My new house has a 24″ x 48″ double hung window in a shower. I gutted the bath and replaced all of the areas with water damage. My wife is adamant about keeping a window in this small bathroom for natural light, but is also opposed to glass block. Any suggestions as to other options? It needs to be private and tempered, but doesn’t necessarily have to open (fan going in). It’s also a main floor bath, so skylights or tubes are out of the question. I did a quick search online for a window specifically for this application, but didn’t come up with much.
Thanks,
Steve
Replies
We've used Vinyl and Fiberglass windows in showers before, not typically directly in the spray path of the shower.
You said it will not need to open so a fixed pane would be and answer here. Also as Frank suggested while using the V and F words in the same sentence isn't a bad idea as well. . . ;-)
I have no problem with an all wood window in the show, I have two in my own home with no problems thus far. Make sure it's well caulked and painted, you might also think about putting an additional shower curtain along that wall to draw closed when showering to add both an additional layer of protection and privacy.
View Image
http://www.josephfusco.org
http://www.constructionforumsonline.com
It sounds like you've set the stage for some major work, so I'll suggest it.
The key word here is 'celestory.' As in: long skinny windows up at the ceiling line. These will let the light in, protect privacy, and keep all the likely leak points above the shower spray.
Heck, if the dimensions are right, the windowsill will be a great shampoo shelf too!
I thought about something like that, but I'd like to use the existing opening. The house has a stucco exterior so I'd like to avoid cutting a new hole and have to patch the space left by the existing window. That would've looked nice though.
If you want to use the existing opening, get a vinyl window and use Azek for the interior trim.
>>"The key word here is 'celestory.' ....."well, actually, that word would be clerestory (sounds like 'clear story').I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)
Thank you for the correction!
Make sure your replacement has TEMPERED GLASS!
Flash it right and splash in it all day.
I've done it four times, first one I really didn't know what I was doing, so we'll call it a "learning experience" that prompted me to figure out how to do it right. Only have pics of the last install, I'm afraid.
The next two I made a window frame and stop to fit existing opening and had insulated tempered glass assemblies made to fit, outside glass obscure. Next installed building felt (tar paper) with meticulous attention to details. If you make your shower leak proof at this stage, you're off to a good start.
Tile backer next, close attention to leaving a clean 1/8" between backer and glass, which is filled with polyurethane caulk, I like PL. Thinset seams and corners, then tile. also leaving gap at window for caulk, not grout.
Only difference between above and one pictured is that I used a vinyl frame window (budget constraint) sized to fit and ran backer and tile up to frame rather than glass. I also sloped the sill more, probably around 10 or 15 degrees...as much as I could without the shampoo sliding off into tub.
When I do this again, I'll change some things; I'll use backer rod at the glass to tile backer intersection, then caulk and if budget allows, I'll use frame and glass like #1 & #2 'cuz I like the way it looks with tile running into glass as opossed to vinyl. Also the frame add another potential failure area where frame meets glass. I may try Kerdi, but I'd hafta do some figuring out of details.
I'd reccommend the tile book by Michael Bynre, there is an installation like this in it and was instrumental in getting the info to do it right. Remember your install has to shed water before a single tile is set and you'll be ahead of where I started!
Pics aren't great and no completed shots, but close enough to get the idea across.
Edit to add: I thought of one other thing I'll change. That would be more attention paid to making a nice flat plane for backer to mount to studs...makes the tile setting go that much quicker and would be more critical with square edged tile for lippage concerns.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Edited 10/29/2009 6:01 pm ET by PeterJ
I picked up some vinyl Pella windows that had a tempered glass with a frosted texture made for bath windows. I used them as dormer windows on a shed I'm building, and let in the only natural light up there. You would be surprised how that texturing scatters the light and actually makes the second floor much brighter..
We had double pane vinyl replacement windows put in years ago and the sidelight to the entry door measures about 16"x 76". That area window came with the textured glass put on the outside pane with the texture facing outdoors and the clear pane inside. What happens is that if an oil gets on the texture surface, the frosted texture turns almost transparent... Wouldn't have noticed that, except a few days before an attempt by a burglar was made, I had seen this WD-40 oily dot about the size of a half dollar about 6" from floor level where he had tried to see into the entry...
If you have to order a window to be made to fit the opening, consider having the textured side is turned to the inside of the dual panes and the smooth side of the frosted facing to the outward side of the window frame, either inside or outside...