Should You Install Walk In Showers?

Walk in showers aren’t always novel designs. Basically, any shower enclosure that isn’t integrated with a bathtub is a walk in shower. However, these types of showers have become extremely popular in recent years due to some very unique innovations, some of which would make these areas virtually unrecognizable in a bathroom except for the presence of a shower head.

Walk in Shower Enclosure Types

While there are many different designs (e.g. rustic and spa themes), there are only three fundamental types of walk in showers: standard, doorless and wet room. A standard walk in shower is the one that most people are already familiar with, and probably use themselves: a standalone stall demarcated with a ledge and screens. However, not all standard enclosures are necessarily conventional. Some use frameless shower doors, which have become increasingly popular.

A doorless walk in shower takes the standard version to the next level. While the ledge usually remains present, the door is either replaced by a fixed glass or acrylic partition, or is simply removed altogether. Water is contained by a subtle gradient or, more frequently, a shower pan

Wet rooms are the European influence that have become a staple in American five-star hotels, interior design magazines, and makeover reality shows. There is literally no partition opposite either corner of the shower area, and no ledge; only a gradient to control the drainage. When you walk into a bathroom that’s been converted into a wet room, you only see a single, unified space.

The Uses of Walk In Showers

It might seem that walk in showers are designed primarily to add a touch of elegance to bathrooms. Indeed, luxury can be the key reason to install a walk in shower for many homeowners. However, there’s also a more down-to-earth reason: accessibility. For families with elderly or disabled members, walk in models requires less lifting of the legs than shower enclosures for bathtubs; and they’re much less of a trip hazard. If accessibility is the primary focus, fiberglass walk in enclosures can be found for under $400.

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