Bath Out, Shower In

No no no clingy curtain that sticks to you - hate it. Glass every time, blade off and vinegar once a week.

Again, under 3' shower is no good to you at all.

Go for what you need now and let the future take care if itself. Safety is more important that house prices. Walk ins are better than showers with doors - less structure to act as dirt traps and wall panels are easier to clean than tiles.

Welshwife

When a relative could no longer use the over bather shower and it was replaced for her - had to be done before they would release her from hospital - she was not allowed to have the glass screen incase of falls - the occupational health people insisted on a curtain. Because of that we decided not to use glass screens either - have one still stored in the house - and used curtains. There is another benefit to a curtain - they do not have the traps for mould etc along the track or round the fixings of the shower door.

I've never heard of that Welshwife
Surely if she slipped and fell against the shower curtain, she could hurt herself more by falling into the room and hitting her head on the toilet or basin?

The glass for shower screens should be toughened and laminated and subject to high safety standards.

Exactly Callistemon

Welshwife

When a relative could no longer use the over bather shower and it was replaced for her - had to be done before they would release her from hospital - she was not allowed to have the glass screen incase of falls - the occupational health people insisted on a curtain. Because of that we decided not to use glass screens either - have one still stored in the house - and used curtains. There is another benefit to a curtain - they do not have the traps for mould etc along the track or round the fixings of the shower door.

When our shower was built, the opening was built to be 5 ft, no glass, easy for us to enter. We've numerous permanent grab bars and a plastic film curtain behind a pretty fabric curtain. No limescale to remove.

It seemed wise to make the space accessible enough for us to actually take care of each other (or small children) as we aged.

Norah, that has seemed to me to be the ideal solution to the problem of shower screens. But what I was wondering is: does the bottom edge of the shower curtain tuck in inside the shower tray and stay in position while the shower is in use?

When our shower was built, the opening was built to be 5 ft, no glass, easy for us to enter

If there is enough space, especially if a bath has been removed, then a proper shower area like a small wet room can be built with tiled walls all around and a good sized entrance. A seat and grab rails can be fitted properly at the same time.
There's no need then for glass shower screens or shower curtains.

Caleo

Norah, that has seemed to me to be the ideal solution to the problem of shower screens. But what I was wondering is: does the bottom edge of the shower curtain tuck in inside the shower tray and stay in position while the shower is in use?

I attached curtain weights inside the corners of the curtains. Once we get in, close curtains, they don't move much, just hang.

Shower floor is part to the bathroom floor, no higher tray edge. The shower was engineered to have a very slight slant to the drain, walls extend on either side of the opening to the side walls of the bathroom.

Fleurpepper, a curtain doesn't cling if it's far enough away. Why are they so popular in the US and Canada if they're impractical?

Are the days of bathing kids over - with water bills on the increase? My grandchildren all shower, once they've outgrown the baby bath (that sits in the big shower anyway). Nobody uses the bath - and I have to vacuum the dust out of it when I clean!

Callistemon21

^When our shower was built, the opening was built to be 5 ft, no glass, easy for us to enter^

If there is enough space, especially if a bath has been removed, then a proper shower area like a small wet room can be built with tiled walls all around and a good sized entrance. A seat and grab rails can be fitted properly at the same time.
There's no need then for glass shower screens or shower curtains.

Precisely.

Ours is a bit like a wet room, all walls tiled, big entrance, shower system at each end, grab bars, built in seat.

Your needs first! A bigger shower will allow you to stay in the property longer. A house is a home not an asset.
I did this 5 years ago and my skin is so much better. Those long baths were not good for my legs.

I would use a walk in shower more than a bath with shower over. You can still trip on bath edge. In years to come bath will be bad for you: blood pressure...etc. think of yourself, not your children nor next occupier.

I would definitely go for a walk-in shower, you need to feel safe. I only have the occasional bath but am beginning to feel a bit unsafe so will probably stick to the shower in future.

