Can You Change Tub Into Walkin Tub

Total 5' x 3' walk in shower with 12x24 porcelain wall tiles resembling carrara marble

If y'all were to enquire me what projection we go asked to complete most oftentimes, it would be converting an alcove bathtub space to a walk in shower. Alcove bathtubs have almost become a thing of the by. It's not that houses don't have them anymore. It's just that people aren't using them much these days.

Now soaker tubs and stand alone tubs….that's a different story. We're still installing those with bath renovations….A LOT! It's interesting though to talk to our clients after we've completed their project. They will invite us dorsum a few months subsequently to consummate a small chore for them and we'll ask how they are enjoying their new bath. Then often we hear, "I love my bath simply I never use my tub".

I call up present, we lead such decorated lifestyles that we just don't have the fourth dimension to soak in a tub. And…once we are retired and a bit older, getting in and out of a tub is a little harder with sore backs and knees, and arthritis. Consequently, more and more of our clients are request united states to remove their tubs and install a walk in shower.

Adopt to listen?

Equally with any renovation, in that location are pros and cons to replacing your tub with a shower.

Pros

1. Ease of mobility . Getting in and out of the shower is generally much easier than getting in and out of a bathtub

2. Creating a large shower : If you're taking out an alcove tub, it allows y'all to create a five' wide walk in shower. This leaves lots of room within the shower. If you accept difficulties later in life and demand assist in the shower either bathing or but getting in and out, in that location's lots of room for another person to assistance out.

3. Room for a bench : A big walk in shower like this volition permit you sufficient room to put a bench in at i end. This provides a spot for shampoo and toiletries, a identify to shave or just have a seat when needed.

4. Gorgeous focal betoken in a bathroom : No uncertainty… a large walk in shower is a focal point and expertly tiled, this can be the about cute part of your bathroom

5. Modernizes the space : Getting rid of the bathtub and putting in a walk in shower definitely creates a modernistic and updated look to your bath. In addition, if the tub you're getting rid of is a deep corner tub, that really dates your bathroom.

6. Selling feature for many buyers : Walk in showers are what many homeowners want so by installing one in your home, yous may be appealing to buyers even more, especially if it'south an oversized shower.

This ensuite bathroom in Whitby had a full tub which was removed and replaced with a walk in shower. Curved shower doors were installed to create even more room inside. Shower niches were included to hold shampoo and soap.

Cons

1. Not a great option if it'due south the only tub: If you only have 1 tub in your habitation, information technology could hurt the real estate value of your home. Young families will often crave a tub in their home to bathe minor children so if you lot eliminate the but tub in the house, you may be eliminating that demographic from purchasing your habitation. This may non matter if y'all don't live in a neighbourhood that typically attracts immature families. Consider consulting with a real estate amanuensis earlier deciding that switching to a walk in shower isn't the right decision for you

2. It is a bit of a financial investment : In that location is obviously some toll involved in completing this projection then you need to exist sure this is right for you.

When weighing the pros and cons of switching your tub to a walk in shower, the best advice I can give you is the following: If you're planning on staying in your domicile for 10+ years, then make your decision based on what suits your lifestyle nearly. You demand to savour your home and your time in it so if you really desire to convert your only tub into a walk in shower, and so do it! Always consider re-auction value simply most chiefly, practice what makes you lot happy!

Steps to Converting your Tub to a Shower

1. Demolition: Y'all need to remove the tile from your tub area and the associated wall lath that it is attached to. The wall board might exist drywall, dark-green board, yellow board or a form of concrete board. All of that needs to go. Next, you need to remove the tub likewise. If yous aren't inclined to practise the plumbing associated with that, you will demand to phone call in a Licensed Plumber or rent a renovation company such as Multi Trade Building Services to complete this.

2. Rework the plumbing: If you're happy where the drain currently is and you're building a customized floor for your shower, this step may not be necessary. If you lot're getting a pre-formed base of operations, y'all will virtually likely need to relocate the bleed. If yous're getting a new shower controller, you lot will need to rework the supply lines to accommodate the new shower controller valve. Unless you accept plumbing experience, it's best to consult and hire a Licensed Plumber for these tasks.

