How To Remove A Tub And Install A Shower

Total v' x iii' walk in shower with 12x24 porcelain wall tiles resembling carrara marble

If you were to enquire me what projection nosotros get asked to complete most often, information technology would be converting an alcove bathtub space to a walk-in shower. Apse bathtubs have near go a thing of the by. It'southward not that houses don't have them anymore. Information technology's just that people aren't using them much these days.

Now soaker tubs and stand alone tubs…that's a different story. Nosotros're still installing those with bathroom renovations…A LOT! It's interesting though to talk to our clients after we've completed their project. They volition invite us back a few months afterward to complete a small task for them and we'll enquire how they are enjoying their new bathroom. So often we hear, "I beloved my bath, but I never utilize my tub".

I think present, we pb such busy lifestyles that we simply don't have the time 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 than and more of our clients are asking us to remove their tubs and install a walk-in shower.

Prefer to listen?

As with whatsoever renovation, there 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, information technology allows you to create a five' broad walk-in shower. This leaves lots of room within the shower. If you have difficulties later in life and need help in the shower either bathing or just getting in and out, there'south lots of room for another person to help out.

3. Room for a demote : A large walk-in shower will allow you lot sufficient room to put a bench in at ane end. This provides a spot for shampoo and toiletries, a place to shave or simply accept a seat when needed.

4. Gorgeous focal point in a bathroom : No doubt…a big walk-in shower is a focal indicate and when expertly tiled, can be the most cute role 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 bathroom. In addition, if the tub you're getting rid of is a deep corner tub, that actually dates your bath.

6. Selling characteristic for futurity buyers : Walk-in showers are what many homeowners want then by installing 1 in your home, you may be appealing to buyers even more, peculiarly if it's an oversized shower.

This ensuite bath 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's the only tub: If you only have ane tub in your home, information technology could injure the real estate value of your home. Young families will often crave a tub in their home to bathe modest children, so if you eliminate the only tub in the house you lot may be eliminating that demographic from purchasing your home. This may not matter if you don't alive in a neighbourhood that typically attracts young families. Consider consulting with a real estate agent before deciding if switching to a walk-in shower is the right decision for you.

2. It is a fleck of a financial investment : There is obviously some toll involved in completing this projection so you demand to be sure this is right for you.

When weighing the pros and cons of switching your tub to a walk-in shower, the all-time advice I tin give you is the post-obit: If you're planning on staying in your abode for x+ years, and then make your decision based on what suits your lifestyle most. You demand to savor your home and your time in it so if you really desire to convert your only tub into a walk-in shower, then do it! Always consider re-sale value, but most chiefly exercise what makes yous happy!

Steps to Converting Your Tub to a Shower

1. Demolition: You need to remove the tile from your tub expanse and the associated wall lath the tile attached to. The wall board might be drywall, green lath, xanthous board or a form of concrete board. All of that needs to go. Adjacent, you demand to remove the tub also. If you lot aren't inclined to do the plumbing associated with that, yous will need to phone call in a Licensed Plumber or hire a renovation company such as Multi Trade Edifice Services to complete this for you.

2. Rework the plumbing: If you're happy with the current drain location and you're building a customized floor for your shower, this step may non be necessary. If you're getting a pre-formed base, you lot will most likely need to relocate the drain. If you're getting a new shower controller, you volition need to rework the supply lines to accommodate the new shower controller valve. Unless you have plumbing experience, information technology's all-time to consult and rent a Licensed Plumber for these tasks.

3. Create the flooring of the shower: You lot can purchase an acrylic or fibreglass pre-made base for the shower. A give-and-take of caution though: Make sure yous become a good quality base. You tin can buy ones that are simply $200-$300, but the adage "y'all get what yous pay for" rings true for shower bases. The cheaper ones tend to scissure easily and you'll likely be replacing information technology within 5 years. There are good quality shower bases available that will cost $500-$600. Those are the ones you want to install.

   The other option you have is to build your own shower base. If you're purchasing a good quality pre-fabricated base, building it from scratch volition cost near the same. You need to utilize 2x4s to build a adjourn, then pack the shower floor and slope it toward the drain. This is a job best left for the pros if you haven't had feel doing this before.

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

5. Tiling : The next footstep is to install the tile on the walls and flooring of the shower. When selecting your tile, make sure that the tile that goes on the floor of the shower is no bigger than 2"x2" so that information technology will flow with the slope of the flooring. Unsanded grout should exist used on the wall tile and sanded grout should be used for the floor tile. If you're planning on using an emphasis tile in the shower, make certain the thickness of the tile matches your main tile.

6. Shower Controller: One time your tiling is consummate, you can install your shower controller. If you are planning on installing a shower wand on a rail, ensure you use a diamond scrap in your drill when drilling through tile.

7. Shower doors/curtain: There are several options here. You can simply put up a leap loaded shower curtain rod and hang a curtain. This is the easier and cheapest route to accept. If you lot get a shower curtain rod that needs to be screwed into the wall, you lot will likely be screwing into tile so brand sure you use the diamond flake to do information technology.

   Shower doors tin can be purchased at big box stores such as Dwelling 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 will carry them, but I've also seen really squeamish ones at Costco. Alternatively, you can call your local glazier and have them custom made out of tempered glass. This ensures a clean, frameless wait. Notwithstanding, these can run you $1600-$2300. The terminate result is gorgeous though!

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

Time to consummate : i-2 weeks

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

There are and then many options when it comes to creating your walk-in shower. Although we've discussed the pick of tiling the walls of your shower, you could also purchase a shower unit insert, usually made of acrylic. This is frequently a quicker and sometimes less expensive option. However, cosmetically it'south typically not as aesthetically pleasing as tiling the shower and doesn't add as much value to your home as tiling a shower would.

If you're opting for a tiled shower, a great way to save money is to select an cheap wall tile as the main tile (such as a 4"x16" white subway tile) and then jazz it up with a small band of accent tile. The accent tiles can run $ten-$xxx per square human foot but you'll probable only need v foursquare feet. For more ideas, read my blog post on x Ways to Salve Money on Your Renovation

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

Optional extras you could too include for your custom, tiled shower include:

Shower Niche: This is a recessed niche that is groovy for holding shampoo, lather, etc.

Benches: built across the one end of your shower, a minor corner bench or fifty-fifty a purchased demote that can just be fastened to your shower, some even with a hinge that allow them to be lowered out of the way when non in apply.

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

Body Jets or Rainfall Shower Head: These are nice options to add a petty luxury to your shower.

And then, should you or shouldn't y'all convert a tub to a shower?

Overall, we come across great value in this projection. We've never removed a tub and put in a walk-in shower and had the customer regret the conclusion. The terminate outcome has been gorgeous and clients dearest having a large walk-in shower that adds style and luxury to their bathroom. Most ofttimes, our clients have been opting for custom tempered drinking glass doors, but the options here are numerous. In the end, do what makes y'all happy and what'southward right for where you are in your life correct at present. Don't alive in someone else's dream home...create your own right where y'all are!

If you enjoyed the content in this blog mail service, exit us a annotate beneath with your thoughts and ideas. We'd love to hear from y'all.

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

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