Originally Posted by
stut
They're the norm in several older Scandinavian buildings, with wooden floors, too (the typical Copenhagen shower, on a switch tap with the sink, can take some getting used to!). But the expectation is that the whole area would be tiled and sloped towards a central drain.
Id admit I haven't been inside a Scandinavian house to see one but I'd love to know how it's done. It's not done in North America as constant moisture and high humidity results in wood rot and mildew (the houses have enough problems already - though it may not matter as some houses are constructed with a planned life of 50 years before they're replaced with something new.
). Unfortunately tiling (walls in addition to floors) does not create a waterproof barrier and yes, water can still seep through the grout and sealant.
The tub linked above is rare here. Tubs are generally 5' or 6' long and 30-32" wide, and installed walled in on 3 sides (hence bathrooms are often either 5' or 6' deep or wide). Free-standing tubs are rare and pretty much a custom-designed bathroom item in the post-WWII era.