I did love a bath especially when I was able to use my essential oils occasionally, but when I moved here to a flat have a walk in shower, The doors slide easily, there is a seat if I want to use it, but can put it up or down. The shower itself can be moved up and down a bar, or lifted to hand hold and there is a place to put shower gell shampoo etc. Best of all there is a good solid bar to hold on to. If I am not feeling very good , I know that I can hold on to that as and when I need it. I feel safe and secure to get showered as and when it suits me. My back is more of a problem now and I think I would be having problems using the bath there, so this allows me to keep my independance. That is the bottom line I think, that you are able to do as you wish and feel safe and free to do what you like and not be beholden to anyone else.

In your position I would definitely have a shower cubicle fitted with a pull down seat and a grab rail.
We looked at several houses and bungalows before buying this one. We wanted a bath so did turn down those without one, or space to fit one in. But this won't affect you now unless you are thinking of moving

We have a shower within a bath and find it so inconvenient. So.we are going to rearrange the space we have to have a separate bath and shower so that we have the best of both worlds. We love a hot bath, as a treat, now and then. Especially on a cold winter's night and we want to soak...😊

Norah wrote:
"I attached curtain weights inside the corners of the curtains. Once we get in, close curtains, they don't move much, just hang."

Thank you Norah. That solves the problem.
You also described your shower room floor. I understand however I wonder what if any is the difference between what you have , and a wet room. Also, is your sub floor concrete or wooden floorboards? I am really interested and would like to know your experience as I searched Google and find not much info of this sort.

Seems as though everyone rejected the idea of those devices that lower you into the bath and raise you out again. DH can no longer get out of the bath with ease but liked soaking and says he dislikes showers. He might change his mind if we had a walk in one, with a seat but suppose he didn't! I don't want to make his life a misery. Has anyone any knowledge of the kind of kit I'm talking about

We have a shower in the spare room ensuite, family bathroom with shower over the bath and separate wc. Future purchasers and relative cost aren't the issue.

Definitely go for the walk in. I considered this years ago when I had hip problems. My son said not a good idea as this is a family house and families with children want a bath, if we ever wanted to sell. So we kept our bath and shower stall.
I have regretted our decision ever since especially now I have stenosis/chronic sciatica and worry every time I take a shower as the step up/down is quite high. Haven't used the bath for over 20 years so a complete waste of space!

Winterwhite, I personally know someone who is paralysed from waist down and she uses one of those bath lowering devices with no problems .

Think of your own safety, comfort and budget and don't worry about saleability of the property later on.

Shortly after MrP and I moved here we both slipped in the bath - no serious injuries involved but it was scary as we worked different shifts and the out come could have been so different.

We opted for a walk-in shower with wall panels - no grouting to clean; the surface of the base has a grain to it so there's no need for rubber mats that, lets face it, do get nasty over time.

May depend on the size of your house whether not having a bath could be an issue. If say a 3/4 bed house more likely a family home and a bath could be considered an advantage though not always as a lot of buyers rip bathrooms out and do up to their own taste. You should go for what will suit you now. I had a wet room in a property over 20 years ago and hated it, no matrer how careful water always spread. Walk in shower no problems. Many have very low edges, easy to manage and easy to have grab rails fitted if ever needed.

I know someone who moved into a rented flat with one of these 90cm x 90cm baths( but no shower) it was very uncomfortable by all accounts, she never stop moaning. She had kids and said they struggled with the size. She hated it they all did. I suggest you try to get a look at one before you commit yourself local bathroom stores bound to have display models. Measuring something out doesn’t always give you the full picture. Showers are more sustainable, so I am not sure it will reduce the value of your house but I actually don’t know , if was you, I research that or ask an estate agent.

We had the bath taken out and a walk in shower put in years ago. Neither of us liked baths and I must say I’ve never missed it. Now that I’m on my own, and I’m getting a bit older 😬, I think it’s probably safer. Personally don’t really care about house value, much rather be happy with what I have. I’m sure the family will cope when the time comes.

We are currently discussing with a bathroom planner the best way to retain,as far as possible, the bathroom we have, which really doesn’t need replacing except for the bath. The current thinking is to have a shower with a long floor tray that takes up the exact space where the bath stood so that the present tiled floor will not be affected. I will be sad to loose the bath but we are currently future proofing our home, rather than waiting for the changes to become really imperative.