3. Create the floor of the shower: You tin buy an acrylic or fibreglass pre-fabricated base for the shower. A word of circumspection though: Make certain you become a good quality base of operations. You tin can buy ones that are only $200-$300 but the adage, "you get what you pay for" rings truthful for shower bases. The cheaper ones tend to crack easily and y'all'll probable exist replacing it within 5 years. At that place are good quality shower bases available that will cost $500-$600. Those are the ones you want to install!

   The other option you lot accept is to build your own shower base of operations. If you're purchasing a skillful quality pre-made base, building it from scratch will cost about the same. You need to employ 2x4s to build a curb, then pack the shower floor and slope information technology toward the bleed. This is a job best left for the pros if you lot haven't had feel doing this before.

4. Concrete board: Installing the concrete board is the adjacent step. We like to use DensShield which is the brand proper name of the physical board. It is easier to use and much more lightweight than traditional concrete board. It has a built in wet bulwark and it even absorbs less water than the leading fibre cement.

5. Tiling : The side by side step is to install the tile on the walls and floor of the shower. When selecting your tile, brand sure that the tile that goes on the floor of the shower is no bigger than 2x2 and so that it volition flow with the slope of the floor. Unsanded grout should be used on the wall tile and sanded grout should be used for the floor tile. If y'all're planning on using an accent tile in the shower, make certain the thickness of the tile matches your main tile.

6. Shower Controller: Once your tiling is consummate, you can install your shower controller. If you are planning on installing a shower wand on a rails, ensure y'all utilise a diamond bit in your drill when drilling through tile.

7. Shower doors/curtain: There are several options here. Yous can just put up a spring loaded shower curtain rod and hang a curtain. This is the easier and cheapest road to take. If yous get a shower curtain rod that needs to be screwed into the wall, y'all volition likely be screwing into tile so brand sure you use the diamond bit to do it.

   Shower doors can be purchased at big box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. If your shower is a standard 5' opening, sliding doors can be relatively cheap at these stores. If you're looking for a hinged glass door, sometimes these stores volition carry them but I've also seen really prissy ones at Costco. Alternatively, you can call your local glazier and have them custom made out of tempered glass. This ensures a clean, frameless expect. However, these can run you $1600-$2300. The end upshot is gorgeous though!!!

Price: To convert a tub to a shower—$5000-$8000

Time to consummate : one-2 weeks

Built in demote in walk in shower. Custom tempered glass shower wall and door.

There are so many options when it comes to creating your walk in shower. Although we've discussed the choice of tiling the walls of your shower, you could also buy a shower unit of measurement insert, unremarkably fabricated of acrylic. This is oft a quicker and sometimes less expensive option. However, cosmetically it's typically non every bit aesthetically pleasing as tiling the shower and doesn't add together as much value to your home equally tiling a shower would.

If you're opting for a tiled shower, a corking way to save money is to select an inexpensive wall tile as the main tile (such as a four"x16" white subway tile) and so jazz information technology upwards with a pocket-size ring of emphasis tile. The accent tiles can run $10-$30 per foursquare foot but y'all'll likely only need 5 foursquare feet. For more ideas, read my blog post on 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Renovation

Expertly tiled shower niches using the accent tile create symmetry throughout the shower.

Optional extras you lot could also include inside of your custom, tiled shower include:

Shower niche: This is a recessed niche that is great for holding shampoo, soap, etc.

Benches: congenital across the one terminate of your shower, a pocket-sized corner demote or even a purchased bench that can just be attached to your shower, some fifty-fifty with a hinge that allow them to be lowered out of the mode when not in utilise.

Grout sealant: Nosotros use a product that when mixed with the grout makes it permanently sealed, water repellent and stain resistant. Nosotros highly recommend having this washed.

Trunk Jets or Pelting head shower head: These are nice options to add a little luxury to your shower.

So should you lot or shouldn't you convert a tub to a shower?

Overall, we see great value in this project. We've never removed a tub and put in a walk in shower and had the client regret the decision. The end result has been gorgeous and clients dearest having a big walk in shower that adds style and luxury to their bathroom. Most often, our clients have been opting for custom tempered glass doors simply the options here are numerous. In the end, do what makes you happy and what correct for where yous are in life right at present. Don't live in someone else's dream abode….create your own right where you lot are!

If yous enjoyed the content in this blog mail, leave us a comment below with your thoughts and ideas. We'd love to hear from you.

Source: https://www.multitradebuildingservices.com/news/tub-to-walk-in-shower

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