Shower Seat
Convenience, comfort, and safety are the hallmarks of a shower seat. Having a shower seat to sit and relax while enjoying a hot shower is much nicer than standing. This is particularly true after an active or stressful day.
A shower seat is perfect as a footstool when shaving your legs. Shower seats are also ideal as an extra shelf for storing shower products such as shampoo, conditioner, etc. Using a shower seat to brace your weight when bending over is really helpful.
For those who experience difficulty standing when showering, a shower seat is a must for safety and comfort. Standing and showering can be difficult due to an injury (back, leg, foot, etc.) or trouble with balance.
What Types of Shower Seats are Available?
There are basically three types. These are bench, neo-angle (corner), and folding.
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Bench
The best seat is a bench. Why? They are the strongest, offer the most sitting room, and provide the most space. With a bench seat, there is no “aiming” for the seat. Simply turn around next to the seat and sit. Bench shower seats are more sanitary, easier to keep clean, and when installed correctly, never need repairs or adjustments. For the best comfort and performance, you want a bench seat that is 15 to 20 inches high and 14 to 16 inches deep. Install along the back wall with no plumbing.
Neo-Angle (Corner)
A neo-angle bench shower seat is best when space inside the shower is limited. Neo-angle shower seats offer many of the same benefits as a full-size shower seat except with less space. Care must also be taken when sitting as you can miss the seat and fall to the floor. If you need a strong, durable, seat but have limited space, this is a great option. A neo-angle shower seat also provides more room when showering with the help of a caretaker. Neo angle (corner) shower seats should be 15 to 20 inches high and 13 to 16 inches deep at its deepest point along the back wall with no plumbing.
Folding
Folding shower seats are best when space is very limited. They do have drawbacks. They can become very unsanitary if they are not regularly and thoroughly cleaned. Folding shower seats are bolted to the wall. Therefore, they can become loose and subject to dangerous failure. Water can also penetrate through the areas where bolted through the wall, causing mold, insect, and rot damage to your home. I only recommend a folding shower seat when there is simply no other alternative.
Are There any Other Shower Seat Options?
The only other option is a shower chair. Unless there is simply no other alternative, I would not recommend a shower chair. These are very unstable. They can also become extremely unsanitary. Consider for a moment what happens when a chair is placed on wet, soapy tile. It moves very easily and can cause great personal injury.
What Size Shower Do I Need for a Shower Seat?
Building code requires that a shower have a clear 30-inch circumference inside. In other words, there can be nothing protruding inside a 30-inch circle in your shower. This includes a shower seat. Therefore, you need a minimum finished shower length of 44-inches long and 36-inches wide. However, these minimums make for a very small, cramped, and barely reasonable space to shower effectively and comfortably.
I recommend a minimum shower length of 60-inches and 32-inches wide before building the seat. With a bench seat, this size provides a comfortable net finished floor length of about 44 to 45-inches. The net finished width will be about 30-inches.
The shower door must be at least 22-inches wide. The shower door must also have a clear, finished unobstructive opening of 22-inches. In other words, it cannot open into toilets, doors, towel bars, etc. if the entry clearance is less than 22-inches when fully open.
What about Waterproofing a Shower Seat?
A shower seat must be hot mopped in the same manner as the shower pan. Do not use cementitious boards (HardieBacker®, Durock®, Wonderboard®, GoBoard®, FiberRock®, etc.). In similar fashion, never use Kerdi-Board®, Schluter Kerdi-Shower System®, PVC shower liner, Pro-Slope™, emulsions, etc.
A properly constructed shower seat is the first step in enjoying an attractive, durable, and comfortable shower experience. If the seat is not constructed correctly, it will fail, and serious personal injury and damage to your home may result. Always use an experienced Contractor such as DAD’s Construction. DAD’s Construction are experts on all phases of your shower remodel.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Shower
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in bathroom and shower remodeling who can manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Bathroom Shower?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
