Vinyl window high above shower or tub – how high up? how tall? awning or slider?
Hi
Planning a remodel of a ranch house with standard 8′ ceilings. Have a couple bathrooms with windows on exterior wall above shower in one and tub in other; the width of these walls w/ showers / tubs are 55″ and 60″ respectively, so pretty standard and not very large. I want to replace with windows that are shorter and higher up. The motivations here are better water resilience and better continuity in tile design. Privacy less of a concern, though will get more w/ the new plan. Am thinking like 36″ wide by 12″ tall, but maybe could go for 15″ tall. The bathroom will have ventilation fans when this is all done so the windows won’t be the only source of ventilation. I’m probably going to use tempered glass even if the location of the windows doesn’t dictate doing so per code.
Anybody have any input on:
a) should the top of the window be as flush as possible w/ the ceiling or some inches below ceiling?
b) should I use an awning- or slider-style window?
c) how low is too low for the bottom frame / sill of the window?
d) aesthetics of a 36×15 vs 36×12 window? should the window be even wider if the wall width is 55″ – 60″?
THANK YOU… I know a lot of these may ultimately be personal choice.
Replies
tk
tempered or safety glass is a MUST.
The rest is up to you.
In addition-size (ht.) might be limited to what's offered by the company-vinyls use up alot of space with the frame and sash-glass size gets scrunched down as a result.
I might opt for a fixed sash-not likely to open for use, then close b/4 exiting. More than likely would stay closed the whole time..............however, your climate may change that.
ventilating?
Casement type windows open the whole window space for venting, sliders only 1/2 the space. If venting is a concern to your needs.
If you place the windows high, as in right below the ceiling, then where's the header? Maybe you don't need a header...
How do you want to trim these windows? Wood will be very problamatic. I'd suggest tile all the way.
A slider might be easier to operate.. I have some awning clearstory windows with cranks. They require one to be on tippy toes. Not so good in s shower.
If you live in a very cold climate, then don't do operators. I live in a relatively mild area and can leave my shower windows open during the summer. That's very nice. I used to live in Alaska where any window in the shower was bad but operator's self destructed.
You will want to take great care in sealing these to the wall surface... as in no leaks.
The bottom of a standard window should be positioned such that shower spray will not readily reach it. Obviously this will depend on where/how high you place the shower head. A window designed to withstand water can be lower, of course.
The rest is up to you.
I doubt that code requires tempered glass when the window is too high to fall against.
dan
I doubt that code requires tempered glass when the window is too high to fall against.
You'll have to pull that up in the IRC. The antiquated code mentioned lateral distance-I'd not misorder b/4 checking.
If it's in the same section, check if the code now permits an unprotected ceiling fan within 6' of a hot tub.