The Pros and Cons of a Curbless Shower

A curbless shower is a wonderful design option if you are considering remodeling your bathroom. These showers continue to gain popularity in bathroom remodeling and for good reason, a curbless shower can provide you with many benefits such as a modern aesthetic and increased practicality. Although a great option it does not come without certain drawbacks for you to consider, these can include water containment as well as increased cost. In this blog post I would like to discuss several key pros and cons to keep in mind if you are thinking about implementing a curbless shower in your next bathroom remodel.

Before I go into further depth about the pros and cons of a curbless shower, I’ll give a brief understanding of what it is. As you may have guessed it is simply a shower that is constructed without any type of threshold or curb at the entrance. This keeps the shower floor and the bathroom floor at the same level giving the area a sleek and streamlined look.

Pros

Practicality

Something to always keep in mind when remodeling anything, including bathrooms, is longevity. A curbless shower is something that can “age with you”, this means its qualities will allow it to be a benefit to you in any season of life. Removing the curb from your shower design eliminates the component that is most commonly responsible for trips and falls. A smooth transition from floor to shower will increase the functionality for people of all ages. Whether it be elderly people that may have mobility issues or  very young children that no longer have to step over a curb to bathe, a curbless shower reduces the risk of tripping or falling significantly for all ages. 

Ease of Cleaning

A curbless shower makes cleaning the shower area as well as the rest of the bathroom much easier. With a level floor throughout the room, it removes the nooks and crannies created by a curb that often collect more grime and dirt. The space created by a curbless shower makes a more open area that allows for increased maneuverability when cleaning the area.

Aesthetics

A possibly less concrete, but no less important, consideration is design. A curbless shower is one of the best ways you can give your bathroom an open and spacious look. This is great if you have a smaller area to work with and want to avoid making it feel cramped. While most commonly used to achieve a sleek modern aesthetic, curbless showers are incredibly versatile and can be seamlessly incorporated into nearly any design aesthetic you wish to achieve in a bathroom remodel.

Cons

Complexity

Something to keep in mind when considering a curbless shower is that by definition you are removing a central component of a normal shower. To make up for this lack of a curb and still having a functioning shower requires a more involved construction process. Normally you can expect increased labor and material cost compared to a normal shower, as well as possibly needing to lower the floor level and adjusting the floor joist for the finished height to reach the same level as the rest of the bathroom floor. The plumbing for a curbless shower can also be more complicated, often needing specialty drain systems put in place.

Less Privacy

A potential issue you may encounter with a curbless shower is less privacy. While it does depend on the layout and design of your bathroom, curbless showers are typically used in an open concept design with glass doors/walls or even completely open. Along with less privacy this is also the reason that curbless showers can allow more heat and steam to escape leading to cooler showers. A few ways you may be able to curtail these issues is with installing a privacy curtain, building a pony wall, and installing heated floors. 

Water Containment

Without the traditionally used curb in place to act as a dam to stop water from spreading to other areas of the bathroom, curbless showers require more attention to detail when it comes to water containment. This is done by precisely sloping the floor to the drain at the right angle so the water stays where it should and it doesn't feel like you're standing on a slope. Rain shower heads as well as curved walls can help combat the possibility of water spreading to areas it shouldn't. This can also contribute to the higher cost of a curbless shower. 

So there you have it, 3 pros and cons of a curbless shower. When done correctly it can be a beautiful way to remodel your shower, but it does not come without certain drawbacks to keep in mind. Consider these pros and cons when thinking about using a curbless shower in your next bathroom remodel and weigh them out to see what is the best option for your own personal needs and taste. If you're ready to take the next step and remodel your bathroom with a curbless shower, contact us today to learn more!