We’re seeing more and more homeowners choosing to convert their bathtubs to showers in their primary (master) and hall bathrooms. And there are so many good reasons to do so, such as creating more space, making a more accessible bathroom, and even aesthetic purposes. But before you choose to knock out your tub and replace it with a shower, ask yourself the important questions below.
1. Do you have another bathtub in the house?
If your bathroom is the only one in the house with a tub, it may not be the best choice to eliminate the only one you have. Keep note of how often you use the tub; perhaps your kids or grandkids may want to use it, you use it for bathing pets, or you enjoy even the occasional relaxing bath. Additionally, when it comes time to sell, you’ll want to have at least one tub in the house to appeal to a more extensive range of buyers. However, if you have another full bath with a tub, such as a hall or guest bathroom, that you can use when needed, then changing out one tub for a shower shouldn’t affect your daily life or home resale value much.
2. How much space are you working with?
If you have a relatively small bathroom, a tub to shower conversion can save you a lot of space. Even if your wet area remains the same size after your bathroom renovation, a glass door shower makes the room feel more open and brighter. On the other hand, if you have a large bathroom footprint to work with, consider installing both a shower and a freestanding tub for a spa-like new bathroom.
3. Are you planning to age in place?
Many homeowners choose a walk in shower design for accessibility reasons as they are much easier and safer to step in and out of. You can even select a zero-threshold curbless shower that doesn’t have a curb that you need to step over to get into the wet space. Plus, if you renovate your bathroom now, you can also install a grab bar and functional elements like removable shower heads and non-slip flooring that will help keep you safe for many years to come.
4. When do you plan to sell your house?
Walk-in showers are indeed a modern staple in homes nowadays, but they can alienate home buyers who have families, especially families with small children. Having a tub provides the flexibility that makes your house more valuable to a broader range of buyers. If you’re planning to sell your home soon, consider the features available in your other bathrooms and talk to your real estate agent about the best choice for your home and area.
5. What is your budget?
It’s easy for costs to add up during a bathroom remodeling project. However, there are lower-cost nontraditional options out there for your bathroom renovation. For example, a custom shower using the Brothers Services One Day Bath service allows you to change out a bathtub for a shower in just one day of demolition and installation for much less than a traditional replacement. Whatever you choose for your remodel, though, make sure the remodeling company has properly scoped your project and taken everything into account so that you can stay on budget.
6. What type of shower do you want to install?
If you’ve gotten to this point, considering everything above, and have decided on a shower renovation, you still have some big decisions to make. What type of shower will be suitable for your space? If the speed of the project is a concern, consider a one-day bath solution with an acrylic liner that can be installed in one day. If aging in place is your priority, opt for a zero-threshold shower for accessibility. Or, if you have a larger budget and longer timeline, you can browse the limitless tiled shower wall and shower pan design options and shower opening options like a sliding or hinged glass door.
To summarize, if you’re not planning to sell your home any time soon or are planning to age-in-place and you don’t use your current bathtub very often, then a shower conversion could be an excellent option for you. But if you’re planning to sell your home soon and you don’t have tubs in the other bathrooms, then it’s a good idea to keep the current tub setup.
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to replace your bathtub with a walk-in shower. With a one-day bath from Brothers, you can even get the installation done in just one day and for less than you might think! Our consultants can answer any questions you might have and help you work through the ideas above to come to the right solution for your bathroom remodel. Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation to get started.