Jointless bathrooms
Welcome to the bathroom of the future – clear aesthetics, spacious and jointless. The term "jointless bathroom" refers to bathrooms that, due to the choice of materials, has surfaces with zero or only very few joints. A jointless bathroom not only impresses thanks to its elegant and modern design – its continuous surfaces also create a harmonious ambience and promote relaxation.
What solutions are available for a jointless bathroom?
A jointless bathroom has many advantages. Fewer joints mean that there are also fewer weak points in which mould can form in the bathroom. This is because moisture builds up inside joints – a perfect breeding ground for mould spores. As joints are more difficult to clean, they also make germs feel at home and unsightly discolouration or limescale deposits can also occur. Maintaining a jointless bathroom is also easier and more convenient – there is no need to scrub the grouted surfaces. Modern, jointless materials can usually be cleaned with little effort.
When planning a jointless bathroom, you should pay attention to three key aspects:
For all three areas, a wide variety of solutions are now available that either have zero or only a minimum number of joints. For example, the following solutions are suitable for creating jointless walls as well as jointless surfaces or floors:
Large tiles: Tiles certainly have their advantages in the bathroom – they are waterproof, washable and hygienic. In fact, tiles can also be laid in a jointless arrangement in principle – but they need to be of a certain size to make this possible. For jointless installations, the tiles should be at least 60 centimetres wide, and preferably larger. In addition, their corners must be cut at a perfect 90 degree angle so that there are no gaps. Jointless XXL tiles should always be installed by a specialist company. However, joints are still required at the connections to walls and sanitary elements – silicone is typically used here. XXL tiles or natural stone slabs can not only be used to create jointless bathroom floors, but also walls.
Plaster: Lime-based plaster is ideal for bathroom walls due to its resistance to mould. Mineral plasters are also well suited for bathrooms and improve the indoor climate. Synthetic resin plaster is often a cost-effective solution and is also waterproof. The disadvantage: Because water collects on the surface, algae can form on the plaster. Stone filler is another attractive solution that can be applied on walls as well as the floor.
Wood: A bathroom with a warm wooden floor and wooden elements is simply beautiful and cosy. Hard, moisture-insensitive woods such as oak, maple, Douglas fir, walnut, mahogany or teak are best suited for this purpose. These woods are less prone to swelling when they come into contact with moisture. Nevertheless, for any kind of wooden flooring in the bathroom, puddles and moisture should be wiped away immediately. A wooden floor should be glued down over its entire surface by a professional. A good alternative to wood is a damp-proof laminate with water-repellent coating.
Panels and decorative boards: Modern jointless bathrooms are often designed to include decorative panels or boards. There is a wide choice of materials and designs here – from glass or acrylic to Formica. Most materials are scratch and impact resistant and can withstand water without any problems.
PVC: This plastic covering is suitable for both walls and floors. It is easy to clean and very hygienic. Another alternative here is a modern surface with a microtopping.
Wallpaper: Special wallpapers for damp rooms are one way of designing the walls in the bathroom. However, they should not be used in the splash area – for example, above the washbasin or bath.
What needs to be considered when planning a jointless bathroom?
Don't just think about the flooring and wall coverings – the sanitary elements should also be designed with as few joints as possible. There are several options here with regard to jointless bathrooms:
When designing a jointless bathroom, a specialist installer should always be involved. Choosing appropriate, properly tested materials is important to prevent a build-up of mould. In addition, all materials should be non-slip. Correct and precise workmanship is of great importance in jointless bathrooms – everything really must fit precisely here.
Benefits of walk-in showers
Jointless bathrooms look modern and are extremely easy to clean. If you are planning a jointless bathroom, you should also pay attention to accessibility at the same time. As previously mentioned, a walk-in shower is a key feature in this context. A walk-in shower is usually referred to as a floor-level shower – i.e. a shower with a completely flat entry or a very low threshold between the floor and the shower tray.
This distinguishes a walk-in shower from the previously common shower trays with a raised edge – which made it impossible to walk straight in. Combined with wet and slippery floors, this often posed a fall hazard – especially for the elderly or people with restricted mobility. If a walking frame or wheelchair is needed, a shower tray with a raised edge is no longer suitable in any case.
Depending on the design, a walk-in shower, on the other hand, may be categorised as accessible or even wheelchair-friendly. Such models not only offer greater safety and independence for older people, but also greater comfort and freedom of movement when showering today. In addition, walk-in showers look modern and stylish thanks to their elegant design. Furthermore, as they don't require a raised edge to accommodate the depth of the shower tray, fewer joints are created. It is the joints in the shower area that are most at risk of mould growth in bathrooms – they are almost permanently exposed to moisture due to frequent showering. A walk-in shower reduces the number of joints to a minimum.
Villeroy & Boch offers a wide range of shower trays for walk-in showers. For example, the Subway Infinity level shower tray from Villeroy & Boch blends in perfectly with the floor – with no raised thresholds. Subway Infinity's design was honoured with the prestigious iF Design Award 2016 and the Red Dot Design Award 2016.
What’s more, If you want to make your bathroom accessible, you can often take advantage of state funding in the form of a KfW grant. It is important that the accessible shower meets certain criteria – these are defined in DIN 18040-2 – and that the application is submitted before the shower is installed. The best way to renovate a bathroom is to use a specialist company that is familiar with the requirements.