What To Consider Before Converting Your Bathtub To A Shower

There are a lot of pros and cons to both showers and bathtubs. Deciding which is right for you can be a real challenge. Let us help you decide with this list of things to consider before converting your bathtub to a shower.

1. Do you have at least one bathtub in your house?

This is an important question for multiple reasons. First, having a tub can be super helpful for bathing children and pets. Additionally, having a place to take a bath every so often is a nice luxury to have. Second, having at least one bath in your home is good for the resale value. When considering future buyers, it is best to have a house that can tackle any task.

On the opposite side of that argument, a shower can also provide a lot of benefits. An updated standing shower will certainly also have its resale value benefits as opposed to an old tub. Furthermore, a shower can be the best option for people with mobility concerns. Having minimal curbing to step over means less risk of slipping and falling in the most slippery area of your home.

2. Will this shower fit in the footprint of the old bathtub?

Making sure that your new shower fits in the footprint of the old bathtub can be key to making the conversion fit your needs. If your dream is a walk in shower but you have a small bathtub currently, it may make the walk in shower much more difficult and costly. In general a barrier free shower needs at least a 4’x4′ area to convert properly and a walk in shower needs at least a 4’x6′ area. These measurements ensure that water stays where it is supposed to for your new shower.

A final note here is that even if your current bathtub doesn’t fit those space requirements, that doesn’t mean that the conversion would be impossible. However, it does mean that it will be significantly more costly and will eat into the space of the rest of your bathroom.

For more info, check out this article about questions to ask yourself before remodeling your shower.

3. What kind of shower system do you want?

Knowing what kind of shower system you want before you make the decision to convert your bathtub to a standing shower is key. Our biggest concern are body sprays. These are the water jets that con directly from the wall and spray at you while the main head comes from above. This can be a very luxurious option but be warned that not all homes are plumbed to handle that amount of water. If your home is not plumbed for this, the water pressure in your new shower will be extremely low.

4. Do you foresee plumbing changes? 

Plumbing changes can come is all forms. Do you want to shower head to come from a different wall? Is the footprint of your new shower different from your bathtub? Are you going to have to raise the valve from its current position? Will this new shower necessitate the movement of other plumbing like the toilet? plumbing changes can quickly increase the cost of a bathtub to shower conversion, so knowing the full story before committing to the change is crucial to a successful project.

5. Do you have a qualified installer for this job?

Especially when dealing with water based projects in your home, one of the most common mistakes is not knowing what you are doing when it is already too late. That means having an installer that you can trust. Problems like drainage issues and improperly installed waterproofing can lead to terminal water damage and put you in a far worse situation than before you started the project. When taking on any remodeling project, not just bathtub to shower conversions, your biggest concern should be ensuring that the final product will meet your needs and last you a long time.

Consider Bath Planet For Your Next Bathroom Remodel