Shower Remodeling Tips For Older Adults
When you're remodeling your shower, there are a lot of factors to take into account. You need to consider the way the shower will look, and how the shower will fit into your overall space. You also need to consider your budget and the costs of various materials. And if you're an older adult, you will want to pay special attention to safety and accessibility. Here are a few shower remodeling tips and strategies to consider if you're an older adult.
Include blocking for grab bars
Even if you don't need grab bars in your shower right now, you might need them in a few more years. So, when you have your shower remodeled, ask your remodeling team to include some blocking in the walls in locations where grab bars would be placed. This way, if you do decide to add grab bars later, you'll be able to drill into the areas where there's blocking and mount those grab bars securely. Having this blocking included now will keep you from having to rip out the tile and re-tile your shower later on.
Choose smooth tile for the shower walls
The older you get, the harder it is to reach up and scrub the tiles at the top of your shower walls. If you choose smoother tile, at least for the walls, they will stay cleaner on their own. You'll still want to wipe them down from time to time, but you won't find yourself having to struggle and reach as much as you would to scrub textured tile.
Include a non-slip floor
People can slip and injure themselves in the shower at any age. But as you get older, you become more likely to slip and fall. You're also more likely to be seriously injured if you do slip and fall. As such, it is a good idea to include a non-slip floor in your new shower design. There are specific, non-slip floors that your shower installer can use, or they can apply a non-slip coating to the floor after it is installed. Ask your installer to show you various options so you can pick one that has the amount of grip you desire.
It can be hard to admit you're getting older, but in the case of shower design, it is important to take your age into account. The features above will be helpful to include. Talk to your remodeling team for more ideas.