Converting From A Bathtub To A Shower

Converting From A Bathtub To A Shower

As much as there is to love about a bathtub, there are times when a shower makes more sense for a home. Today, showers are trendy, convenient and space-efficient. Maybe you want more bathroom space, don’t particularly care for baths, and/or like the look of a shower more than a tub. Whatever the reason, when you are ready to take on a shower remodel, you’re in good company. Just keep in mind that this remodeling project will be most successful when you carefully think through its implications.

Converting to a shower will involve several considerations, such as:

  1. Where the new shower will go: If you’re planning a simple conversion, your new shower will go directly where the tub was (as opposed to a full bathroom remodel where you may choose to relocate it). If your tub was in an alcove, removing it will give you an opening that’s near 5-feet-by-3-feet in size. If it was free-standing, you’ll need to think about how/where you’ll place your shower. Either way, water is already in place, which makes plumbing easier.
  2. What type of shower you’ll install: Do you want to go with a curbed or curbless shower? The first type will have a curb or lip up from the floor, keeping water inside and requiring you to step inside to shower. Curbless showers, on the other hand, need to be built at a slope that sends water toward the drain and away from the rest of the bathroom. There are shower stall kits in various sizes, or you could go with a custom-made, tiled shower. Explore the possibilities to see what makes sense for your space and budget.
  3. What to do with the opened space: Should your new shower be smaller than your old bathtub, you’ll have some additional square footage to play with in your space. Think about what you’ll do with this area.
  4. What hardware you’ll use: There are lots of ways to customize and add value to a shower, including its hardware and fixtures. Decide what faucets you like — chrome, black, silver, something else? Explore possibilities for shower heads, whether you like rainfall or multiple shower heads.
  5. What type of enclosure you’ll use: A great option for making a shower sleek and modern is a glass shower enclosure, a choice that creates a distinct, seamless sight line from the bathroom through the shower. Choosing this or a shower curtain is up to you.

As you’re beginning the process of designing a shower, be sure to do your research. The clearer your vision for remodeling, the easier it will be to answer questions, make purchases and move forward on your timeline. Use the five considerations above as a good starting point for deciding how and where you’ll put your new shower in place. When you’re looking for quality bathroom components, from shower doors to shelving, come to Sanix Way !