Building an Open Shower

Check with your local building inspector to make sure you design the open shower in conformity with local building codes. Using graph paper, draw the layout of your bathroom to scale making sure to include windows and doorways.

Select a location for the open shower and determine what size it should be. Keep in mind that the larger the open shower, the less of a chance that water from the shower will enter other parts of the bathroom. An open shower should be 36 inches by 36 inches if it includes a seat, and 30 inches by 60 inches without a seat.
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Visit a tile showroom to see tiling options for your open shower. Glazed ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles are good choices for a bathroom because they do not absorb water and can be cleaned easily. Ceramic and glass tiles are also fashionable and durable.

Consult with an experienced professional to make sure the placement of the drain and the slant of the shower floor are adequate so water from the open shower does not splash into the rest of the bathroom. Install a shower pan of about 24 inches across at the entrance to the shower, and place a 4-inch fiberglass flange at the front to keep water inside the open shower. Use vertical shower heads for minimal splash.