| A prospective customer in Columbus Ohio recently | | | | most common height for a shower head is 84" from |
| asked, "Can you help us to eliminate the need to | | | | the finished bathroom floor and when you add the |
| step over this old tub so we can safely walk into a | | | | height of the shower curb (which is 4" to 5") the |
| new shower?" His wife quickly chimed in "and just | | | | finished height of the walls will match up with your |
| because we're older I don't want some ugly | | | | shower head. An excellent underlayment material to |
| institutional looking thing either! Is there a way to do | | | | use on the plumbing and back walls (which can be |
| a glass block shower in this small space?" | | | | applied directly to your studs) is the closed cell |
| Until recently it would have been difficult to | | | | polystyrene board from Wedi. This board can be cut |
| incorporate a block shower in a standard sized | | | | with a utility knife, is attached with the system |
| bathroom in an older home with a walk in design. | | | | fasteners, joint sealant is applied, and the seams are |
| Now there are 100% waterproof bases available to | | | | taped making the walls ready for your finishing |
| make this project happen. Presented below are top 7 | | | | material. For a more cost effective finish consider |
| questions people ask when planning to convert their | | | | using acrylic walls over the Wedi board, and for a |
| bathtub into a glass block shower.o Question 1 - Is | | | | more luxurious look the walls could be finished with |
| there enough room for a walk in shower in this small | | | | your choice of tile.o Question 5 - What pattern and |
| space? Yes. Before the shower walls can be installed | | | | color options do I have in the glass blocks? What will |
| a new base will be required. Two stylish options, | | | | the wall look like? - The walk in shower design with |
| which are also 100% waterproof, are an acrylic | | | | the acrylic base is a rounded (or radius) block wall |
| pre-formed base and a Wedi fundo closed cell | | | | with a finished bull-nose block at the end. It is |
| polystyrene base (Wedi is the manufacturer of this | | | | available in wide variety of colors using the |
| product). As long as your existing tub area (once the | | | | Décora and Icescapes patterns manufactured |
| tub is removed) is 60" wide by 34" deep you'll have | | | | by Pittsburgh Corning. For the Wedi polystyrene base |
| the room to make this project happen. The 60" | | | | the wall designs can be designed for a straight or |
| width is the most common for tubs in the United | | | | rounded finished look.o Question 6 - How are these |
| States.o Question 2 - What type of base is best? | | | | walls built? Where are these walls built? The block |
| Can I dress the floor of the shower up with tile? The | | | | walls can either be built block by block at the job site |
| acrylic bases can a little less expensive and are | | | | or pre-fabricated and shipped to your home or |
| available in white and biscuit colors. With the Wedi | | | | business. The pre-made block sections are made |
| closed cell polystyrene base the shower floor can | | | | small enough (usually 2 courses which is 16" high) to |
| accommodate any type of tile floor you'd like - | | | | be set and anchored comfortably by one person.o |
| providing you with a wide range of finished looks.o | | | | Question 7 - Can I do the project myself? - |
| Question 3 - Will I need to put in additional floor | | | | Completing the project as a do it yourselfer is |
| support for the glass block shower walls? - Usually | | | | possible if you've got plumbing, framing, masonry |
| not. Unless there is already a problem with the | | | | skills, and finished tile or acrylic wall installation skills. If |
| subfloor framing the block walls will be adequately | | | | not, you'll usually be best to find a glass block panel |
| supported by your existing floor joists.o Question 4 - | | | | fabricator to make the wall sections and ship them to |
| How tall should I make the shower walls? What | | | | you - or even better find a specialty contractor who |
| backing and finishing materials should I put on the | | | | can coordinate all of the construction phases of this |
| plumbing wall and back walls? Most block walls for | | | | project. |
| showers are built 80" tall. The reason for this is the | | | | |