| Curved glass block shower walls have become the | | | | some people. Barrier free and roll in shower bases |
| rage - they look sleek, are easy to clean, eliminate | | | | can be designed to help those who have difficulty |
| the cost of a door and the need to clean around the | | | | getting into a standard shower the opportunity to |
| tracks of the door and are less expensive than | | | | have a cool and functional shower. Although acrylic |
| tempered bent glass. With that said the design of a | | | | bases for blocks are usually not possible in roll in |
| rounded glass bathroom wall is not the easiest thing | | | | designs (they are premade with 4 - 5" curbs) the |
| to do. To begin you've got to design an integrated | | | | expanded polystyrene bases can be custom designed |
| shower system where the curvature of the base will | | | | with any person's specific needs in mind. |
| work with the block units (note: the blocks cannot be | | | | Step 5 - Add the cool - the color, design, and |
| cut). In this project it's critical to design first and let | | | | patterns to make your project stand out - Why |
| your construction process and products follow your | | | | settle for a generic looking wall when you don't have |
| goals for the finished look you desire. | | | | to? Colored glass block, etched glass, and unique |
| This article will provide 6 1/2 design steps for a | | | | patterns, sizes and block shapes can bring a unique |
| successful radius shower wall: | | | | style to your finished project. Design in "the cool" so |
| Step 1 - Determine what you want your curved | | | | you don't have to limit yourself to the standard |
| wall(2) to look like - First measure the total space | | | | blocks you may have seen in your local market. |
| (depth x width) you've got to work with. To have a | | | | Step 6 - Purchasing the base and walls - It's best to |
| radius bathroom wall you'll usually need a minimum of | | | | buy the shower base and the wall(s) from the same |
| 34" of shower depth to have adequate room to get | | | | supplier or contractor - this way you can require they |
| into the wet area of the shower. Consider if you | | | | guarantee the base and the walls will fit together. |
| want a corner or bench shower seat or leg ledge. | | | | Since curved glass block shower base and wall |
| Get our a tape measure and see if you want a tight | | | | products are a niche market make sure your supplier |
| or more gradual radius (the tightest radius with glass | | | | has actual pictures and projects they can show you |
| blocks is usually a 1' dimension measured from the | | | | with rounded walls (a comment like "I did a block |
| inside of the wall) or even a serpentine (S-shaped) | | | | shower project a few years ago" should not inspire |
| type wall. | | | | the confidence you should demand for a specialty job |
| Develop a rough drawing of your shower with the | | | | like this). |
| approximate size (depth and width), wall shape(s), | | | | The most common failure in radius glass block |
| and accessories desired (benches, leg ledges etc.). | | | | shower wall projects are poorly designed and |
| Step 2 - Identify what material you'd like on the floor | | | | constructed bases that don't match up with the |
| of the shower - More luxurious custom showers are | | | | block walls. This problem can cause a block installation |
| usually done with tile, terrazzo, or granite floors. Less | | | | contractor to make joints between the blocks that |
| expensive shower bases are made of acrylic. | | | | are either too big or too small, or have to use a |
| With a tile floor you can either construct a mortared | | | | strange grouping of blocks which don't look good |
| mud-set pan base (which is time consuming and more | | | | together. |
| prone to quality and leakage issues down the road) | | | | Premade glass block panels can be made in either |
| or get a prefabricated expanded polystyrene base | | | | straight, curved, or step down designs that make it |
| which is 100% waterproof, ready for tile and | | | | possible for many contractors and handy |
| specifically designed for the curvature of the glass | | | | homeowners to accomplish this project. Try not to |
| block shower stall or enclosure. | | | | do a rounded wall project using the old-fashioned |
| An acrylic shower base for blocks is premade and | | | | block by block installation process (unless the design |
| available in two sizes - 72" x 51" and 60" x 34". The | | | | is very tricky) - the quality is often lacking with an |
| colors of these bases are white and biscuit and come | | | | inexperienced installer and may cause you to have to |
| in left hand and right hand entry designs. | | | | redo the wall. |
| Step 3 - Consider how tall you want your walls to be | | | | Step 6 1/2- If the project is causing you sleepless |
| - Most completed block shower walls are 80" and | | | | nights - This project should not, and does not, have |
| after they are set on the curb of the base (which is | | | | to cause you sleepless nights. If you're unsure of |
| usually 4" to 5") bring the finished height of the wall | | | | your design or your ability (or your potential |
| to 84" - which is equivalent to a standard shower | | | | contractor's ability) to complete the project get help. |
| head. For side block walls with corner seats and leg | | | | A glass block supply and installation specialist can help |
| ledges the most common height is 64" (the benches | | | | you through the details, supply you with pre-made |
| and seats are 16" tall from the inside of the base and | | | | base, wall, accessories and unique design blocks to |
| putting the block on a partial 16" high wall will allow | | | | turn your conceptual project into a stunning reality. |
| the 80" rounded wall and the side 64" wall to match | | | | Don't be stubborn, call or email for help before you |
| up). | | | | get too far. |
| Step 4 - Evaluate any special needs for a roll in | | | | Now that you're equipped with these 6 1/2 steps |
| barrier free shower base - Stepping over a curb | | | | you're ready to design and order your curved glass |
| (even one as small as 1") can be a major obstacle for | | | | block shower wall and base. |