Everything You Need to Know About Walk-In Showers
A walk-in shower is a shower space that doesn’t come with barriers like a door or a shower curtain. Usually, these showers come with walls that contain water or steam. As the showers are open in nature, they are captivating.
If you like to hop in and out of the bathroom, then converting an old bathtub to a barrier-free shower is the perfect solution. But before you rip out that old tub and replace it with a new shower, you should understand what you’re getting into. Let’s dig in!
Different Types of Walk-In Showers
A corner shower we did for a client to increase accessibility.
Corner Showers
These types of showers are best suited for smaller bathrooms because they take up less space than their counterparts. These showers are characterized by tiles and a glass door.
For this project, we removed an outdated tub and replaced it with this huge walk-in shower.
Shower Rooms
These walk-in showers do not have a door, meaning they’re often large and spacious. They have strategically placed glass panels that prevent water from flowing out of the bathroom.
Curved-Shower Enclosures
These are enclosures that save space while serving you in the best way. It comes with heavy-duty glass and a sliding door.
What Is the Ideal Size of a Walk-In Shower?
According to research by the Americans With Disability Act (ADA), a walk-in shower should have a minimum size of 36 by 36 inches.
However, if the shower has rolling shower chairs that serve seniors or the physically disabled, then the ADA recommends a minimum size of 30 by 60 inches for accessibility.
Is It Difficult to Add a Walk-In Shower to an Existing Bathroom?
Adding a walk-in shower to an existing bathroom is not as difficult as it sounds. All you need to do is to attain your bathroom measurements and check your plumbing capabilities. The services of a plumber will come in handy here. Thereafter, you should choose your shower enclosure as well as your wall covering (if necessary).
Finally, you should contact an installation service to complete the process. There are homeowners who also choose to add walk-in showers to their bathrooms as a DIY project. This could be a great way to spend time if you are looking to uplift your décor when you do not have too many commitments.
This sort of tub-to-shower conversion takes an average of four days to complete. However, it is important to note that installation time differs for everyone, depending on the type of walk-in shower.
What is the Cost of a Walk-In Shower?
A walk-in shower kit may go for up to $2500, depending on the type of shower that you want. This figure also depends on the quality of the material used as well as the design.
Professionally installing the shower costs the same price. However, the cost could be lower as it is dependent upon the layout of your bathroom and its plumbing requirements. Therefore, purchasing and installing a walk-in shower will cost up to $5000.
Pros and Cons
A walk-in shower is a much-needed addition to your bathroom. But before investing in your favorite type, consider these pros and cons.
Pros
An added layer of elegance
As walk-in showers do not come with a door or barrier, they are stylish. They create an illusion that will make your bathroom even more unique.
Better accessibility
A majority of people want to grow old in their homes. Thus, updating bathrooms for greater accessibility will offer much-needed comfort. Walk-in showers offer an incredible level of accessibility and ease of entrance for those with wheelchairs.
Easy cleaning
No one enjoys scrubbing a bathroom. We could easily do without this chore in our daily lives. Yet again, we have to keep the bathroom clean. As a walk-in shower is simple in nature, it makes cleaning easy. ‘
Cons
Slippery
The water spewing out of a walk-in shower is known to cause a lot of bathroom accidents. Even so, there is a quick fix to this- a marble wall will contain the water that spills as you are taking a shower.
Lack of privacy
This type of shower may not be ideal in a space where people share a bathroom as it offers no privacy. Despite this concern, you can always customize your bathroom for concealment.
Walk-in showers have proven to be the crème de la crème of bathroom design trends. It is luxurious, and exactly what your bathroom needs! If you’ve been thinking of renovating your bathroom then this is a great design to adapt.
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McManus Kitchen and Bath is a design and build company specializing in kitchen and bath remodels.
