Replacing a bathtub with a shower - too narrow?
petlovermarcie
9 years ago
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palimpsest
9 years agocatbuilder
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Replace bath tub with jetted tub?
Comments (5)For a jetted tub used as a shower, it has to have an integral tile flange. That allows the wall cladding to overhang and any water that hits the wall to not go behind your walls. There aren't that many in that size that are inexpensive. It will need a specialized drain, and, if you want to spend any time in the tub, a supplemental heater so the water doesn't cool off so fast. Since it's a tub/shower, the wall cladding will need to be redone to be waterproof into the tub. It's possible, if the build is recent, and it was done with the proper vapor barrier behind it, that only one row of the tile would need to be pulled in order to replace the tub. But, I wouldn't count on that. I'd count on having to replace all of the wall cladding in the alcove. That can be as cheap as a plastic surround for around $100 or cheap tile with the proper vapor barrier for probably $150 or so. The first is the easiest and the least chance of leaking. The second will read as more upscale, but you have to be sure your contractor understands about the vapor barrier and correct materials to use to tile this (NOT mastic.) And since you have that torn out, it would be foolish to try to keep your current control valves for the bath unless they are also very new. New safety standards are in place for anti scald mechanisms. So, you will need a new shower/bath faucet and valve. Then you will need the electrical line run from the panel to the location for the whirlpool pump and supplemental heater. That location is usually opposite the drain side of the tub. You will need to be able to site an access panel that is removable to be able to get to the electrical innards here. That can be from an adjacent room, or from a hidden panel on the tub itself. All in all, you might be able to get all of the needed materials for 2-3K if you shop the box stores carefully and find some bargains. The danger to that is that if you are inexperienced, you don't know if you're buying quality or crap. They sell both. And that's one reason that it would be simpler to let the pro pick the products after you tell him the features that you want. Then you've got to pay the contractor labor to install all of that. The electrician's price will depend on how difficult it will be to access the panel and run the wire to the location. For that, it's a really good thing you are on a crawlspace! That makes it cheaper for both the electrician and the plumber. On the whole, I'd expect your project to cost between 5-7K, depending on location, and if you have no DIY skills to bring to the table and have to hire professionals for the whole job. And be sure that you hire someone that is licensed and insured to be in your home, and will pull the proper permits to get the job inspected with your code office. Some handyman guy isn't licensed to do electrical of that nature, and while he might be able to do the demo and get the tub in place and glue on the plastic surround, it's unlikely that he'll have the right insurance to deal with a large job like that, and thus probably wont' want to pull permits and be inspected. They are usually limited to smaller jobs like simple fixture replacements like a faucet or light. Which this isn't. Just remember, you are doing a project that combines electricity and water. You really have to know what you're doing here! A small General Contractor should be able to do the complete job, and also carry the needed papers. And he should have no problem with the code guys coming in to inspect his work either. If he does, then he's not the right person for the job....See MoreReplace tub/shower with shower only?
