Shower/tub against window - leaks?

If that guy were right, why wouldn't any shower leak into the wall and not just because it's next to a window? I think the second contractor didn't know what he was talking about or he based his opinion on limited experience with it. So many showers all across the country have windows in them. It's really common.

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 11:35 AM

Me again, thought of something, if the window is large and the bottom of the window goes quite low, I could see why the contractor would say no matter what you do you'd leak into the wall.

The window needs to be high and small enough that the water from the shower does not ever hit it directly.

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 11:38 AM

I think you can do it. Ditto on the sill drip edge. Just make sure the shower water doesn't go right at the window. If it's a wood window paint or seal it with products made for outdoor application.

All tiling and wallboard should be appropriate for the wet application.

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 12:16 PM

Rather than glass block (which I don't like unless gaining bunker-like security is your goal, like for a basement window), you can keep the window, and use a clear shower curtain over it as a window curtain. That way, you preserve your access to air, light, and an openable window, while protecting your walls when necessary. I much prefer bathrooms with openable windows (and those little vents you sometimes find installed in glass blocked windows don't count.)

If the window is high, or at the far end of the tub from the showerhead, you won't likely have leaks anyway. It is fairly easy to tell where the shower water will go.

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 12:33 PM

Laticrete the hell out of the wall...all around the sill. use a single piece of marble sill all around the window opening. Slope the marble sill out so it drains into the shower.

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 12:58 PM

I am going to respectfully disagree with 12:33 just to show another perspective - I like glass blocks in a shower. Both how it looks and how practical it is. Design your tiles and fixtures to not look like a bunker and it won't.

I like windows that open too, but if the window is large and goes low enough for the water to hit it I myself would not do anything but either glass blocks or filling in the wall to make the window smaller and located more high on the wall. Or, what about making the bottom half glass blocks and the top half a small window with partitions that can slide open?

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 1:10 PM

In both our bathrooms the tubs are positioned across the short end of the room, under the window. It allowed us to fit a bidet into one bathroom and a washer/dryer into the other. In both cases the windows are about a foot above the level of the tub and the sills (although flat not sloped) are at least 4-5 inches deep. Both also have thin cafe rods (from Rejuvenation Lighting) from which hang lightweight shower curtains cut to size. In the 8 years since our reno, we appear to have had no problems. The one drawback is that neither bathroom feels especially cozy in the depths of winter. It kinda stops me from enjoying long baths at that time of year. Then again it could be that the problem is with the fact that the radiators in both rooms are somewhat under-sized. In summer it's another story -- both bathrooms are light, airy and unstuffy.

Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 4:42 PM

I have a glass block window in my shower. We had it installed 5 years ago and it has been great. The sill is angled down so water runs off of it. It is not high up and shower water does hit it, but it does not seem to be any sort of a problem. I am now looking to install another one in another bathroom.

Posted by: guest at June 15, 2008 8:22 PM