Why is the floor level in the Soviet-built bathroom underestimated?
Good afternoon. I make repairs in an apartment built 50 years ago. At the moment, a kitchen and a bathroom are in development. I want to ask experts: why in Soviet times in the bathroom was the floor level lower than in other rooms? Just life experience tells us that before everything was done "in good faith" and by standards, and today "whoever wants it." Right now, I doubt how to perform the installation of the floor in my apartment (combined bathroom) - to align, or to do the same as it was until now.
Some explanations for such a phenomenon as an underestimated floor level in a bathroom can actually be found in specialized literature. It says that during the construction of a bathroom or toilet, such a design was deliberately implemented, when in these rooms deliberately arranged a gender difference relative to the floor surface in other rooms of the dwelling. This was done in order to protect from overflow of water, leaks, etc. In other words, if in the bathroom, for some reason (forgot to close the faucet, a pipe broke, etc.) several buckets of water were spilled on the floor, then the understated floor will not allow it to spread to other rooms.
In our opinion, such a position does not reflect the current conditions for using the bathroom. We do not see any objective obstacles so that during repair in the bathroom you will not level the floor to the level you need. If the spill of water on the floor is serious, then no changes in the floor will save from the flow of water from the bathroom to the outside - this is a fact. Moreover, on the modern market, special overflow sensors are offered in abundance, which under given conditions simply block water. By the way, home appliances, for example, washing machines and dishwashers, are equipped with such devices.
In a word, the lowered floor in the bathroom is a kind of protective barrier against water leaks. However, in modern conditions it can be completely dispensed with. The main thing when arranging the bathroom is to make high-quality waterproofing of the floor and sanitary surfaces, as well as observe the necessary slopes.
