How to Make the Most of Your Bathroom With a New Shower
Save Space and Embrace Style with a New Shower Installation
When you ditch the tub and upgrade to a shower, you save plenty of space. The thought of converting to a shower might be stressful, but a bath remodel can be a lot simpler, cheaper, and faster than you think with Expo Home Improvement. Here's what you need to know before you tackle a shower installation.
Recognize Your Bathroom's Space
Replacing a clunky tub with a shower is a commitment, so the first thing you need to be sure of is how much space you have to work with. According to Houselogic, building codes typically stipulate a shower floor that's 30 x 30 inches; the National Kitchen and Bath Association suggests 36 x 36 inches to ensure a little more room.
You'll also want to be sure that there's space for a shower door to swing freely, avoiding any wall or toilet that might be in the way. A 30-inch or so buffer should suffice. Unless, of course, you opt for a sliding shower door or a partial glass panel, both great options for cozy bathrooms!
To Curb or Not to Curb
There are plenty of choices when it comes to the design of your new shower, foremost of which is the shower pan, a.k.a. the floor of your shower. Most showers opt for a "curb," or a small lip to step over that helps keep the water where it's supposed to be—headed for the drain.
Curb-free showers, on the other hand, allow you to walk (or roll a wheelchair) right in. However, this requires the shower floor to be lowered, or the entire bathroom floor to be heightened, which can be a costly process. Know your budget limitations before you decide!
Pipes Galore
Much less fun than picking your style is making sure all your plumbing is in place. If you're tearing out a tub rather than starting from scratch, you'll need to retrofit the plumbing. Pipes must be inspected, the framing and subfloor must be checked for mold and mildew, and the wall must be tiled, covered in glass block, or replaced by a fiberglass kit to ensure it stays watertight and prevents damage to your home.
Make It Simple
All of this may seem like a lot. Trust us, we know. So let Expo Home Improvement eliminate the stress and provide a custom shower installation! Our designers will come to your home, take measurements and photos, and talk with you about your options. Once you've settled on a custom shower that maximizes your space and works with your budget, we'll come back and have the whole project installed in as little as a day or two. And we stand by our products—they're so durable, they include a lifetime warranty.
Don't delay your long-awaited bath remodel any longer! Give us a call and speak to one of our bath-to-shower remodel experts, or fill out our easy online form to request a free consultation and transform that cramped bathroom today!