Walk in bath tub

[cosgig]

I’m currently doing a barrier free shower for my daughter in her new bedroom suite. Her shower will be 4x6’, but the entire floor and walls will be tile in the bathroom. I have researched the various pans and there are some made specifically for current tub enclosures, just take out the tub, install the pan and walls, then either tile those, or they have wall sections made from composite materials that are sized for a existing tub enclosure. Look up the Schleuter/Kerdi systems, they’re really nice.

 

[GTXDAN]

We're doing a new shower in the en suite right now. The pan and wall panels are custom made to fit your opening. I had them make the pan for ADA accessible which means it's only 1" tall but without the wheelchair ramp. Then I'll run the flooring right up to the pan so there will be practically no step up into the shower.

 

[VANDAN]

My Mom has a cast iron tub, and was having trouble getting in to shower. We checked around, and found an insert that allowed a cut out entry to make it walk in. Added a tub seat, and she's been using it for years now. Not bad price wise, and a 1 day install. At her age she didn't want a whole bathroom remodel, and installer said it was reversible if desired...

 

[cosgig]

We're doing a new shower in the en suite right now. The pan and wall panels are custom made to fit your opening. I had them make the pan for ADA accessible which means it's only 1" tall but without the wheelchair ramp. Then I'll run the flooring right up to the pan so there will be practically no step up into the shower.

Since mine is a new construction, I’m using the 1 1/4” Kerdi on, and dropping the plywood between the joists. I will then have 1/2” sticking up, and I’ll be using either the Dutra roll underpayment, or 1/2” Durock or Hardiboard, which will give me no ramp at all. Just a slight pitch which is built into the Kerdi pan. Then I’m tiling the floor with small format tiles in the web backing, and doing the walls in large format 1’x2’ tiles. Dropping the plywood between the joists is a pretty common procedure, even in existing construction, I’ve done that many times over the years.

 

[slepr1]

Anyone got a pic or link for a proper elder-friendly walk in shower?

I watch this father and son reno team. He built a walk-in curbless shower for his 91 yr old mother. The video also shows some things that might be missed when building for a senior.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Anyone got a pic or link for a proper elder-friendly walk in shower?

Here’s mine. The floor area measures 3’-7” square and the seat adds another 14” in width. We do have a 4” lip on ours to step over, which is fine for us. If you wanted it to be wheelchair accessible you’d have to cut the floor joists and rebrace them.

 

[peabodyracin]

@peabodyracin how long does it take to drain? My girlfriend would be freezing in five minutes.

It drains pretty fast. You've got a fair volume of water stacked up inside the enclosure so it tends to flow pretty hard once you've pulled the plug. One other thought: venting of the drain pipe. If you're not well vented it'll slow things down for you and make some noise in the mean time as it tries to equalize pressure while draining. I'm in an old farm house and the venting was pretty half assed to begin with. I added another vent in the drain line which was accessible from the basement and that made a huge difference in how well it drained.

My wife uses it regularly in winter and summer and has not complained at all about drain time. If anything she'd like it to fill quicker, but being on a well out in the country I can't do much more to increase volume or pressure.

 

[JR_Charger]

Here’s mine. The floor area measures 3’-7” square and the seat adds another 14” in width. We do have a 4” lip on ours to step over, which is fine for us. If you wanted it to be wheelchair accessible you’d have to cut the floor joists and rebrace them.

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Why cut the floor joists?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Why cut the floor joists?

For the shower floor to be level with the bathroom floor you’ll need a copper pan, proper mud job, and tiles when all combined are going to be about an inch and a half thick. Also, keep in mind that the shower flor needs to have a pitch for water to flow into the drain.

 

[GTXDAN]

The pan for ours is made to fit the opening out of some kind of liquid epoxy material. They measure the area and pour it to fit and bring it to the house and set it in place. Took them about 30 minutes to set the pan. Then I set drywall and they measure again and make wall panels and install them and it's done.

 

[JR_Charger]

For the shower floor to be level with the bathroom floor you’ll need a copper pan, proper mud job, and tiles when all combined are going to be about an inch and a half thick. Also, keep in mind that the shower flor needs to have a pitch for water to flow into the drain.

I guess the shower floor is level with the bathroom floor, and not a couple inches above it?

 

[Richard Cranium]

I guess the shower floor is level with the bathroom floor, and not a couple inches above it?

If you want to roll in with a wheelchair, you guess correctly.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

It drains pretty fast. You've got a fair volume of water stacked up inside the enclosure so it tends to flow pretty hard once you've pulled the plug. One other thought: venting of the drain pipe. If you're not well vented it'll slow things down for you and make some noise in the mean time as it tries to equalize pressure while draining. I'm in an old farm house and the venting was pretty half assed to begin with. I added another vent in the drain line which was accessible from the basement and that made a huge difference in how well it drained.

My wife uses it regularly in winter and summer and has not complained at all about drain time. If anything she'd like it to fill quicker, but being on a well out in the country I can't do much more to increase volume or pressure.

Thanks, my grandma was wanting to purchase one.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Why cut the floor joists?

Most plumbers cut floor joists.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Most plumbers cut floor joists.

You don’t want to do that if you have an older home with 2x6 or 2X8 floor joists.

Here’s the outside and inside floor height dimensions on mine.

The 5” lip is nothing to step over, especially compared to a tub.

 

[BB BELLA]

that's a beautiful shower, well done!

 

[Outlawd]

We put in an Onyx system walk-in shower, they have many seat and shelving options. Google "The Onyx Collection". They are a little spendy but very nice and lifetime warranty.

 

[LowBikeMike]

We installed a BOCA walkin tub, my father likes it but as he has gotten older it is harder and harder to get in which is something to think about and he would rather be able to take a shower nowadays