Comments (16)Great comments! Thank you for helping me to think about this out loud ;-). We live in northern California, one hour south of San Francisco, and a half hour from the beach in Santa Cruz. The area is pretty pricey and most single-story houses are being converted into second story houses, some of them good, some of them not so good, AKA monster homes :-(. We are baby boomers and like the size of our house, our garden, etc., and the fact that it is a one story. It's perfectly fine for the two of us. I took care of my Dad before he passed and he was in a walker. I like the idea of having a higher ADA toilet, grab bars, small corner bench, separate hand shower, fixed shower head, and low curb for the shower. And, we are not without our own aches and pains in the joints and lower back! jkom51: thanks for the tip on looking at cultured marble/cultured granite. I am liking the looks of carrera marble a lot, but I'm not sure if it will be too slippery and hard to clean. I don't think I can steal room from the two adjacent bedrooms because they are very small and I wouldn't want to lose a closet in one of the rooms. I guess this is another reason for one, nice, big shower because it opens up the little bathroom. I am seeing the frameless shower door in there....See Morereplacing round tub with clawfoot tub
Comments (10)hummmmmmmm Very interesting. I never heard of a 45 day limit to top billing post either. Christopherth are you some moderator on this board or? to make this decision.Why would it be imporant for the post to be sent down the line just because it did not have an answer to it? I was interested to see an answer on this question myself. I popped in several times. I just never posted to it because I do not have the answer and felt unanswered questions should stay visable to someone that might have the answer. The people that bought our last MFH are planning on removing the garden tub and we have talked several times on their options of what to replace it with. Large stall shower or a regular tub or shower over tub. Sorry Summergardener I do not have an answer for you. My only thoughts would be the added weight.And maybe the small foot print of the claw foot tub feet. There might have to be something under each foot. I just do not know. Some one asked about the added weight of a large fish tank. I consider the added weight as I continue to mosaic on our furniture. Heheheh Silly me. Sure is fun though. I hope some one posts an answer. Chris...See MoreTub/Shower Screen on a narrow tub
Comments (16)@pennydesign, This question is based on another plan that I'm considering where I would keep a bath/shower combo in my main bathroom, but then add an esnuite to my master bedroom with a small dedictated shower: In this layout, I would only have room for a 15" deep vanity if I want 26" between a standard 32" tub and the vanity (so every inch counts). I could move the wall behind the vanity as a last resort if needed, but I'm trying to find a way to work within the existing footprint (which is why I'm looking at a 28" wide tub). Another alternative is to put the tub along the left wall with the window, but I'm not too keen on this idea because: I don't think I'd like to shower in front of a window that faces the street, especially at night time :S I don't think I'd want to deal with cleaning waterproof blinds that get wet all the time I don't really like the idea of frosting the window so that I can't see out any more...See Morepetlovermarcie
9 years ago
PROBy Any Design Ltd.
9 years ago
Best work practices for a bathroom renovation · More Info
This steam shower was built in the place of an old tub. The finished inside measures 32" to the glass. 30" to the inside of the shower curb.- PRO
By Any Design Ltd.
9 years ago
Bathroom · More Info
We took the tub out of this bathroom and made a neo angle entry and barrier free. The shower is much larger now and the footprint of the room did not change at all. - PRO
By Any Design Ltd.
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Modern Bathroom · More Info30" finished inside measurement. We cheated the glass panel here too 13" to center of the toilet. ThermaSol steam shower. Used to be a bath. Snuck in a bench inside the steamer on the left.
Modern Bathroom Sink And Faucet Parts · More InfoWe grew this space to make a larger shower. The LED linear drain is made by ACO.
Modern Bathroom · More Info
Tub gone. barrier free shower built.
Bathroom · More Info
Tub gone new shower under flood test. sjhockeyfan325
9 years agosjhockeyfan325
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago- PRO
By Any Design Ltd.
9 years ago badgergal
9 years agoIs you current tub/shower combo in an alcove? If your bathtub is enclosed in an alcove and has a surround of tile or other material and you measured from one end to the other, you need to add at least an inch to your measurement for each wall you encounter. When my son first measured his tub area he thought it was 28x58 but when the contractor measured it he said that the rough in measurements would be for 30x60 tub/shower. You may want to recheck your measurements.
My son ended up using Kohler's 30x60 cast iron shower pan. It is designed to replace a standard tub. He did you glass doors on his new shower. He would have like to use a hinged door but had to go with sliders because he could not change the location of the valves and he wanted to be able to turn on the shower without getting into it first. My son falls into the big and tall category and did notice that the shower area seemed slightly smaller with the glass than with a shower curtain. But even with that he prefers having the glass doors.
Here is a not quite finished picture of his shower with Kohler's Salient shower pan.
User
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agopalimpsest
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agobadgergal
9 years agosjhockeyfan325
9 years ago
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