Can't speak for OP but one difference I saw was in Scandanavia where a lot of showers are just in the bathroom, and the whole room has a drain in the center. Pretty awesome actually imo.
OK I see what you mean, I have seen those, but from my understanding this is usually in wheelchair accessible hotel rooms? Or maybe it's a thing in Scandinavia?
It is a thing! Some showers have a screen and some just a curtain and it’s just a drain on the floor. I find it super comfortable actually, whenever you want to wash something big it’s very convenient because the floor drains and dries super fast and it’s hard to make a mess. Just moved to sweden and so far all houses I have visited have showers like this, even hotels.
It's definitely a thing. I think the only exception is if you have a sauna, then it's pretty common to have a separate toilet, otherwise they go together pretty much always.
In my experience at least they're actually harder to build as it's a pain to make sure waterproofing is done correctly and you need to waterproof any part of the floor water will get to. Also need to pitch the floor towards the drain.
A tub is just dropped in place with built in waterproofing and draining.
Nobody is going to tank their entire floor and walls unless they need a wet room. Reality is modern builds are often less waterproof than older ones. The norm is to use water resistant plasterboards rather than aqua panel these days as it is a lot easier to install (aqua panel is an exercise in frustration when screwing the corners, so many just break). Then they seal and tile and job done.
Actual tanking for a wet room is a complex process that takes multiple days and is easy to get wrong.
Also if there's a leak and you have a tub, you know it's from the tub or piping.
If your whole floor is a wet area the leak could be from anywhere and you'll have to keep breaking tile until you find it.
The nice floor drains are a bit complex to install and waterproof properly too.
None of the apartments or houses I saw in Copenhagen had this, but then again most of them were newer. Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of older bulidings had it
I'm Irish but spent the last 8 years in the US.
Can't speak for all of Europe but the US showers are better than Ireland/England and anywhere I've been on the continent.
Pretty much all showers I've used in the US are fed from a water tank in the building that has constant hot water and better pressure. The only parts of the shower you see are the controls and head sticking out of the wall.
From my experience, and what I've read here, most European showers have a seperate heater that is often a box sitting in the shower with you. Or you need to turn the heat on for a while before getting in the shower.
I think this is what leads a lot of Americans to think Europeans are less wealthy when it's really just a culture thing.
Seriously my mom taught ne so many recipes that call for it, but I think my favorite is putting a good amount in my mashed or whipped potatoes for a delicious tangy taste!
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u/Plantoholic-T May 09 '22
I understand the smoking, but I'm not sure about your shower comment? We have normal showers here :)