Shower/Bath

[Jeff Gaines]

I am thinking about upgrading my bathroom to make it more usable. Since I
moved here I have found the bath a bit of a squeeze and the shower the
same so I thought I'd look for a standard size bath or bath/shower.

I discovered that the bath is a standard 1700x700, it is not the bath that
is under sized :-(

Any views/comments about combined bath/shower? There seems a very wide
choice including the walk in type which I should probably think about,
knowing what to avoid would be useful.

Off to look at diets...

[alan_m]

Post by Jeff Gaines
I am thinking about upgrading my bathroom to make it more usable. Since
I moved here I have found the bath a bit of a squeeze and the shower the
same so I thought I'd look for a standard size bath or bath/shower.
I discovered that the bath is a standard 1700x700, it is not the bath
that is under sized :-(
Any views/comments about combined bath/shower? There seems a very wide
choice including the walk in type which I should probably think about,
knowing what to avoid would be useful.
Off to look at diets...

Although you may find that 1700x700 is a standard size external
dimension the inside dimension of the tub may be different - a few tens
of mm may make a big difference.

My experience of getting older is that getting out of the bath is more
difficult, especially now that I have a minor shoulder problem.

If I was remodelling my bathroom I would do away with the bath and just
have a shower. Currently I have a shower at the end of the bath and as I
get older I can see just stepping over the side of the bath to stand
under the shower is going to become more difficult.

When remodelling a bathroom consider you needs in 10 year's time and not
just now, especially if you are in the older age group.

[SteveW]

Post by alan_m

Post by Jeff Gaines
I am thinking about upgrading my bathroom to make it more usable.
Since I moved here I have found the bath a bit of a squeeze and the
shower the same so I thought I'd look for a standard size bath or
bath/shower.
I discovered that the bath is a standard 1700x700, it is not the bath
that is under sized :-(
Any views/comments about combined bath/shower? There seems a very wide
choice including the walk in type which I should probably think about,
knowing what to avoid would be useful.
Off to look at diets...

Although you may find that 1700x700 is a standard size external
dimension the inside dimension of the tub may be different - a few tens
of mm may make a big difference.
My experience of getting older is that getting out of the bath is more
difficult, especially now that I have a minor shoulder problem.
If I was remodelling my bathroom I would do away with the bath and just
have a shower. Currently I have a shower at the end of the bath and as I
get older I can see just stepping over the side of the bath to stand
under the shower is going to become more difficult.
When remodelling a bathroom consider you needs in 10 year's time and not
just now, especially if you are in the older age group.

That's exactly why we took out the bath (with shower over it) and
replaced it with a shower with a tray that projects just over an inch
above the floor tiles. My wife (with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis) was finding stepping over the side of the bath harder and
harder and really struggling to get up at all if she used it for a bath
rather than a shower.

[Chris Hogg]

Post by SteveW

Post by alan_m

Post by Jeff Gaines
I am thinking about upgrading my bathroom to make it more usable.
Since I moved here I have found the bath a bit of a squeeze and the
shower the same so I thought I'd look for a standard size bath or
bath/shower.
I discovered that the bath is a standard 1700x700, it is not the bath
that is under sized :-(
Any views/comments about combined bath/shower? There seems a very wide
choice including the walk in type which I should probably think about,
knowing what to avoid would be useful.
Off to look at diets...

Although you may find that 1700x700 is a standard size external
dimension the inside dimension of the tub may be different - a few tens
of mm may make a big difference.
My experience of getting older is that getting out of the bath is more
difficult, especially now that I have a minor shoulder problem.
If I was remodelling my bathroom I would do away with the bath and just
have a shower. Currently I have a shower at the end of the bath and as I
get older I can see just stepping over the side of the bath to stand
under the shower is going to become more difficult.
When remodelling a bathroom consider you needs in 10 year's time and not
just now, especially if you are in the older age group.

That's exactly why we took out the bath (with shower over it) and
replaced it with a shower with a tray that projects just over an inch
above the floor tiles. My wife (with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis) was finding stepping over the side of the bath harder and
harder and really struggling to get up at all if she used it for a bath
rather than a shower.

+1

We had that done for my elderly mother, who suffered from arthritis
and had difficulty getting in and out of the bath, and only took
showers anyway. Wet baths tend to be slippery, and the whole thing was
just an accident waiting to happen.

[Jeff Gaines]

Post by alan_m
When remodelling a bathroom consider you needs in 10 year's time and not
just now, especially if you are in the older age group.

