Should a shower curtain be placed at ceiling height or at tile height if tile does not extend up to ceiling?

Answer 1

The purpose of a shower curtain is to contain water - keeping it off the floor and the wall, especially if it is not covered in a waterproof surface material. One important factor in hanging the curtain is the height of the people showering. A tall person whose head is closer to the shower head will put a lot more water up and out of the shower enclosure than a shorter person. In the planning stages of a Plumbing project, you can place the shower head higher than normal (nice for us tall folks, anyway) to minimize spray deflection. But if this is a case of a new curtain rod only, take note of where droplets remain after you shower, and plan to place the curtain rod where it will deflect the spray. This is unfair on taller people, however, as standard shower curtains can only be raised so far before they let water out the bottom! Perhaps you'll need to buy or make an extra-long curtain; maybe add coordinating fabric to the top or bottom of a standard curtain. If height is not an issue, hang a curtain liner on the rod and hold it up over the tub; the bottom of the liner should fall securely into the tub, but not lie on the bottom. Mark the bracket position and be sure to hang the rod level. Remember to keep close watch on the painted surfaces inside the shower enclosure: if your tile stops short of the spray-line, you'll be repainting more often to keep moisture out of the drywall. It is always a good practice to wipe walls after showering, to keep nasty things like mold and mildew at bay. Even the best latex paint is no match for standing water, and you certainly don't want your drywall compromised. Good luck! Jill Murtagh, Murtagh Interiors