Hi all
I posted over at Breaktime and got nowhere.
I’m doing a bathroom renovation.
There is a small alcove behind the tub area (12″ deep, 32″ wide and 5ft tall).
The owner would like glass shelves.
I’ll tile the back wall, but the sides need to have something to support the shelves.
I think tiling and drilling alot of holes for shelf supports is a disaster waiting to happen (and also out of my ability).
Any suggestions for something that would work.
I suggested wood, but she would like something to go along with the tile.
Jeff
Replies
Sardog:
If you can get the owner to agree, go with fixed shelves and use the tile to support the glass. In other words, tile the sides of the alcove but you will need to cut the tile so the glass rests on it and then cut the tile again allowing for the thickness of the glass and keep going adding as many shelves as you like.
If you use tempered glass, which you should, then it will be durable and you shouldn't have to worry about breakage.
Hastings
Hi all
I think fixed shelves would be fine, I'll ask tomarrow.
As for a rack of stainless steel, I have no idea where to get that here in Vermont.
The way this alcove is set back and out of the way, the glass shelves will probably only have knicknacks and never be moved.
I doubt anyone could easily grab a shelf, but it is a good point for me to bring up.
Jeff
Why not tile. Couldn't glass shelves be tiled in place as the alcove is tiled. Supporting on three sides would also give them greater strength. You wouldn't want adjustable shelves over the tub anyway. You would want substantial and tempered glass over a tub where someone could grab them when they slipped. A slight pitch to be sure that water runs off would also be good, I'd think. To be sure, I'd ask the question over at the http://www.johnbridge.com. forums. They have a bunch of knowledgeble people on all things tile.
Could you buy - or have made - some kind of stainless steel "rack" to sit in the alcove and hold the shelves?
This would make the tile work a simple job, make it easy to remove the shelves and rack for cleaning, and the "rack" could probably be made to allow adjustment of the shelves.
Jeff ,
Maybe you could run a sort of tile trim or edge piece on the 3 walls where each shelf will rest and let the trim create a ledge .
good luck dusty
Having tiled a lot of bathrooms, I would discourage a glass shelf. Instead, suggest a fixed shelf or shelves made of the same tile as you are using in the field, or perhaps a complimentary piece. Broken glass around a bathtub is never a good thing.
Use solid surface counter top material for the sides? I've never done this but I think it would work. Just dado the counter top material to accept the shelves. You could use the stuff for the whole enclosure or you could tile the back, bottom and top.
I'm doing a master bathroom complete renovation as we speak, and I am making shelves out of 3/4" granite, which is the same material I'm using for the vanity tops, except in an accent color. They will be set in place when I do the tile work in the shower, with bull nosing tile set around the perimeter as a frame, so you can't see the "dado's" into the tile job.
I saw it in a high end tile store, and it looked really good to me.
I'm not a fan of glass anything near showers and baths, except for the door. Too many opportunities for a major accident, especially if someone slips, and reaches out for a grab hold.
Jeff
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