[mochagirl13]

I've been looking into items to make my bathing more safe and bathroom more snazzy so when I sell or rent it won't scream 'disability ' house. Does anyone have any suggestions? Small bathroom, too small for double sink or sep. shower and bath. But not so small where toilet is up against sink.

Thanks.

[Debbie D]

We've been going around about doing this too. I am having trouble just getting into the bathtub to take a shower...lifting my legs over the side of the tub is getting harder.
We've discussed putting in a shower alongside of it...but then we shrug our shoulders and say.."nah.."
The only thing I could suggest is taking the tub out and installing a walk in shower...

[missj]

The contractors are in my bathroom now, redoing it all for me. Getting a custom bench built at the end of the tub for when I need to sit and for when I may need it to transfer.

So excited.

[ANNagain]

I am working on this, too (very slowly). My BR is very similar to what Mochagirl describes but w a window above the toilet that extends into the bath. I had it obscurred on the bottom and tempered both panes.

I want a walk in shower- modern w a good but not obvious grab bar.

For the floor outside of the shower, I want linoleum. It's a natural product (from linseed) and softer to land on than tile. I want it in a sheet w/o the separate squares.

I can't figure what to do about the window- it is staying as that is the front of the house. I don't want a depression on the outside where you can tell there used to be a window there- you know what I mean?

If anyone has some small bathroom pictures, I'd love to see them.

Best to all of us,
ANN

[Jessica1988]

I am here to learn.Thanks for sharing.

[Erin524]

If you want to get rid of a window, you're going to have to have a contractor frame it to close it up. If it's frame construction (drywall, 2x4's) you can have that framed over probably pretty easy. If it's in a basement and you have a cement wall with a window, you're probably going to have to have someone who specializes in concrete work to do that.


If it's in a lower level or a basement, you might not be able to cover a window and have it pass code tho. Especially if it's an egress window.

ALWAYS GET PERMITS! Always make sure you have any wiring and plumbing inspected before it's closed up behind drywall and tile. If they say you dont need a permit, they're lying. Get one anyways.

When we did our bathrooms, we hired a decorator, because I didnt want my bathroom looking like the chop shop bathroom job my mom had had done 5yrs beforehand in her bathroom. (we had her bathroom re-done when mine was done...looks like it's original to the house now and doesnt look like crap anymore)

I insisted on the decorator, who helped me find a really good contractor who knew what he was doing. He had really good bathroom building skills.

I did get rid of the linoleum floor that I had originally. I just couldnt see anyway for them to demo my bathroom without ruining the floor, so I just had them tile the floor for me when they did the shower.

To make it not hospitalish looking, I made sure when I picked out things like grab bars and shower heads that I went a little higher end. They make some really nice grab bars that dont look like something that came out of 100yr old hospital. Make sure they frame 2x4 braces in the walls for the grab bars. My house will fall down before my grab bars fall off my walls.

I had 3 grab bars put up inside my shower. Two are on one wall, in an upside down "T" arrangement. (one vertical, one horizontal) and then one more horizontal one on the wall next to where I usually get in and out of the shower. Then I put another two bars outside the shower, in an "L" shape arrangement. So that I can grab onto the bars easily when getting in and out. I wanted more bars, but the contractor didnt seem to take me seriously (or, for some reason he didnt want my money to do the extra work for putting up an extra bar or two...never understand why)

I also upgraded my toilet at the same time. It was a short toilet, so I had a taller one put in.

The shower tiles on the walls are 12x12in tiles. The floor tiles, I think, are 3.5in or 4in tiles. The logic behind that was the bigger the tiles, the less grout lines there would be, the less grout lines, the less grout lines for mold and mildew to grow in. Easier to clean.

I got a deal on the shower door. They screwed mine up, and ended up making a higher end door with heavier glass. I was so happy they screwed it up. It looked better than the one I originally picked. They charged me the cost of the original door (which cost about $600 less than what I ended up with)

if my old computer hadnt killed itself last fall, I'd have pictures of what it looked like before and after. If I saved the pictures somewhere else, I'll try to find them and post them here if anyone wants to see. Hope I saved them to another computer.

[SallyC]

I had my bathroom remodled in 2009 with my handicap in mind...had a smaller vanity put in, so my scooter would get passed it, a taller toilet and nice looking grab bars to match, by the tub/shower and toilet.

When I got home from the hospital, OT had me put in an easy to transfer to, shower chair and a grab bar attached to tub. Much safer to get in and out of shower now.. Both movable.

Good luck Mocha..

[mochagirl13]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I never thought of a taller toilet. Has anyone tried the suction cup grab bars? I've looked at the walk in tubs but for the money they want I can get a futuristic steam shower and tub with jets installed with doors. It's one unit with a rainfall shower and a handheld shower. I wonder if I can get bars installed inside.

[SallyC]

The suction type bars are probably ok for balance while standing in shower, but I wouldn't trust them to pull or hold your entire weight..

Get the elongated toilet/seat too...more room to sit and clean yourself.

[ANNagain]

Mochagirl-

Can you find me a link to the "futuristic shower" you are describing. Sounds wonderful.
ANN