Bathroom Shower Stalls

SHOWER STALLS

The safety issue with shower stalls is when the door is installed opening in. If a person should pass out against the door it will be very difficult to get the door open. Also the person may suffer further injury if the water is hot and still turned on. Shower stalls can be one piece or they can be made from scratch. Most shower stalls are installed at back door bathrooms for ease of cleaning up. The weak point in most shower stalls is the joint between the floor and walls of the stall. Water leaks are common in this area

Problem: Caulking around the enclosure is old or missing and needs to be removed and new caulking applied to stop water from entering and causing water damage to floor and wall systems.

Problem: Entrance problems. The shower stall entrance width should be a minimum of 22 inches. Shower doors should be tempered glass. Shower doors should open outwards. If the water temperature suddenly gets very hot, people can't get out of the shower quickly. A bigger problem is if someone collapses in a shower stall and falls against the door, it can be very difficult to get the person out. This is an installation and safety issue.

Problem: Inappropriate finishes in wet areas. Absorbent finishes will draw moisture in and are likely to stain or deteriorate. Wood is a good example of this. Plaster or drywall in wet areas will crumble and disintegrate. Textured finishes hold water and foster growth of mold and mildew. Areas around bathtubs and showers should have smooth, hard, non-absorbent finishes to a height of a least six feet above floor level. This is an installation issue.

Problem: Leaks. Leaks can be through faucets, soap dishes, grab bars and/or windows. As well as changes in direction or material like shower base-tile intersections, inside wall corners and/or outside wall corners where the tile ends. Leakage may result from poor grout work, poor sealing of joints, lack of maintenance and/or building settlement. Leaks are possible through the supply and drain piping as well. The implications of leakage are cosmetic damage to interior finishes below and structural damage to wood members exposed to the moisture.

Problem: Rust. Moisture is the obvious cause of rust. Although the metal is usually protected by paint or another surfacing material, flaws inevitably occur or unfinished areas at joints are exposed to moisture. It's tough to keep a rusty shower stall sanitary. Eventually the rust will go through the metal and the shower stall will lose its integrity.

Problem: Sills and thresholds at shower stalls should be watertight and should be tall enough to control the shower water. Poor original construction or maintenance can lead to leakage at and around sills and thresholds. Sills and thresholds that are too low are an installation issue. In both cases leakage is the implication.