Showers have gone through an evolution recently. The one-piece shower cubicle with minimal showerhead is a thing of the past. Today homeowners are seeking to upgrade the bathroom and a luxury shower is at the top of the list.

A great shower starts with a decent size footprint. Depending upon how much room you have, there are

different confi gurations that can work. A small three-foot by three-foot corner can accommodate a corner or

neoangle shower. If you are replacing a typical three-foot by five foot tub, that can be a great shower. Larger walk-in showers can require four to six feet in both directions if you have the space.

The glass enclosure can make the setting. Shower enclosures use thicker quality glass and frameless

construction for beauty and ease of maintenance. The price jumps significantly to use half-inch thick glass,

but three-eighths glass can make a nice statement and even quarter-inch glass has a substantial feel. If you have the budget, a frameless thick glass door can look super.

Clear glass will accent the view, especially when there is rich stone or tile wall surround to display. Clear glass also enlarges the room.

Many other patterns such as bamboo, rain, frosted are available. Patterned glass is a good choice if you have hard water at your house. The walls and fl oor of the shower can be wrapped in a multitude of tile or stone materials. Solid surfaces, such as Corian4 can also be used for a seamless look, but is costly.

Floor tile should be 4” x 4” or smaller to provide for safe traction and to slope the fl oor to the drain. Wall tiles can be very large patterns, such as the Versailles pattern, which is a combination of sizes from 8” x 8” to 16” x 24”. Grout joints can be very tight for minimal maintenance.

The flexibility of natural stone and tile allows for unusual shapes and built-ins like shampoo niches and benches. Whenever possible, I like to design a bench into the shower for basic tasks like shaving legs or to take a seat while bathing.

Corner benches supports are modular and take very little space, while full size benches offer more comfort. Fold down wood seats are also available as an accessory. The principals of Universal Design provide for equitable, fl exible use of space regardless of body size, posture or mobility. This means that homes should be designed for all age groups and abilities. Grab bars are an important feature in the shower. All showers should have at least one grab bar. They are available in a wide range of colors to match your décor.

Barrier-free entry can also incorporated to accommodate limited mobility. The hot item in a luxury shower is the multi-valve control which let’s you switch the fl ow to more than one outlet. The fl ow can be directed to hand-held personal showers; rain heads coming from the ceiling; body jets coming from the walls; or

a combination thereof. When designing a shower system it is important to evaluate your plumbing capacity.

Multi-spray systems require at least _” water lines with plenty of water pressure and drain lines may need to be larger also. Modern shower valves have been designed for greater safety and convenience. Volume and temperature are usual separate functions, which means you can leave a preset temperature from one shower to the next. Pressure balanced valves mean you no longer have to leap out of the way when someone flushes the toilet. The temperature stays the same, regardless of hot or cold-water use elsewhere in the home.

How about a steam bath? Reduce stress and let your body relax as you soak in the regenerative properties of steam. To build a steam shower, you will need a complete floor to ceiling enclosure and a steam generator.

The steam generator is small device that will fi t in a cabinet or nearby closet. The unit requires

220v and cold water and is easy to plumb. The touch controls are mounted inside the shower or out. Within minutes your shower becomes a therapeutic spa. Say ahhhhh.



Wright Built

Home Remodel & Design

1072 E. Main St. Grass Valley, Ca.

(530)272-6657



Andrew Wright, CR is a regional and national award winning remodeler and a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Kitchen