can be a ridiculous blueprint for your Mom if she's in a walker or a wheelchair. She certainly won't want to roll in to turn on the h2o when the shower head is too high for her to reach and gets blasted with cold h2o before the water's heated up? Here are iii possible water source changes y'all tin do to make life simpler for Mom and brand it easier to use this accessible shower:
- Alter #1) Relocate the shower controls – Instead of having the controls directly under the shower caput movement them shut to the entrance of the shower. This way she can plow the water on, and permit it get warm, before she enters.
- Change #2) Install a pelting shower head – The technology of high-force per unit area rain heads has allowed them to progress beyond the 'wimpy' water source of yesteryear. What's nice about rain heads for an attainable shower is they direct the water in a more compact location, so it won't spray all over. This can be helpful for a shower which only has curtains or caregiver doors on information technology.
- Change #three) Utilise a hand-held shower – This can be an essential for someone who needs to be seated while showering. The hand-held units not only allow someone to clean difficult to attain places, but it also comes in handy to clean the shower floor or walls (or your pets).
Piddling Known Underground #4 – A flimsy framed shower door is a bad idea. Frameless glass, semi-frameless drinking glass or drinking glass blocks are the way to go.
Since Mom's remainder isn't what it used to be, and you don't want the maintenance hassles cleaning nasty hair and dirt-infested bottom tracks of a thin framed shower door system, you lot'll want to upgrade the glass in your attainable shower.
There are many options to cull from. Outset, you'll want to decide if you want to go doorless (having role of the infinite open up to roll or walk into) or choose a full glass enclosure. If you go doorless some sturdy, safe and stylish options include a glass block shower or a frameless shower screen (either with or without a pivoting door).
If y'all utilise a fully enclosed space, 3/viii" thick frameless glass or ¼" thick semi-frameless glass are audio ways to go.
Picayune Known Secret #five – Accessories (and their placement) and wall hung cabinetry volition turn your attainable shower into an enjoyable experience
But similar accessories make the dress, information technology'south besides true accessories make a shower. When a family member is mobility challenged, the correct accessories in the right location are fifty-fifty more critical. If Mom tin can't safely sit downwards, can't reach her soap and shampoo without straining or doesn't have something sturdy to grab onto yous'll have an accident waiting to happen on your hands. Here'due south two tips to blueprint your accessories right the first time:
- Tip #1 – Avert ownership wall panel or enclosure systems with the accessories already built in – Prebuilt shower wall surrounds with pre-made ledges or flimsy back up confined are built with everybody (and I would contend nobody) in mind. This is a tragic pattern flaw for an accessible shower. You lot'll want to determine (and be able to control) where your grab bars, seats and recessed niches are placed. If Mom has a weak left arm – think about where it's best for her to enter. Put catch bars in the all-time location for her. Conversely if she's using a shower chair how high upwards from the floor should a shampoo niche be placed so she tin achieve it without help or straining.
- Tip #2 – Don't settle for ugly accessories – In the one-time days the simply grab confined available looked just like the ones y'all see in a hospital room. This is no longer the case. There are decorative grab bars. At that place are teak fold downward seats. In that location are stainless steel shower trays with removable inserts which make cleaning a cakewalk. Accessible accessories (say that fast 5 times) don't demand to be agonizing to look at.
- Tip #3 – Hang up your bath vanity –It'south prissy to locate your vanity at the perfect top to you – without having to purchase a custom unit of measurement). This wall hung vanity below makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to roll nether and easy to clean.
Little Known Secret #5 1/2 – CAPS are not just useful to continue liquid in a canteen. Get the help of a CAPS – a "Certified Crumbling in Identify Specialist."
When yous call back about caps you wouldn't acquaintance information technology with an accessible shower – but I'm going to argue y'all should! You see at that place are experts around the land (yes – I'1000 i – simply you lot won't detect me on the pinnacle of a Pepsi bottle) who are called Certified Crumbling In Place Specialists (or CAPS) (although, I like a friend of mine'south term which is Living in Place Specialist ameliorate). CAPS are trained to pattern spaces for people who want to stay in their homes (not Assisted Living Facilities) longer.
There is a lot to think about bringing Mom into your dwelling house (and making sure the bathroom is prophylactic for her – yet looks nice). It can be overwhelming. After all y'all're probable not a structure and design professional. So – I would recommend, even if yous're doing your own research, to seek out a CAPS certified contractor or designer. They volition be more knowledgeable than your average contractor about accessible spaces and will help you lot to save money on pattern and construction decisions which are new to you.
Decision
Bringing Mom into your abode is an emotional experience for you, for her and your whole family. There is a lot to manage and often likewise-many decisions to make.
If she's needs an accessible bathroom I would recommend digging into the systems, products and certified professionals discussed above. They volition save you fourth dimension, money and brand a stylish (yet safe) space.
How can I (or a member of my team) help you?
For assistance and factory-direct product supply of grout free shower wall panels, moisture room systems and glass partition walls nationwide contact Innovate Building Solutions at 877-668-5888. For an accessible bathroom remodeling project in Northeast Ohio call Cleveland Design and Remodeling at 216-658-1270 or The Bath Doctor in Columbus at 614-252-3242.
If you're a remodeler or builder and desire practical advice on remodeling products, industry trends, marketing and sales tips to grow your concern (and cut day to 24-hour interval hassles), outset reading my newest weblog – Introduce Builders Blog. It's packed with ideas you can use now. Click hither to Sign Up for the Innovate Builders Blog.
If y'all're in the building business, click here if you'd similar to learn how to become a shower wall panel dealer or call and ask for Mike at 877-668-5888.
If you want to connect with me and/or learn more than most remodeling, follow me on Twitter @Mike Foti, or my companies @InnovateBuild or @InnovateHomeOrg.
Source: https://blog.innovatebuildingsolutions.com/2018/10/02/how-to-design-a-handicap-accessible-shower/
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