Mississauga Renovation Questions: What should I know about converting a tub to a walk in shower?
I want to convert my bathtub into a walk-in shower in my condo apartment. How hard is that, and is it a good idea?
If you have just one bathroom in your apartment, losing a tub is probably not good for resale value.
Most buyers will look for a full bathroom with a tub/shower combination, and as a result your apartment’s marketability could be affected. Without a bathtub, your unit also wouldn’t be as child-friendly.
If you have a second full bath however, that is the perfect scenario for installing a large walk-in shower.
What’s involved?
If you’re planning to convert, consult at Anybathroom INC. early on in the process.
Things to think about include the amount of demolition necessary to remove the tub (this will vary if you have a built-in tub vs. a freestanding ball-and-claw tub), the weight of said tub and transporting it (heavy tubs will need to be broken into pieces to be carried out of the building), plus “the condition of the walls and floor after the tub is out,” says designer Sergio for Anybathroom Inc.
If the building’s board requires that branch lines –the lines that branch off the main riser–be replaced all the way back to the riser (the line that connects to the sprinkler head), “that of course turns things into a bigger and more expensive job,” says Sergio.
(More on costs below.)
You may also need to make the bathroom handicap accessible.
If you change a fixture–meaning the-tub, toilet, or sink because they are fixed or permanently attached–in a bathroom in Mississauga and GTA, the bathroom must be made handicapped adaptable and comply with the requirements of the Canadians with Disabilities Act, Sergio says.
This isn’t as much of an issue if your bathroom’s footprint is larger than a typical 5’ X 8’ Mississauga Milton or GTA condo apartment bathroom. But if the bath has the typical smaller pre-war layout, you probably won’t have enough space for the shower or be able to meet code.
Moreover, many if not most buildings won’t allow you to expand a bathroom over spaces that are not ‘wet’ to avoid creating so-called ‘wet over dry’ conditions. That often makes it “almost impossible to comply with requirements and building rules when changing fixtures in a bathroom,” says Sergio.
In this situation, you’ll need to forgo the large walk-in shower and any layout change, sticking with the original footprint of the bath.
Think about space
Your shower will occupy the exact same space (unless you are able to reconfigure your bathroom), and it will not have a curtain, but be enclosed in glass instead.
“If your existing tub is not very wide, the new shower will probably feel a little smaller, but the bathroom as a whole might feel larger with the glass enclosure,” says Sergio.
Frosted glass is an option if you’re sharing the single bathroom and require privacy, but the glass options for a custom shower enclosure are many, so explore the potential choices.
For details like this and general design decisions, it’s best to hire a bath designer or an architect who specializes in bathroom renovations to avoid major and costly errors, especially when working within such tight quarters.
Timing
Allow about three-to-four weeks, or possibly longer depending on the circumstances as mentioned above, for the entire demo and renovation process. Figure on more time than you need and know that complications tend to happen during renovations. Count on one month being the best possible scenario and then you’ll be prepared.
What it costs
On average, “costs should be $5,000-$12,000,” says Sergio. Factors affecting the price involve the amount of demo needed to remove the existing tub, and the condition of the walls and floor after the tub has been taken out.
“If the building board requires branch lines to be replaced back to the riser, that of course turns things into a bigger and more expensive job,” he says. In this case, the bath would be a complete gut and renovation costs could easily double.
Costs can also increase depending on the type of glass enclosure. Expect to pay about $2000 and up for a custom glass surround for your walk-in shower, and an additional ten percent plus for frosted or obscured glass. The glass cost will increase if you prefer low iron or ultra-clear glass, which is of higher quality.
Tile and fixture selections will also impact the final number, so if you’re on a tight budget — you should be crafty with your picks.
But if your materials budget is bigger, you’ll have a wider variety of tile choices and patterns to choose from, as well as the option of installing that rainfall shower head you’ve been dreaming about.
