If you are working on a remodeling project for a client, then one of the most important things you will need to get right is the bathroom. People use the bathroom to take care of some of their most fundamental needs, so the quality of their bathroom experience will affect their satisfaction with their home. In particular, it’s important to get the shower just right.
Our team at Residential Building Specialties, Inc., has extensive experience in the home improvement industry, and we have put together this article to provide a few design tips for shower enclosures.
- Support and Access – Two key things to consider when designing a shower enclosure are support and accessibility. In other words, make sure the shower is as easy to get into as possible, and make sure the user has something to grab for support in case they slip. If your clients plan to stay in the home in the long term, into retirement, then it’s worth thinking about long-term accessibility needs—for example, stepping over a shower lip might not be a big deal now, but your client might come to need a wheelchair when they get older.
- Drainage and Leak Prevention – You should also think about drainage and leak prevention when designing shower enclosures. Make sure the shower is completely sealed, so water can’t leak out into the rest of the bathroom. In addition, make sure the shower floor is sloped adequately so all the water can flow into the drain, rather than forming stagnant puddles. Lastly, angle the showerhead away from the shower door for further protection against leaks.
- Ease of Cleaning – A third key factor to consider when designing shower enclosures is how your client will clean them. Make sure every part of the shower is easy to access and clean, as trying to wash yourself in a dirty shower is extremely unpleasant.