We’ve cooked up a proposed bath with a shower at 48″ rough width. That will get shortened by close to 2″ when we finish with rock, Kerdi, and tile.
With no way to do a swing door because of toilet proximity, we need to consider a glass bypass slider. Having not done one, we are wondering how accessible the shower will be with an opening width of less than 22″.
What is your experience? This pic shows one at about 5′ width . . . ours is narrower.
Replies
That's pretty narrow and you may have trouble finding a "stock" unit that will work. Of course, there's always a custom (i.e. $$) unit. - lol
If it isn't too late, I would try to make the shower area a little larger.
Kohler and Basco and others have off-the-shelf products that will work, and the walkthrough opening width is a little less than 22".
You typically open one on the valve and showerhead side to turn the water on, then step sideways through the other. Might be a little tight for a woman that is 8-1/2 months pregnant.
This pic shows one that is 48". Count the 4" tiles on the floor.
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Edited 5/12/2007 11:23 am ET by Gene_Davis
I'll take your word for it, but I sure wouldn't want a door that narrow - and I'm definitely not preggers!! - lol
Got a pic with a little less steam on the glass?? - lol
I looked thru the 2003 IRC briefly and couldn't find a shower door width req but there is one in Code Check... both 2000 IRC and 2000 UPC... 22" minimum width, open outward. Looks like the IRC abandoned that requirement. I don't have the 2006 version.
A bypass unit can always be cut down. Without cutting down the doors you lose an inch of clear opening for every inch trimmed, but that's not a problem within reason.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
You should check code on minimum opening width... IIRC it is somewhere in that 22-24" range. The mere fact that the manufacturer makes it does not make it legal, ask me how I know...
There is also the option of inswinging bifold doors to make a wider passable opening.
The only code here is the DaVinci code. We build in an area where there is no inspection, period.
Ours measures 20-1/4" clear. Never been a problem getting in or out, in spite of a toilet placed fairly close. (Not what you'd want for a handicapped shower, of cours.)
Our frameless Sterling bypass opening for the 4' Sterling shower in 19". The trim that supports the overhead tracks is 1-1/2" wide. It's a series 5300. About $400 at HD. Watch the new "adjustable and screwless" units. They're much shorter.