Without a Retaining Threshold

When we talk about a walk-in shower, we’re talking about a shower that doesn’t contain the famous threshold we generally see to contain water spread, in addition to the slope.

Here’s what a shower retaining threshold is:

To eliminate this threshold, you’ll need to ensure an effective water flow slope, directly into the floor.

Most ceramic tile and drain finish formats can be used, subject to the presence or absence of various constraints.

Here’s a walk-in shower without a retaining threshold:

It all starts with the floor structure of your bathroom.

Concrete Slab vs. Wood Joists? 3 Options

The crux of the matter… first of all, you’ll need to define the technique for embedding the walk-in shower into the floor. It’s easy to understand that a floor with wood joists or a concrete slab will require different approaches.

1- Excavate the entire shower area if it’s in a concrete slab* / Cut and reinforce the wood joists in the wood-framed floor** The most expensive.

* This technique is particularly applicable to a shower embedded in a concrete slab in the basement. If you plan to install a walk-in shower on a concrete slab in a condo, the condominium association will certainly prohibit any alterations to the slab.

**Note that this approach affects the building’s structure. No one should attempt it without the approval of a structural engineer.

2. Raise the floor all around the shower to create the space for the shower floor.

3. Raise the shower floor only. This creates the effect of a thin podium under the shower.

Watch out for the P-Trap!

Indeed, the most common planning mistake is underestimating the effect of lowering the drain into the floor. Depending on the thickness of the floor joists, the bottom of the P-trap may extend beyond the bottom of the floor structure on the floor below. Consult with one of our experts if this is a problem in your case!

Here’s what a P-trap is:

Waterproof Shower Systems

Thanks to waterproof shower systems, it is now possible to ensure complete waterproofing. The walls, niches, floor, heated floor, joints, and drains are integrated into an integrated assembly.

The great advantage of the linear drain: a unidirectional flow slope allowing for large-format tiling.

Traditionally, small square or round drains require a slope toward them, from all points in the walk-in shower. The various slopes leading to the drain will require the installation of mosaic-style tiles to match the inevitably irregular shapes of the floor.

The linear drain (with variable lengths) can occupy the entire width of one of the sides or the center of the shower. It is therefore possible to descend one or two unidirectional slopes towards the drain. This allows you to use the tiles of the desired size. It will therefore be possible to install the same large tiles on the bathroom floor as in the shower. The clean result of this design will do justice to all the effort of the process.