Low ceilings in a shower might be perfectly fine for some. For others, especially tall people, it can feel a bit claustrophobic. It also robs a shower or bathtub combo of that sense of space. Despite what you may think about it, there are some pretty legitimate reasons for low shower ceilings.
Low shower ceilings are designed that way for a number of reasons—pipes in the overhead, better heat retainment inside the shower/bath, helps direct steam out and up into the vent fan, cuts down the necessity and cost of tile, and follow code, which dictates 3” to 6” of waterproof material.
In the vast majority of shower installations, the drop-down section above the ceiling is to both accommodate and conceal pipes or wiring in the overhead. While it may save contractors a little bit of money on the tile work, it’s never enough to completely justify the drop.
How High Should a Shower Ceiling Be?
People who ask this question are usually the ones that have a significant drop in the overhead in their showers. It doesn’t need to be extremely low and the building contractor most likely designed it that way to accommodate pipes.
As far as building codes are concerned, there is supposed to be waterproof material in a shower overhead but it only has to be as thick as 3” or as much as 6”. Neither of those two measurements justifies a 12” drop unless there is something else going on.
In some cases, it may simply be a matter of aesthetics and design, although that’s a rare occurrence unless the bathroom is designed in a very particular way. The waterproofing above the shower is necessary, as steam and humidity are wonderful facilitators of mold and mildew growth.
Can You Raise Your Shower Ceiling?
It’s possible to raise it, so long as you have some decent carpentry, sheetrock, and tiling skills. The problem that you’re going to run into is that there is probably something in there that you would have to move first.
If it’s piping, heating ductwork, or electrical wiring, moving those becomes a question of how it will affect the process for which they are intended. It’s also a matter of whether or not you can do it and whether there is a viable alternative in terms of placement
Building codes do require waterproofing material above your shower head, so you would have to replace that as well, especially if you are looking to sell the house anytime soon. You may also get lucky and find that there is nothing at all up there.
The best way to find out is to get up in your attic and work your way over to where the shower stall is and check for yourself. Check for HVAC ductwork, pipes, electrical, or any other materials there that can’t be moved.
You may have to move some insulation out of the way to get a better look, so be sure to wear gloves before handling it.
Raising a Shower Ceiling
You can get this done on your own but unless you have any experience with tile or carpentry, you may want to sit down and watch a YouTube video or 50 before attempting the task. Once you get through the ceiling and access the framework of the home, your bathroom will be exposed to the high heat of the attic.
So you will want to keep your bathroom door shut as much as possible while you are working. You will also need a respirator with cartridges rated for dust. There will be a ton of it as you cut your way into the tile material.
Once you have the tile and sheetrock out of the way, you will see the massive gap between where the shower ceiling used to be and where you want it to be—flush against the above studs.
- Circle saw
- Respirator with dust cartridge
- Hammer
- Strong scraper
- Green Board
- Replacement tiles
- Silicone Caulk
- Thinset mortar
The hard part is removing the lowered ceiling section. There’s the tile and the sheetrock to get rid of and then you will have to remove nails and cut your way through the framework. Fortunately, you don’t have to be very methodic and careful because the only thing you don’t want to damage is the true, overhead framework (studs).
Green board is a great material because it is highly moisture resistant and you want as much of that as you can get. Drywall the green board in and lay your tile. Of course, placing tile in the overhead is never easy, especially if you are using thinset.
Thinset is highly recommended for moisture purposes but it is difficult to work with. Be sure to place your tiles from the vertical position first and work your way up into the overhead. The vertical tiles will help brace the rest as you go up and work your way across the ceiling.
How Much Will a Contractor Cost for Replacing a Low Shower Ceiling?
It depends on the overall size of your shower. As long as there are not any pipes, electrical, or HVAC materials inside of the drop, you can probably tackle the job on your own. The cost of hiring a contractor to do the job, including materials, will run you between $6,000 and $12,000.
It’s definitely enough money to make you strongly consider making it into a DIY project. If there are materials inside of the drop and you have never worked with electrical, ductwork, or pipes before, you will need to either hire a contractor or simply let it go.
Depending on where in the ceiling drop the pipes or other materials are located, you may be able to gain a few inches of height, but it probably won’t be worth the effort and cost.
All Things Considered
Low shower ceilings are typically the result of hiding other materials in the overhead. However, it’s also entirely possible that it is simply an aesthetic thing. The best way to find out is to take a trip up into the attic and see what it is you have to work with.
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