FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Shower size and general bath layout

jesse | Posted in General Discussion on March 18, 2008 11:05am

Here are two pictures of a proposed bathroom. There is a window across from the vanity in the ‘invisible’ wall. None of the fixtures are accurate, the shower head may end up on the short wall in back.

My main concern is the size of the shower and what they are going to do to keep the water in the shower. They are opposed to a frameless glass door. A walk in would be ideal, but it doesn’t seem like a 32×60 shower would work for that…or would it? What about expanding the doorway a little, right now I have it drawn as 24″, what if we pulled it out and put in a little wing wall?

Thanks for your ideas. View Image

View Image

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. susiekitchen | Mar 20, 2008 12:58am | #1

    Hey, Jesse!

    First, as a designer, I'd never recommend a shower with a depth of less than 36" unless there was no other option. If it were my bath, I'd be going for 42". This is particularly true where the user is going to be standing between 2 walls, not between the shower stall and a moveable curtain or translucent shower door.

    I understand that moving the wall between the shower and vanity to give more room to the shower may not be possible, but it's worth looking into. Mathematically, you have room for the toilet (32" min. space ) and a 36" vanity and still have room for the vanity to "float" in the space. Would mean that the wall shelves beside the vanity won't work, but function beats pretty in my book.

    I don't quite understand what you mean about the wing wall. I would probably leave the shower head on the wall where it's shown so that the spray could be directed away from the opening. It would be easier to access, too, and the user would be standing parallel to the widest dimension. And, make all the surfaces outside the shower water resistant (stone, tile) - like a quasi wet room- and overspray will be less of a problem.

    Hope this helps!

  2. User avater
    Luka | Mar 20, 2008 01:34am | #2

    I'm with Suzie on this one.

    Lose the shelves and move that wall.

    Everything else should be ok.


    Life doesn't often leave a very easy trail to follow.

    1. jesse | Mar 20, 2008 01:41am | #3

      OK, it's unanimous. Shower stays 42" wide and we lose the shelves. I guess I am going to get my first experience building my own pan with deck mud.

      1. MSA1 | Mar 20, 2008 03:12am | #4

        Take my advice on this. Dont build your first shower pan at a customers house. I didnt do it personally but I was effected by it.

        Not cheap to repair if you screw it up.

        1. jesse | Mar 20, 2008 04:50pm | #6

          MSA, I understand your concern, but it's going to be a Kerdi shower, and I have done more than one before. The only new part will be actually using the deck mud instead of a preformed kerdi pan.

          1. BryanSayer | Mar 20, 2008 04:59pm | #7

            I thought you could piece Kerdi pan pieces together to make a bigger pan? Not that doing it with deck mud is a bad choice either, but I suspect the Kerdi goes faster.

          2. atrident | Mar 20, 2008 10:10pm | #9

              In the Schluter video they show a 4" gap or so being filled with dry pack and then the membrane is done as usual.

          3. jesse | Mar 20, 2008 11:41pm | #10

            Yeah, but then you end up with different heights for your bottom row of tile. I'm gonna do the mudbed, I think. It seems to be pretty straighforward.

  3. User avater
    Matt | Mar 20, 2008 02:05pm | #5

    just to go along with what the other people said, your proposed 32" shower depth and the gap between the wall and the vanity were the first things that caught my attention as rather unusual.  If a standard depth medicine cabinet would not yield enough storage, you could build the wall in question thicker so as to accommodate a deeper cabinet - maybe 6" inside dimension. 

    The shelves, as drawn, to me would look like a remodel after thought and what are they going to be used for?  Nick-knacks.... OK :-)  or for storage of normal stuff you might have in the bathroom like tooth paste and brush, pill bottles, etc, etc - seems like it would be messy looking....

    Also- Is the shower supposed to be accessible or what?

    BTW - when doing you bath layout planning, a 32" wide spot for the toilet is minimal.  36" is better, but not at all required.

  4. WNYguy | Mar 20, 2008 06:31pm | #8

    Jesse, in my own home I installed a similar shower.  The dimensions were a bit more generous -- 36" x 72".   A standard shower head is at the far end of the shower (where you have shelves).

    The opening (no door or curtain) to the shower is 24 inches wide, and we get absolutely no spray outside the shower.  The bathroom floor is wood, so that aspect was pretty critical.

    With your dimension of only 60", I would expect a bit of overspray into the room.  With tile floors, probably not a big issue. 

    The control valves in my shower are just inside the doorway, so one doesn't have to step into the shower to turn it on (and get the hot water up from the basment).  But the extra piping does result in a delay when adjusting water temperature once in the shower.  That's my only disappointment with the whole project.

    Allen

  5. Manzier | Mar 21, 2008 01:00am | #11

    You may be able to gain more space by shifting your vanity against the back of the shower control wall, them move that whole wall toward the toilet.  Then, it might work better to not center your sink in your vanity, but have it on the right side.  You may be able to tuck some shelves or a thin vertical cabinet along the left side of the vanity against the wall.  Could also share some plumbing that way.

     

    Tracy

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Podcast Episode 684: Masonry Heaters, Whole-House Ventilation, and Porch Flooring

Listeners write in about fireplaces and ask questions about whole-house ventilation, traditional porch flooring, and gutter sealants.

Featured Video

How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post Corners

Use these tips to keep cables tight and straight for a professional-looking deck-railing job.

Related Stories

  • Tools and Gear for the Moms Who Get it Done
  • An Easier Method for Mitered Head Casings
  • Beat the Heat: Cool Innovations
  • A Practical Approach to Exterior Insulation

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 81%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data