Pros and Cons of a Doorless Shower
Pros and Cons of a Doorless Shower
“To door, or not to door?”
You may have noticed a trend of doorless showers becoming more common in bathrooms. Although they have been around for centuries in one form or another, this type of shower has increased in popularity recently through its functionality and beauty. If you are interested in this unique bathroom style, this blog will provide details to help inform your decision.
A doorless shower is architecturally designed to not require a door or a curtain. They’re commonly referred to as Roman, roll-in, or walk-in showers and they boast many advantages that traditional showers lack. Below, we’ve listed some pros and cons of this popular bathroom feature.
Photo by Amber Interiors Design Studio
Advantages of a Doorless Shower
The most prominent advantage is the lavish look of a doorless shower. A doorless shower can bring out a more modern and high-end look to any bathroom. This bathroom feature also creates an open and spacious atmosphere. The seamless entry and movement provided by a doorless shower upgrade a bathroom to a whole new level of luxury.
Doorless showers also offer easy accessibility. Without a glass barrier or threshold, this bathroom feature makes it more accessible for all ages and levels of mobility. Additionally, leaving off the glass door can significantly reduce the cost of installation.
Doorless showers also maximize an existing small opening. Just going an additional 1 or 2 inches without the door is “big” for most bathrooms.
Lastly, a doorless shower, by its very nature eliminates all struggles of hard water spots, streaks, and build-ups that usually exist with the common shower glass door. Less bathroom cleaning means more time to relax.
Disadvantages of a Doorless Shower
The cons of a walk-in shower are mainly spacial. A doorless shower requires a certain amount of space to prevent water from traveling to the rest of the bathroom. With an open shower concept, there is always the potential for water to splash into the bathroom, but this can be minimized with proper planning ahead of time.
Chilly ambient air is also a disadvantage. The bathroom has water and moving air going through the doorless doorway which in terms creates a draft. A way to combat this is by installing a ceiling heat lamp or a radiant floor heating system.
A doorless shower creates a lack of privacy in the bathroom. In some situations, that could even mean only one person in the bathroom at a time. If this is a concern, a half wall can be installed to remedy this effect.
Here are a few tips from professionals for the most effective doorless showers:
Opt for a corner of the room with a sloping shower floor-to-drain system. You can utilize the two existing walls all while aiming the walkway away from bathroom fixtures. The sloped floor to the drain helps with escaping water droplets.
Choose a Strategic Shower Head. Shower heads that aim down, like a rainfall shower head, are a preferred choice as opposed to an angled shower head.
Select Slip-Resistant Flooring. For safety purposes, a doorless shower needs slip-proof flooring to prevent injuries.
Before choosing a doorless shower option, contemplate the advantage and disadvantages. This ensures that you’re making the best choice for your bathroom space and lifestyle.
