Indeed, showers are a crucial factor in making your washroom elegant. Walk-in showers and curbless showers have gained popularity nowadays. Many of you might have heard about these terms but do you know the difference between them?
According to my research:
One difference between a walk-in shower and a curbless shower is the absence or presence of any barrier. Curbless showers come without a curb while walk-in showers have a barrier.
Want more info?
Don’t go anywhere- Later in this guide, I have also discussed Pros and cons of both Walk in and Curbless shower.
Here you go.
Comparison – Curbless Shower VS. Walk-in Shower
The following table shows a quick difference between a Curbless Shower and a walk-in shower.
|
Feature |
Curbless Shower |
Walk-in Shower |
|---|---|---|
|
Privacy |
Curbless showers do not contain doors, so there’ll be compromised privacy. |
Walk-in showers are secure and make you feel comfortable. |
|
Maintenance |
It doesn’t require high maintenance because it lacks the curb that grows mold. |
It requires more maintenance due to the presence of the threshold. |
|
Installation Process |
A curbless shower requires proper waterproofing and floor preparation during installation. |
Walk-in showers come with a built-in curb, so they are easier to install. |
|
Waterproofing |
You should do particular waterproofing with proper drainage. |
You can go for simple waterproofing. |
|
Cleaning Method |
Easy to clean due to the absence of a curb. |
It is a bit hard to clean because of the accumulation of dirt around the threshold. |
What Is A Walk-in Shower?
A walk-in shower is designed with a curb or a threshold that keeps the water inside the shower area. Therefore, walk-in showers prevent the water from spreading all over the washroom while taking a bath.
Pros Of A Walk-in Shower
The advantages of a walk-in shower are given in the following.
Spacious
Walk-in showers are undoubtedly elegant and provide your restroom spaciousness. According to my research, walk-in showers can be adjusted in both small and luxurious washrooms.
If you have an average-sized washroom, a walk-in shower can make it look aesthetic and broad.
Accessibility
As you know, walk-in showers contain a small threshold instead of high curbs. So, it is considered accessible for people of every age. Sometimes, elder folks are unable to step up the high curb due to their joint pain. Hence, a walk-in shower will fix their concerns.
Secure
If you have installed a walk-in shower along with the non-slip flooring and grab bars, it will add 2X safety to your bathroom. Non-slippery floors will prevent you from bathroom accidents by inhibiting the moistness on the shower floor.
Cons Of A Walk-in Shower
Here are a few disadvantages of a walk-in shower.
Limited Usage
Limited usage is the drawback of walk-in showers. Let me make it understandable for you. The presence of steps in the walk-in shower will prohibit people with mobility issues.
For instance, if you’re in a wheelchair for some reason and unable to walk, you can’t enter the walk-in shower. If you try, you might face severe injuries.
Hard To Clean
Walk-in showers are considerably hard to clean. You might not know but the curb will accumulate a lot of dirt and residues in its corners. This accumulation may lead to mold production.
So, if you want your washroom away from germs, you should go for proper cleansing after every bath.
What Is A Curbless Shower?
As the name illustrates, the curbless shower comes without any curb or step. So, you can easily enter and exit in a curbless shower. Curbless showers are considered best for people with mobility issues.
Benefits Of A Curbless Shower
The pros of a curbless shower are given below.
Easy To Clean
A curbless shower requires minimal maintenance because it contains no barrier or threshold. It is easy to clean. All you have to do is get a good squeegee and clean the curbless shower after every bath.
The best thing about the curbless shower is there’s a low to zero chance of mold development.
Spacious
A curbless shower is best for all kinds of restrooms. No matter whether you want to renovate your small or large washroom, A curbless shower will be fixed in both. You can install a curbless shower in any corner of your washroom.
Convenience
Another benefit of a curbless shower is its convenience. It is best for people with mobility issues and kids. If you’re in a wheelchair, you can easily access the shower area and take a bath without any concern about stepping on curbs.
Curbless showers also prevent your children from washroom incidents due to higher steps.
Drawbacks Of A Curbless Shower
Here are a few cons of curbless showers.
Less Privacy
If you’re used to taking baths in shower enclosures, you may encounter privacy issues in curbless showers. As you already know, curbless showers do not have doors or sliders. You can deal with this drawback by hanging a shower curtain.
Expensive
Another drawback of curbless showers is their cost. A curbless shower requires particular floor preparation before installation. You must have to do sloping and proper drainage before setting a curbless shower.
These additional chores will add extra charges to the cost of the shower. So, it will be a bit more expensive than traditional showers.
Related: What Is The Best Type Of Walk-in Shower?
Difference Between Walk-in showers & Curbless Showers
The particular differences between walk-in showers and curbless showers are given below.
Installation Considerations
Walk-in showers come with built-in curbs that make them easier to install. You don’t need any special requirements to fix a walk-in shower. Meanwhile, the absence of a curb in curbless showers requires additional considerations.
You must take care of floor sloping and proper drainage to prevent the accumulation of water in the shower floor. You may also need an expert to fix curbless showers.
Maintenance
A walk-in shower requires more maintenance as compared to curbless showers. The presence of a threshold in the walk-in shower will lead to the risks of mold and mildew development. So, you must scrub the shower area daily.
On the other hand, curbless showers are easy to clean. You can clean the shower without using any harsh chemicals. A curbless shower also prevents mold production in the restroom.
Waterproofing
When it comes to waterproofing, it is mandatory for both walk-in showers and curbless showers. A curbless shower requires particular floor preparation and drainage to avoid the spreading of water in the washroom.
In contrast, walk-in showers already come with a curb that ceases the water flow to the shower flow, so it requires simple waterproofing.
Related: What Is The Difference Between a Walk-in Shower And a Roll-in Shower?
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to say that walk-in showers and curbless showers both are best for washrooms. Each shower has its own advantages and disadvantages. You can also compare the benefits and drawbacks to your specific needs.
You have also gone through the major differences between a curbless shower and a walk-in shower. Now, the choice is yours. Decide your favorite shower type and install it now!