Last month, Richard and Anna McGowan tackled one of the hottest trends in bathroom renovations today. They converted the seldom-used tub in their upstairs bathroom to a walk-in shower.
For the McGowans, the bathroom update was not about style. It was about lifestyle. Anna’s aging knees made it increasingly difficult to climb in and out of the bathtub.
On a recommendation from their daughter, the McGowans hired Carter Hallowell, owner of Cumming-based Hallowell Brothers Tile.
The noisy part of the job started first. The tub came out. In its place, went new plumbing, new tile and a hinged glass shower door. Because there was space, a built-in, a tiled seat was added in the shower. The toilet and double vanity in the large bathroom were untouched, except for new faucets.
The Dunwoody couple is thrilled with their bathroom makeover. “We wished we would have done it years ago,” said Richard.
A bathtub to shower conversion is a popular renovation, especially in the master en suite bathroom, where busy adults have little time for baths and tend to take daily showers.
But it also can make sense for a small bathroom or a teen’s bathroom, said Susan V. Hill, branch manager of the Traditions in Tile showroom in Alpharetta and president of the Georgia chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (nkba).
If a tub-to-shower conversion is in your renovation plans, consider this advice from Hallowell, Hill and the NKBA, a trade group.
Getting started
- Check house magazines and online sources, such as houzz.com, for bathroom ideas
- Consult a professional, such as a licensed contractor with experience remodeling bathrooms or a bath designer.
Consider your options
- Tile, including natural stone, ceramic or porcelain tile. Natural stone is more expensive and requires additional maintenance, said Hallowell.
- Space. How much storage space do you require for soaps and shampoo? Lean toward recessed niches rather than corner shelves or soap dishes for an updated look.
- Take a seat. If you have the space, add a built-in corner seat, floating seat or bench. If you don’t, a removable seat may work best.
- Fixtures. Do you want a standard, rainfall or hand-held shower head? Take your time looking at fixtures.
- Drains. Square, four-inch drains and linear drains allow large tiles to remain intact and offer a clean, sleek look.
- Shower doors or not? Frameless glass shower doors open up the space. Figure out the shower-door swing so it does not interfere with your toilet or vanity. If your shower is large, you may be able to skip doors and go with a glass panel.
- Safety or-aging-in-place features, such as grab bars on the walls or a textured floor. Like your faucets, safety features are available in a variety of designer finishes. A textured shower floor, which can help avoid falls, can have a high-style look.
- Other options. Lighting in the shower. Outside the shower, heated floors that operate on a programmable thermostat are an increasingly common request.
Dos and don’ts
- Don’t be in a hurry to start the job. Plan every item before work begins. “One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to make selections in the middle of the job,” said Hallowell.
- Get three references and ask for multiple references from recent clients.
- Verify the contractors’ workman’s comp and general liability policies. Call their insurance agent to independently verify coverage.
- Ask for a written schedule.
- Have all the materials or special-order items on hand before you start the demolition.
- Don’t try to accept an item that you are not sure of or do not like. You will be looking at this item for a long time.
- Do not pay for the work until you are completely satisfied.
Shower vs. bathtub
Shower pluses
- Accessibility. With a low curb or no curb, the shower is easier to enter and exit, especially for older adults or someone with a disability or mobility issue – even a temporarily one. Showers with a low curb or threshold are features many people like regardless of age or heath.
- Environmentally friendly. Showers use less water than tubs.
- Easier to clean than a tub
- Can include spa features, such as multiple shower heads.
Bathtub pluses
- Bathing small children
- Prefer taking baths
- Specialty bathtubs can turn a bathroom into a spa.
Trends
- Simple, clean, more classic looks. Fewer frou-frou designs
- Square or architectural shower heads
- Large tiles with linear drains on the side
- Larger rectangular or square tiles on shower wall and floor. Tiles measuring 12 inches by 24 inches and 24 inches by 24 inches are popular in the Atlanta area. Large format tiles can make the room look bigger.
- Colors. Cool tones, such as blue and shades of gray – often with a pop of color.
- Finishes. Polished nickel and chrome are still top preferences. So are brushed nickel. Sales of bronze or oil rubbed bronze features have taken a dip in the Atlanta area. But a new gold is on the way back.
- Homeowners doing they renovations they want or like without worrying about resale or what potential buyers would like.
What about resale?
Many homeowners prefer a larger shower rather than having a tub and shower, said Karen Cannon of Karen Cannon Realtors.
“As a result, we see many master baths that have been renovated with only a shower,” said Cannon, who specializes in homes in the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area. “But there are some buyers who still want or need a tub.
“For resale, you need to have at least one tub in a secondary bath,” said Cannon, who recently showed a home that did not have a bathtub. “The buyers wanted to put one in because they had small children.”
Design help
- National Kitchen & Bath Association offers a bath planning guide. Download the planner or request one at nkba.org. The website also offers a list of designers in your area.