That's exactly why we took out the bath (with shower over it) and replaced
it with a shower with a tray that projects just over an inch above the
floor tiles. My wife (with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
was finding stepping over the side of the bath harder and harder and
really struggling to get up at all if she used it for a bath rather than a
shower.

I think that is what I may do. I slipped getting out of the bath a couple
of weeks ago and whacked my elbow on the side of the bath, helped my
tendonitis no end :-(

Thanks for all the replies, I have room for a decent sized shower
enclosure if the bath comes out, whether or not I can get one in avocado
to match the suite...

[alan_m]

Post by Jeff Gaines
Thanks for all the replies, I have room for a decent sized shower
enclosure if the bath comes out, whether or not I can get one in avocado
to match the suite...

Is it avocado or baby sick or baby poo colour?

Bite the bullet and replace all with white. You know you will not regret it.

If you do replace don't go for modern designer toilets, don't go for
toilets with square seats. Go for a traditional style toilet and check
any reviews for poor flushing.

I've had a square continental style toilet with an internal shelf at the
front. You tend to always poo on the shelf and _always_ need a brush to
clean up after a flush. You can get splash back when peeing. The square
shape means that you cannot easily straddle the bowl to direct the pee
further back. Square seats tend to be unique to the manufacturer and
even a modest priced toilet requires you to re-mortgage your house for a
replacement seat :)

As regards flushing I've seen some bad examples out in the wild.

[Tricky Dicky]

Post by Jeff Gaines
I am thinking about upgrading my bathroom to make it more usable. Since I
moved here I have found the bath a bit of a squeeze and the shower the
same so I thought I'd look for a standard size bath or bath/shower.
I discovered that the bath is a standard 1700x700, it is not the bath that
is under sized :-(
Any views/comments about combined bath/shower? There seems a very wide
choice including the walk in type which I should probably think about,
knowing what to avoid would be useful.
Off to look at diets...

It may be an age thing but for me baths with showers do not work. Shower
curtains or movable screens always seem to find a way to leak water and
generally look naff and untidy when not in use. A fixed screen can prevent
water egress but then makes getting in and particularly out difficult.
When you do eventually manage to haul yourself over the edge for a shower
you find yourself standing on a narrow almost flat surface with little
possibility to move your feet because of the curvature of the tub.

We put up with bath/showers in a number of houses until we refurbished the
bathroom in our last house taking out the bath and having a shower cubicle
and this was when we were in out 50’s and never looked back

In the bungalow we have done the same. We have fitted a walk-in shower with
a low profile tray and it is a joy to use. Like you the bath was 1700 X
700but that was right up to the brickwork with the original plastering
running up to the bath rim. We fitted a 1600 X 800 tray this gives us a
flat surface to stand on allows movement without elbowing walls screens or
curtains and if necessary the ability to step out of the shower spray.

Richard

[John Rumm]

Post by Jeff Gaines
I am thinking about upgrading my bathroom to make it more usable. Since
I moved here I have found the bath a bit of a squeeze and the shower the
same so I thought I'd look for a standard size bath or bath/shower.
I discovered that the bath is a standard 1700x700, it is not the bath
that is under sized :-(
Any views/comments about combined bath/shower?

As with most "combination" things they are (IME) usually somewhat of a
compromise. Having said that I did use one for my last mega bathroom
build on the grounds that it was a very "difficult" shaped room[2], and
there was no workable design I could come up with that included a
separate shower and bath.

There was also the thought train that this was the "family" bathroom and
not our on-suite which was going to have a decent sized shower (1,100 by
900mm) and a separate bath. There is also another shower downstairs - So
I was anticipating it would be mainly used by the "kids" rather than
more "mature" folks.

I found a combi that had a decent sized "wide" end with a mostly flat
surface[1]. The compromise is that it is a fairly shallow (read
"standard") bath so perhaps less well suited for those that like a
decent soak without too many bits flopping about in the cold air rather
than the water. On the plus side that makes it a fairly easy "step in".

Post by Jeff Gaines
There seems a very wide
choice including the walk in type which I should probably think about,
knowing what to avoid would be useful.
Off to look at diets...

[1] Loading Image...

[2] Vaulted ceilings and some space "stolen" by the adjacent en-suit.

Loading Image...

The full (rather long) build description here:

https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/The_secret_diary_of_a_bathroom_refurbishment
--
Cheers,

John.

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