Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Shower Stall-with roof cap or not?

We are thinking of buying an acrylic shower enclosure for our new bath. Some come with an optional roof cap and, of course, these come at an extra cost. I assume that a roof cap is unnecessary - and perhaps even having negative effects. For example, an open top on the shower stall could make it easier to exhaust vent steam from the room. Am I right?

Also, our ceiling will be relatively high (about 9'), so a unit with a roof cap could look silly...

DawnInMaine

Your suppositions are correct, then of course, you could eliminate the roof over that area, and shower in the rain.<G> and snow.

DawnInMaine,

Roof cap may be a good idea depending on the lighting arrangement within the bathroom. If current light would not be sufficient where shower is located, the optional roof cap could be used and a code approved recessed can placed inside.

I have had roof caps installed and then place 2x4 framework over the top, drywall with crown molding added to the top edge to create an appealing platform (I call them dust collectors) for vases and the like. This can look very extravegant. With the roof cap and framework, this may get you to 7'-6" or slightly higher.

I have installed roof cap and have frame continue to the ceiling. In some applications, I have used this "boxed soffit" to add an exhaust fan/light combo directly over the shower (this depends on the cap construction) and it hides the exhaust duct to the outside. This can be appealing to the eye but regardless, it is what you find the best for you.

If you don't want the roof cap, don't buy it. There is no need to have one unless you want something different. I am only providing suggestions should you desire to.

The other issue is having a good exhaust fan, roof cap or not. This alone makes a world of difference.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the 'food for thought'. I'm not interested in having anything extravagant, so I'll forgo the roof cap and soffit -- unless there is a good functional reason to add them.

This will be new construction; I'm designing the bath area over the next week or two. So far I know the toilet and shower share an interior 2x6 plumbing wall. The toilet will be between the shower and an exterior wall. I haven't given much thought to the location of the bath fan yet, although I do want to vent it out the exterior wall next to the toilet. Since there is a couple of feet of space between the top of the shower walls and the ceiling, I thought I could put the fan above the toilet, rather than above the shower. Does that make sense?

Thanks for the help!

Dawn,

Sounds like a plan!

Good Luck!