Ideas for tub to shower conversion

last month

last modified: last month

Hi, I am planning a update of the tub/shower in the main bath to a walk-in shower. The bathroom is small about 7" x 7" (measuring from wall to wall). The rest of the bathroom was remodeled previously.

A couple things:

*I need to be able to continue to bath my dogs in this bathroom so planning on both an overhead shower, and handheld shower on a slide bar.

*Would like the controls to be easily accessible from outside/entry of the shower

*Planning to use a solid surface for the walls

*Regular door is going to be replaced with a pocket door to free up space inside bathroom

*I've been told that there will have to be a low threshold (not curbless) entry or there would be a lot of work/cost to re-do the floor to slope it correctly.

Questions-

* What kind of door would you recommend? I know it can't be fixed on the end where the shower controls are (right side when facing the shower). I was in a showroom recently looking around and tried a frameless sliding door, which seemed really heavy to slide?

* I thought about a shower seat, what would work in this size space?

* I rely a lot on the shower door outside handle as a towel bar. Is there any creative ideas you've seen for hanging a towel with such limited space?

* I spoke to one company that said with a solid surface wall, they would put in a tile floor. Does that make sense?

Thanks for your input!!

Featured Answer

tracefloyd

last month

A shower threshold/curb is very nice. No worries there. We have one for our tub conversion shower.

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Comments (8)

coastal_vibe
last month
Did you mean 7 sq ft? It looks like you wrote 7 inches square. From the photo, it looks like the showerheads are on the LHS, and the tub faucet and shower controls on the RHS. Where is the drain?

To convert to a standalone shower, the opening of the drain will need to be increased from 1-1/2 to 2 inches. To avoid having to relocate the drain to the center of the bathing space, consider a linear drain on the same side where it is now.

The entry to the shower will need to be on the LHS. In CA, it is required to have access to the shower controls from both inside and outside the shower, although the SH can be on the same wall or the opposite wall. (I don't know where you are located.) It is best to keep shower controls on an interior wall (to be able to access from behind the shower.)

Having the shower opening on the LHS implies that the bench would need to be on the RHS of the shower. I have seen a fixed jet SH placed directly above a bench, if that works for you.

I know nothing about solid surface walls, so can't help with that.

There are more contemporary sliding shower doors that operate like a barn door. I don't see anywhere for hanging a towel rod or towel hook on the walls; it looks like you will need to rely on towel rails installed in the glass enclosure.
thatlife thanked coastal_vibe
thatlife
Original Author
last month
Thank you - yes, that was supposed to say 7' x 7'
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Kendrah
last month
You may have to build out your wall to contain the pocket door. The wall on the shower side of the door looks like it has a laundry chute. Will you be taking that out? Will there be any shower plumbing in that wall? The wall on the sink side of the door seems like it might have electric in it (light switch), which will also be a problem.

Can you change your bathroom door so it swings out in to the hall instead of having pocket doors?

I'd use hooks on your door to hang towels.
thatlife thanked Kendrah
dani_m08
last month
MANY people on this forum have placed there shower mixing valve outside of their actual shower - they like being able to turn water on + adjust temp without getting any part of their body wet prior to it being set correctly. Many other people will located the mixing valve (shower control) on the wall opposite of the shower head(s) or on a pony wall right inside the shower (again, the person doesn't have to walk into the shower to turn it on).

I know someone who lives in CA - did a bathroom renovation a few years ago (maybe three) - very nice home + spent a lot of renovation. His shower controls are located outside of the shower (it's a walk in shower - controls are on wall prior to stepping into shower). I've asked a couple friends who live in CA - they've told me that code requires that a person has to be able to turn the water on without getting wet in CA (maybe other states also). The issue is that they want to avoid anyone from being hit with a stream of hot water. None of them believe that you have to have two controls if one is located prior to entering the actual shower.

You will have to change your drain to 2" - many people also use a linear shower drain so they do not have to spend $ relocating the drain to the center of the shower.

Will you use a shower seat a lot? I think many people add them - but they wind up as a place where shampoo/conditioner/etc.. is stored (even if there is a niche also vs. actually being used). Personally, I think they are cold - and prefer to have a teak stool that I can use in the shower if needed instead of whole bench. Also, benches tend to be places where waterproofing issues occur - so, I'd rather avoid them.
thatlife thanked dani_m08
ci_lantro
last month
Linear drains come with issues and you should know that you can have an end drain shower that isn't a linear one.
thatlife thanked ci_lantro
thatlife
Original Author
last month
Thanks for all the input! Here's some info that was asked for...

Drain: Yes, planning to leave it on the end with the plumbing/shower heads. There shouldn't be plumbing in any of the other walls, since it will all be on one side.

Laundry chute: Yes, will have to be moved to accommodate the pocket door. Ideally we'll find another place for it.

Shower bench: I was on the fence about the bench and you bring up good points, thanks

Niche: I'm planning a niche in the long wall for bottles, etc

Electrical- Yes there is an outlet/switch next to the vanity - why do you think that will be a problem?

Any thoughts about the type of shower door that would work?

Thanks again!
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ci_lantro
last month
You will have to figure out the shower door (or shower curtain) that will work best for you. Given that you want to bathe dogs in the shower--how big are the dogs? Do you go into the shower with the dog? (The shower may not be wide enough for you & the dog.) .You'll not want a shower door that is in the way if you have to stand outside the shower. If the swing door into the bathroom stays, then you have to factor conflicts between a swinging entry door and a swinging shower door--so that will probably lead you to choosing between a sliding shower door or a shower curtain.