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I am hoping to have a walk in shower about the size of a bathtub but without the bathtub part. Now I'm looking at tile products, Formica, solid surfacing and such. I am wondering what would be the best product to use for easy of cleaning, moisture security, and cost effectiveness.
In our current home we have tiled shower stalls from the late 70's. Being 4" beige tile with dark brown grout, not very attractive! Soap scum, white, sticks to the grout and is miserable to keep up and I'm hoping to avoid that mess!
What are other people planning? What experiences do others have? Any suggestions?
Mahalo nui loa! Mella L
mella l
mella l
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bytheSEA
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Mella
I built 2 custom, walkin showers w/seats in our house in Atlanta, both using 12"X12" ceramic tile (Home Depot). One was white with white grout, other was more beige (forget actual name). I think the key to "clean" is to seal the grout really well - never had a problem with the showers, but I'll NEVER use white grout in a floor application again.
We are planning 3 curbless showers w/seats in the new house and plan to use 12x12 tile again.
PS - Sophie would get a bit annoyed if I'd "forget" to squeegie the walls after use. It does help tremendously.
David
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Edited by - David M on 03/26/2006 22:17:06
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Dave, isn’t there some kind of anti-mildew and/or anti-fungus grout additive? Seems like I read something about this, but I don’t remember.
David D
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Mella, Lasco makes a walk in shower (in 1 piece & remodelers styles) that has 2 seats & is a 60" - standard tub - length. HPM & HD both carry it. It is all fiberglass/ acrylic, so easy to clean (bear to fix if it cracks). Comes in white + custom colors (I think??). Man, I've spent too much time shopping for this remodel, NO?
Aloha, Carey
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Hey Carey thanks for the info. I had no idea there were level in shower stalls premade. This will make it easier for me I think. That you have done this foot work and are sharing it with us is such an advantage for us. Thanks you big lots! Mella
mella l
mella l
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bytheSEA
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I've seen some nice showers done in lava rock. If it gets water spots, fine, they add to the character. If it gets mossy, let it grow ferns, that adds to the ambiance, too! Absolutely maintenance free. You may be able to find nice rocks in your front yard, too?
There was another nice bath room where the whole thing was tiled. Small octangal iridescent black tiles everywhere (including the ceiling) with larger matte black octangal tiles on the floor. Black sink in one corner with a black tile furo on the end with the atrium. Along the wall were several shower heads with a drain in the middle of the floor. Very striking bath, but it was sort of a continuation of the oriental guest room decor.
For inexpensive and easy to clean, how about cement? You can stain it all sorts of different colors now and it can be patterned if you like. Our friends pressed leaves into the floor of their outdoor shower to get leaf imprints on the floor to add traction.
What is the subfloor in the shower area? That may make some choices easier to decide.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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Hotzcatz,
The lavarock idea sounds so exotic. Were any of these public places so that others might view the work? If not,would the owners be willing to share the process. That sounds like something I might want to do outside as we plan to have a shower out doors as well as a tub inside. Like the advertisement says: You live on an island in the middle of the Pacific ocean, decorate accordingly! pj
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One of the lavarock bath houses was at Manele Bay on Lanai and it was a public bath house. They used big timbers for the roof and there were large open areas up in the roof to ventilate. Smooth concrete floor with floor drains and lava rock walls.
River rocks or blue rock might make a nice bath house, too. Concrete floor with a floor drain in it, rock walls (maybe one of the rock wall builder folks can build the enclosure for you.) I saw someone have a lava rock swimming pool with a waterfall going past the river rock hot tub. Next to it was a koi pond. Running the pumps to keep a waterfall going can get pretty expensive, though. A reflective koi pond is much more economical. I'm still trying to find a place in the bath house for an aquarium. Be nice to soak in the tub and watch the fish.
A hui hou,
Cathy
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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It is a bit pricey but over at Glover on the Kona side they will slice lava rock so it has a smooth side. It could be affordable if you are only doing a few of them. If I am not mistaken, they have the big 32" blade.
