Little Known Secret #1 – Don’t even think 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 you know it’s impossible to get the brown crud off the bottom. Nothing (and I mean nothing) get those stains out. So why use a standard fiberglass roll in shower pan when you know it’s going to look lousy shortly thereafter?
The good news is there’s two better options.
#1) A one level wet room finished with a tile floor. Wet rooms are one level bathrooms. There is no curb for Mom to step over. They are completely waterproof. Without the ‘lip’ to step over they will work well if she needs to get in with a wheelchair or a walker. If you want to get ‘style bonus points’ – use a linear drain system so you can use large format tiles. These big tiles are hot, hot and hot in design today – and cuts down 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 hand, if the thought of grout (and cleaning grout) makes you break out in hives use a solid surface shower pan. There 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 option you get a nice-looking base which doesn’t have a permanent ramp.
The reason you’re having Mom move in is to enjoy time with her and keep her safe. The problem is if your time gets sucked up helping maintain her new space (and shower), it doesn’t allow you time to spend with her.
One time-consuming (and nasty) maintenance nightmare in bathrooms are tile grout joints. Most people LOVE tile. They HATE cleaning grout joints. I’m going to share with you a new way to enjoy the look of tile without grout joints.
Not sure what a no-tile, tile wall is? Well – it’s a high-pressure laminate shower wall panel system which is 100% waterproof and looks exactly like tile. The laminate is applied onto a 3/8” thick sturdy marine grade 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, stylish and come in different ‘tile’ (OK – actually non-tile) sizes, patterns and textures. The “no-tile, tile wall’ is the tile look minus the maintenance hassles.
There are choices in this line to create a Farmhouse, Contemporary high gloss or even a Modern Minimalist look. How cool is that?
Change #1) Relocate the shower controls – Instead of having the controls directly under the shower head move them close to the entrance of the shower. This way she can turn the water on, and let it get warm, before she enters.
Change #2) Install a rain shower head – The technology of high-pressure rain heads has allowed them to progress beyond the ‘wimpy’ water source of yesteryear. What’s nice about rain heads for an accessible 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 it.
Change #3) Use 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 hard to reach places, but it also comes in handy to clean the shower floor or walls (or your pets).
Little Known Secret #4 – A flimsy framed shower door is a bad idea. Frameless glass, semi-frameless glass or glass blocks are the way to go.
Since Mom’s balance 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’ll want to upgrade the glass in your accessible shower.
There are many options to choose from. First, you’ll want to decide if you want to go doorless (having part of the space open 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 you use a fully enclosed space, 3/8” thick frameless glass or ¼” thick semi-frameless glass are sound ways to go.
Tip #1 – Avoid buying wall panel or enclosure systems with the accessories already built in – Prebuilt shower wall surrounds with pre-made ledges or flimsy support bars are built with everybody (and I would contend nobody) in mind. This is a tragic design flaw for an accessible shower. You’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 grab bars in the best location for her. Conversely if she’s using a shower chair how high up from the floor should a shampoo niche be placed so she can reach it without assistance or straining.
Tip #2 – Don’t settle for ugly accessories – In the old days the only grab bars available looked just like the ones you see in a hospital room. This is no longer the case. There are decorative grab bars. There are teak fold down seats. There are stainless steel shower trays with removable inserts which make cleaning a breeze. Accessible accessories (say that fast 5 times) don’t need to be agonizing to look at.
Tip #3 – Hang up your bathroom vanity – It’s nice to locate your vanity at the perfect height to you – without having to purchase a custom unit). This wall hung vanity below makes it easy to roll under and easy to clean.
When you think about caps you wouldn’t associate it with an accessible shower – but I’m going to argue you should! You see there are experts around the country (yes – I’m one – but you won’t find me on the top of a Pepsi bottle) who are called Certified Aging In Place Specialists (or CAPS) (although, I like a friend of mine’s term which is Living in Place Specialist better). CAPS are trained to design 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 home (and making sure the bathroom is safe for her – yet looks nice). It can be overwhelming. After all you’re likely not a construction and design professional. So – I would recommend, even if you’re doing your own research, to seek out a CAPS certified contractor or designer. They will be more knowledgeable than your average contractor about accessible spaces and will help you to save money on design and construction decisions which are new to you.
Bringing Mom into your home is an emotional experience for you, for her and your whole family. There is a lot to manage and often too-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 will save you time, money and make a fashionable (yet safe) space.
For assistance and factory-direct product supply of grout free shower wall panels, wet 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 want to connect with me and/or learn more about remodeling, follow me on Twitter @Mike Foti, or my companies @InnovateBuild or @InnovateHomeOrg.
Mary – as we discussed today the link to this page should be live in one week to 10 days for ‘The No-Tile, Tile Shower.” We are waiting to get our samples as well. We do already have pricing for the line. This product launch is happening and we’re as excited about it as you are. Feel free to call for pricing or more information. Mike 877-668-5888.
Great insight! Aging in place doesn’t mean that you house needs to look like a nursing home. The materials and accessories (like decorative grab bars) you choose can make your home safe AND stylish.
You have mentioned the No Tile, Tile Shower so many times but it isn’t available in the US yet. I even called Cleveland Design and they didn’t even know what I was talking about. Cough up the goods! You have been teasing about this product for ages. I have multiple clients this would be ideal for.
I love the “No Tile Tile Shower” look shown above (pieces snap together). Is there a link to those products?