Adding A Shower To Your Bathroom

Believe it or not, there are homes today that don't have showers. The reasons are many - perhaps the previous owner had a period tub in the bathroom that made a decorating statement, or the owner might just have not wanted a shower in the bathroom. In our supercharged society, a shower is the main choice of bathing, because it takes less time, and uses less water. Not only is it quicker, but friendlier to the environment as well. Whatever the case, if you buy a home without a shower, or are just planning on putting a shower stall in a second bathroom, the process can be tricky. Here, we will discuss the process of putting a shower in a bath, the problems, if any, and average costs.

Types Of Showers

One of the quaintest shower setups I have seen was a large claw foot tub that had a chrome ring around the top, a custom shower head, and a shower curtain the enveloped the entire tub so that you could shower. It is obviously a good system to install, because you aren't concerned about knocking out walls and running into water damage or plumbing problems. However, this might not suit the taste of many. On the market today arte many different types of shower stalls, from the standard stall with shower curtain to fancy, upscale showers with special shower heads and seamless enclosures. Getting them into the bathroom is the issue.

Deciding What Meets Your Needs

I don't know anyone who wouldn't like a big, luxurious bathroom with a spa, double sinks, and every amenity know to modern man. The reality is this - you are constrained by infrastructure and often budget. A bathroom remodel is the highest ticket remodel job there is, and for good reason. You not only deal with plumbing but often damage to infrastructure.

Mapping It Out

One of the best ways to map out a bathroom for adding a shower is to utilize some of the available 3D software on the market. It comes in just about any price range, from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars. What you want is something that simply shows fixtures, wall dimensions, and placements in a 3D setting. Using this soft, you can input actual measurements and get a good visual idea of what the finished room will look like, and what might just be a problem, such as access to toilet or vanity.

After this design process has been finished, the best thing for you to do is hire an expert to inspect the bathroom area and infrastructure. In this way, you will have a good idea of what you are getting into. A reliable contractor will cut small holes in the walls in obvious places to inspect for water damage and wiring. You then have an idea of what it will take to develop your budget.

Finding the Perfect Shower

The types of showers available today are endless. Visit any home improvement store such as Lowe's or Home Depot to get an idea of what will meet your need. If you would rather go online to do this search, do so. The variety and styles are endless. Be sure that you have the proper dimensions for the shower chosen.

You have two decisions when choosing a shower - whether to use a pre-fab fiberglass unit, or have the shower built from scratch. Obviously, the pre-fab is the best solution, but it is limited by styles and finishes. A built from scratch shower is very expensive to install, and beyond the skills of the average do it yourselfer. The decision is of course yours.

Installing The Shower

Installing a pre-fab can be done in a weekend by a good DIY craftsman. The pre-fab is set into place as a single unit, and then is grouted thoroughly around all exterior seams to prevent water from reaching interior walls. Because there are so many different installs, it is beyond the scope of this article.

A hand built tiled shower is a lot different to install. It involves a contractor building a frame to box in the shower. The shower stall is lined with a cement based covering such as Wonderboard. Then the tiling crew will come in to apply the tile. A plumber finishes off the drain, and your choice of enclosure is installed.

Whatever way you decide, installing a new shower is not really difficult, but can run to a great deal of expense influenced by your choice of shower. Plan carefully, use the best materials affordable, and build that new shower today.