Doorless showers, also known as walk-in showers, have several benefits, top among them is adding form and function to your bathroom. As you work through the bathroom remodeling process, consider the pros and cons of a doorless shower. Some homeowners see them as a luxury, while others add one to increase the accessibility of their home. Either way you see your project, we’ll be right there with you.  The bathroom remodeling experts at Metropolitan Bath & Tile are ready to discuss your project, no matter how concrete your vision is.

What is a Doorless Shower?

Doorless bathroom showers include just the shower stall, not the tub shower combination. They typically have transparent glass walls on one or both sides, and are often larger in size than a closed shower stall.

As you explore doorless bathroom shower ideas, you’ll discover that they range in size, material and level of privacy. Some have a half wall, and others have a bench inside. If you’re exploring doorless bathroom shower ideas, it’s important to first know the commitment they require from a construction standpoint. This information can help you determine if a doorless shower layout is workable in your bathroom remodeling project.

How Big Should a Doorless Shower Be?

A doorless shower layout requires a larger footprint than a standard tub or shower stall. Building codes may specify that a standard shower stall must be a minimum of 36 inches by 36 inches while the average doorless shower is about seven feet by four feet with many much larger. Doorless showers require additional space to keep water from escaping into the rest of the bathroom. The entryway into a doorless shower is an average of 2 feet. Your expert bathroom remodeling team can give you a good idea of the shower-adjacent areas in the bathroom that could get wet that you should account for.

The best way to optimize your available space is to put your doorless shower layout in a corner of your bathroom. If you are exploring doorless shower options as an accessibility element of your bathroom, your size requirements may need to be much larger for mobility purposes.

Pros and Cons of Doorless Showers

If you’ve determined that you have adequate space to incorporate a doorless shower, there are additional pros and cons worth exploring.

Pros of Doorless Showers

  • Customization: At Metropolitan Bath & Tile, all of our work in our home is treated as a  custom project. If you’re interested in a doorless shower, work with our design team to explore features like a bench or half wall, shelving for toiletries, and more. Now is the time to bring your vision to life and update your bathroom to complement the architectural style of your home. 
  • Open Air Look & Feel: With no shower door or curtain, your bathroom can appear more open. This is especially true if you have a window in your doorless shower layout. What you may lack in privacy, you make up for natural light and a cleaner feel.

Cons of Doorless Showers

  • Space Requirements: Like you’ve already read, doorless shower layouts require a larger footprint in your bathroom. If you’re updating an existing bathroom and not changing the layout, a doorless shower may not be feasible. If you’re updating a large bathroom or planning to expand the footprint of your existing space, then you’re in luck. As you work through the bathroom remodeling process, space requirements are carefully considered.
  • Privacy Tradeoff: A closed shower provides far more privacy than a doorless shower. If you previously had a clear glass enclosed shower with a glass door, then you’re used to this! The transition from a closed shower that was completely private may take some getting used to.
  • Potential for Chilly Temps: Doorless showers do not lock  in the steam that comes from your shower because there’s no door or curtain to do so. Your doorless shower could feel a little drafty due to this.
  • Think Before You Replace Your Tub: Having a bathtub in a home can increase its value. If you’re eyeing the footprint of your tub shower and thinking of replacing it with a doorless shower, be mindful of the potential home value impact. Add that to the list of things to consider before you begin your bathroom remodel project.

Incorporating a doorless shower as part of your bathroom remodeling project is not a do-it-yourself task. There are many bathroom remodeling mistakes to avoid before you begin your project, and underestimating the task at hand is  a big one.

Work With Family-Owned, Local Bathroom Remodelers for Your Next Project

Are you considering a doorless shower for your next bathroom remodeling project? Work with a team that has decades of experience, a quality reputation, and values. At Metropolitan Bath & Tile, we’ll guide you through the bathroom remodeling process with ease. We guarantee that our prices will be equal or less compared to other qualified contractors because of our lack of markups. Lean on our expertise and quality reputation for your bathroom remodel project.