Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 Apr 13, 2009 12:44 pm Hi all! Hoping that someone with some smarts can help me out. Our builder cannot/will not put a light into our shower area of our ensuite (or atleast this is what we were told at our final builders interview a few months ago). This is our ensuite: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ At present, we have them putting a standard light into the toilet, and a fan/heater/light into the vanity area, as well as 2 downlights into the dropped ceiling above the vanities. What I had originally planned for and requested was for the fan/heater/light to be in the shower area! My concern is that there won't be enough light without an additional light into the shower "room". I'd like a choice whether to shower with/without light! And I'm sure for re-sale a lightless shower area is not a very good idea! (Wish I'd known this when we designed the bathroom area). Has anyone seen any solutions to this problem? We "pinched" this style ensuite from a display home but I can't remember which one and I don't want to go though every one in the state trying to see what lighting they had. So... any suggestions? Ideas? Was the consultant correct in saying it is unsafe to install a light to this area? How about a wall mounted light at the far end? Please help me forumites! Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 2Apr 13, 2009 12:56 pm My drawings show a light in the shower. I have also though about the safety of a light in the shower and in the end thought it would be OK. I don't think a light is the problem, but rather the heater. The glass would get very hot and if water was splashed on it there may be problem. Why not look up your proposed light/heater/fan on the web and see what the manufacturer says about installation. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 3Apr 13, 2009 4:10 pm I'm not exactly sure from the picture, but wouldn't the light shine through the glass of the shower door? Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 4Apr 13, 2009 4:13 pm If not, could you put another downlight in the part of the room just outside of the shower and kind of have it turned so it's pointing in the direction of the shower? skylight could also be an option (but wouldn't help at night!!) Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 5Apr 13, 2009 6:12 pm Casa2 My drawings show a light in the shower. I have also though about the safety of a light in the shower and in the end thought it would be OK. I don't think a light is the problem, but rather the heater. The glass would get very hot and if water was splashed on it there may be problem. Why not look up your proposed light/heater/fan on the web and see what the manufacturer says about installation. Thanks, Casa! That's a good idea... I'll have to try and find the brand/model details in my paperwork. I am kind of holding out hope that once I get assigned a SS perhaps I could bring this up and he could shed more light (excuse the pun!)? Perhaps a "normal" light is still an option, as you suggest. I would think that being so open at the enterance end, steam etc would not be a problem? indigoclover If not, could you put another downlight in the part of the room just outside of the shower and kind of have it turned so it's pointing in the direction of the shower? skylight could also be an option (but wouldn't help at night!!) Hi Indigo! The problem isn't so much that there won't be *any* light - just a lack of light. The shower is a little bit "around the corner" - i.e. no direct light. Without actually having the walls up, it is all speculation but I can't imagine much light getting through since the shower alcove is 1.5m long? If you know/have seen different please do tell!!! (We are trying to avoid having a glass door/screen in our ensuite - I don't suppose you/anyone else has any ideas on whether the wall is long enough to block shower splatters?) Skylight is a very different idea! Still, as you say, it won't really help at night. Would likely still need a combination of lighting in there. Not entirely sure a skylight is "us" if that makes sense but will see what my DP thinks. Thanks for your suggestion Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 6Apr 13, 2009 8:23 pm I'm pretty sure our sparky is putting a light above our shower.... I'll have to double check this week. But when he mentioned it, I thought it wasn't even going to be an option, but I'm sure he said it would be fine. However - our shower isn't a shower cubicle as such, we're having an open shower next to the bath - so not sure if that changes the hows/whys of a light above the shower. What about some borrowed light from the bathroom? I assume that dividing wall between the shower and the rest of the ensuit is a solid wall? You could always put in a window with stained glass or similar. Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 7Apr 13, 2009 8:45 pm there is no problem putting a light above the shower, but depending on the ceiling height it would need to be a particular type of light. It just needs to be one that is more water tight so there is no possible issue with water splashing or steam. An electrician can tell you what it has to be. They are more expensive though, thats the only thing Built with Bentley homes in Doreen All moved in Dec 2009 Now for the garden! Our stuff so far viewtopic.php?f=31&t=16532 Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 8Apr 13, 2009 8:52 pm I don't have any advice about how to do it, but I would suggest to do it if you can! We have an around-the-corner type of shower set up too - enclosed on 3 sides - and it sometimes feels a bit dark in there. If I had my time again I would see if I could get one put in the shower somehow. "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions." — Elizabeth Gilbert Living in our new house. Currently scaping the land. Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 9Apr 13, 2009 10:28 pm Hi, as our ensuite shower is walled on 3 sides, the amount of light was an issue for us also. So our electrician is putting 2 downlights above the shower which have some specific "IP rating" to handle the steam, water, heat and what have you. Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 10Apr 14, 2009 12:53 am Thanks all (esg, lostris, donuts and thorney) Think I have some phonecalls to make this week! I'm so glad to hear it should be possible. Worst case scenario, I'm sure I can get it done after hand-over. Donuts: do you also not have a fan in your shower area (just assuming here that your fan and light are all in one)? I have been thinking a lot about the potential for steam/water damage in the ceiling if the steam isn't "sucked up" well/quick enough. Any thoughts on this? Over-thinking things? You bet! Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 11Apr 14, 2009 6:42 am hi alulei. We do have an exhaust right on top of the shower so that luckily isn't an issue for us. Unfortunately it is right in the middle of the top of the shower, so if we did get a light put in there, it would have to be off to the side, which would annoy me! "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions." — Elizabeth Gilbert Living in our new house. Currently scaping the land. Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 12Apr 14, 2009 10:41 am what about using an outdoor light/pool light? Not sure if you can do this but they would be waterproof! Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 13Apr 14, 2009 2:48 pm We have a similar situation in both shower recesses where a wall is blocking off the main source of light. The electrician was happy to put a waterproof downlight in both showers, no trouble whatsoever. Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 14Apr 14, 2009 4:06 pm Well, the electrician must've heard me talking about them! they called today to discuss our telstra connection - so I asked them while I had them on the phone. Didn't even have to chase anyone up or harass anyone for answers - the lovely office lady called me back within the hour to say she could organise it independant of the builder with written authorisation from me via email and that she will let me know the cost once the electrician has given her more specifics. What a pleasant change! Think my builder was just too lazy to do anything "out of the norm". I am a very happy chappy now, though! I won't have to shower in the dark!! Thanks everyone for your advice. The builder made me think I was asking for the impossible! Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 15Apr 20, 2009 9:21 pm Glad to hear you have sorted it out. We had a similar problem with our ensuite but my husband got a great exhaust fan from his work which has a downlight in the centre. I think you can also buy them from bunnings. Will look much neater than separate fan and downlights. Re: Light into shower area of ensuite 16Apr 20, 2009 9:59 pm For anyone interested, i found this: http://www.ndlight.com.au/shop/product_listings.php?Maingroup=LIGHTS&Secondgroup=Low%20Voltage%20Waterproof certainly seems there are lots of options. We have a similar problem the step up is 30mm and wanting it to be flat . how much does the concrete have to be lowered .we plan on removing bath and lenghten shower and adding seat. the old bath… 0 11835 CDC Housing Code 3 When to apply Floor Area external face of wall vs Gross Floor Area internal face of wall. Reading thru CDC Housing Code 3, lets take a lot 915sqm.… 0 16555 Thanks for the suggestion. The space between shower and sinks was too tight. I agree about the toilet location. So I have tried two other options: The lower one is… 3 6138 |