Properly plan a walk-in shower: this is what you need to consider

A walk-in shower is also called a barrier-free, floor-level or walk-in shower. This offers an exceedingly practical and modern approach to relaxing personal hygiene. Since there are no trip hazards or obstacles to worry about with a walk-in shower, it is particularly well-suited for those aiming for barrier-free construction. There is a great deal of flexibility with regard to the design and planning of the walk-in shower, so that exactly the right style for the individual bathroom can be realized. Even small bathrooms benefit greatly from a walk-in shower, as it immediately makes the room seem much more spacious. But how is a walk-in shower actually planned correctly? The following article explains what to look out for.

These factors are to be considered with the walk-in shower

. Regardless of whether an old building is being renovated, the existing bathroom is being renovated or a completely new one is being built - certain factors must be taken into account with regard to the planning and installation of a walk-in shower. The basis of proper planning is to ensure that there is sufficient space in the floor for slope, shower element and drainage, so that there is no flooding during showering.

The bathroom location

. If the bathroom is located directly above the basement, the planning of the walk-in shower is particularly ideal, because the drain can be laid directly through the ceiling and connected to the sewer. However, if the bathroom is located above living quarters, it is necessary to lay the drain in the ceiling, which is not possible in all cases. Thus, the type of installation that comes into question must be carefully considered during the planning process.

The spatial requirements

. In the case of a new building, it should be discussed with the architect as early as possible that a floor-level shower is desired. This will enable him to plan the right drainage system and sufficient space in the screed for it. If only a refurbishment or renovation is taking place, it makes sense to have the spatial requirements checked by an expert to ensure that sufficient space is available for the conversion. From the expert should be checked especially the construction height of the ceiling, which includes flooring, underfloor heating, screed and the insulation.

Typical problems in the design of a walk-in shower

. There are some typical problems that always arise in the process of planning a walk-in shower. One of them, for example, represents a screed that is too thin. If the concrete slab or screed for the shower has to be chiseled out so that there is sufficient space for the drain, a structural engineer or architect should always check in advance whether this is possible at all. If there is a joist ceiling, the installation of a walk-in shower is also only possible if the joists run parallel to the drain. In addition, a siphon that is too small can also cause problems. If the existing shower is modernized and a larger shower fitting is installed, the size of the siphon should be checked. If the drain is too small, the water will not be able to drain quickly enough, resulting in flooding. If a large shower spray is chosen, the shower drain should be able to hold between 40 and 50 liters of water per minute, for which the diameter of the drain must be at least 50 millimeters.

The installation of a walk-in shower

. In the course of planning, it is also necessary to find the appropriate type of installation of the walk-in shower. Basically, there are three different variants to choose from, namely the use of a shower tray, the use of a tileable shower element or the installation of a sloping screed with tiles. However, for the walk-in shower, the rule of thumb must always be observed that the necessary drainage height requires a slope of two percent.

Tileable shower element

. The installation of a tileable shower element represents the first variant. This can be tiled after installation according to personal preferences. The shower board is equipped with a point drainage system, which has the advantage that only a small amount of space is required for this. However, the thickness of the shower element, including the drain, must be taken into account, as well as the required slope of two percent to the drain in the wall.

Sloping screed with tiles

. In the next variant, a line drainage system is installed and the designated space for the shower is filled with screed. The shower area is then tiled afterwards. The line drainage is accompanied by the advantage that the drain has a high drainage capacity and the drain is inserted flat in the shower. However, a slope must also be considered in the screed, so that there is no risk of flooding during showering. In the course of installation, it is necessary to take into account the necessary slope between the shower channel and the bathroom floor, as well as the slope from the bottom edge of the wall to the siphon outlet and the distance from the shower channel to the outlet of the siphon.

The shower tray

. In addition, with the help of a mounting frame, it is also possible to install an extra shallow shower tray in the floor of the bathroom. For this purpose, the installation frame is inserted into the floor at the required height in the first step, and then the shower tray is placed with a flat finish to the floor. With regard to the height of the installation frame, the height of the drain and the shower element as well as the slope must be taken into account. Fig: PIRO4D/pixabay.com