Summary: This article presents a detailed description of the installation of shower for the physically challenged people. These devices are simple and smart and work very well. Install one and try it today!!!
Question: I am planning to install a wheel chair accessible shower in
my new house. Since a curb of any type will hinder access into and out
of the shower, the floor of the shower needs to be flush with the floor
of the bathroom. Can you provide assistance for the proper installation
and maintenance of the shower?
Answer: The installation of such shower can be done very easily with the help of expert’s guidance from any tile remodeling contractor. When talking about new house, the process is even much simpler. The only important consideration would be the space of the bathroom where it is set up. Rotating a wheelchair in a confined space requires a floor space that measures 54 inches square. A 60 by 60 inch space would be a wise option.
Reachable shower for handicap people is not a new concept as far as modern gyms and workout businesses is concerned. However, it’s true that these are quite uncommon in the common household.
Talking about the sizing and dimension of the shower area; a cement layer of about 1 to 1.5 inches, just below the ceramic tile of the shower, would be enough. The setting should be done in a way that the flowing water does not accumulate in a corner and it should be let into the shower area. The shower floor area simply needs to be designed with a slope of 1/8 inch per foot to achieve excellent drainage. The rest of the bathroom floor should have a very slight tilt back towards the shower stall so that water spray from the shower into the bathroom could work its way back into the shower area.
The shower area should be designed in a way that it is kept a bit separated from the main bathroom. That is, the level of the shower floor should always be a few inches lowered than the normal floor of the bathroom. This holds good for both wood floor as well as the concrete slabs. The wooden ones are joined using traditional joists; using joist hangers and small sized floor joists.
I have already mentioned about the cement mortar that is to be placed underneath the tile of the shower. Well, before you do this, it is important to place a water proof membrane. This waterproof membrane has to be permanently connected to the shower drain and it should lap up the side walls of both the shower and the bathroom walls. The water that escapes through the holes and in between tiles can then be collected in the membrane and drained safely; thus preventing damage to the floor. The best material is the chlorinated polyethylene. The rolls that come with these membranes have special holes especially for this purpose. You can just give a try at your nearest plumbing supply house.
Other essential considerations in the process of installation are the arrangement of the toilet soap dishes and other articles used for bathing. A hand shower is an important requirement. The valve that is used to turn open and close the shower can be added to the list of essentials. This is important so that the user can reach them easily.
The valve that you choose for the shower is another big deal. Look in for those that are anti scald. Few works on temperature regulation while the rest work on pressure sensing machines. Both types have their own benefits and indeed protect against burning. So install a valve that is both temperature and pressure sensitive. These valves allow you to preset temperatures so that people using the shower have little risk of getting burned.
A partition in the room can be a good arrangement to keep the main bath floor dry and clean. Do not forget to curtain the shower area, possibly use two curtains. These will definitely keep the water spray away from the main floor. These shower curtains need to extend down to the floor and should have weighted corners. Go ahead and get one installed today!
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