The goal of a bathroom remodel is not just to make it look newer. It is to make it better for your day to day life. Many people are finding that a tub to shower conversion is one of the smartest bathroom remodel updates they can do. It can help to open up the bathroom, make it more accessible, and provide a cleaner, more contemporary design without making a major change to the overall floor plan.
Why Is a Tub to Shower Conversion Such a Popular Bathroom Remodel?
Many bathrooms, particularly those in older homes, feature an ordinary bathtub that you rarely use. If your tub is more of a storage unit and a difficult obstacle to step over, converting it to a walk-in shower may be the perfect bathroom remodel solution.
This type of bathroom update is especially good for small bathrooms. Removing the walls of a large tub can make a cramped space feel larger, and a walk-in shower is easier to navigate through. With a simple, low-profile shower and a frameless glass screen, you can open up the bathroom to more natural light and improve visibility.
This bathroom remodel also gives you the opportunity to work on just the wet zone rather than making a total redesign of the space, allowing you to make a big visual impact without doing a complete renovation.
Why Choose to Convert a Tub to a Shower
For many families, a shower is the perfect bathroom choice for your typical daily routine. Showers are generally a quicker and more practical solution than a bathtub, especially if you just want to quickly clean off after a long day of work.
A tub to shower conversion also makes your space safer and more accessible (you can see this for yourself at access-board.gov) especially for senior citizens and people with mobility issues. Stepping over the ledge of a bathtub can be difficult, and a walk-in shower is an excellent solution for older people who want to remain in their homes longer.
Some features that can improve the safety of a new walk-in shower design include:
- A zero entry or low barrier entry
- Non-skid flooring and tile
- Built-in shelves or storage niche
- An overhead shower with a hand-held shower attachment
- A built-in bench or corner ledge
This bathroom remodel upgrade can make your shower much easier to navigate without changing the overall look of your bathroom.
When a Shower Conversion May Not Be Right for You
Before deciding to convert your tub to a shower, it is worth asking whether your household actually needs a tub or if you can live without it. Think carefully about how you and others in your home may use your bath in the future.
If you only have one bath in your house, you may want to keep one tub for bathing small children and pets. In this case, you may want to keep one standard tub in case you need it for future resale. If your home has multiple bathrooms, converting a tub to a shower will be less of a concern if you still have another tub to use.
The decision to turn a bathtub into a shower will be best decided based on your family’s lifestyle and your future plans for the bathroom remodel.
frameless walk-in shower in a small bathroom remodel
Things to Consider when Converting a Tub to a Shower
When you are planning a conversion of your tub to a shower, take the time to think about how the finish and materials of the shower will affect your overall look and space.
For example, large tiles will look more sleek and will have less grout lines for you to maintain. Smaller floor tiles will offer more texture and provide better traction. Or, you may opt for wall panels or fiberglass which are a simpler and lower maintenance option than tile.
Consider also how your shower enclosure will affect your bathroom. If your bathroom is small, frameless glass will provide the most openness for your home. Sliding doors can be an option if the layout of your bathroom doesn’t allow you a full swing door opening.
You should also think about how you are going to store your bathroom products. Consider adding shelves or a shower niche to keep your products from cluttering the bottom of the shower.
Consider Your Budget for the Remodel
The cost of a tub to shower conversion will depend on the size of your existing bathroom, the materials you choose to use, and whether you have to move or modify any of your existing plumbing. A project that involves keeping the drain in its original location is often going to be the least expensive and will be the easiest to design.
When you are budgeting, don’t forget to budget for hidden issues. It is quite common to run into additional plumbing repairs or waterproofing issues, and there is more on this important link, behind a tub that need to be addressed before your bathroom remodel.
A Tub to Shower Is a Better Choice for Your Bathroom
If you are considering adding a shower to your home, think about whether you need a tub, and if you decide to go with a conversion shower, decide which design features will matter the most in your everyday life. With a little research, you can transform your bathroom into a more functional and enjoyable space.