Trading a bathtub for a walk in shower is smart, as many homeowners have elderly family members living with them whose mobility is limited. Perhaps a kid had a sporting accident and needs help bathing.  Maybe homeowners just want to bring their homes into the 21st century with a sparkling new walk in shower. This will come in handy when the time comes to sell the house, because upgraded bathrooms sell homes. Before homeowners start planning colors, lighting and whether the shower head should be a rain head or a hand-held, though, perhaps knowing how Joyce Factory Direct installs them would be helpful.  

Step One: Measurements

Homeowners need to know if a new shower will fit. The Joyce professional will measure, of course, but if the homeowner knows beforehand if the toilet will be in the way of the shower door swinging, then he can begin planning alternatives. The Joyce Factory Direct professional will also be well-versed in local regulations, so he’ll tell homeowners what is allowed. For instance, if homeowners only have a certain amount of square footage to work with, the Joyce professional will plan a shower that will work to best advantage within that space.  

Step Two: It’s Outta Here

Walk In Shower RemodelThe first thing homeowners need to recognize is that they’ll need other arrangements while this is going on. The water will be turned off, the breakers to the bathroom likewise, the tub torn out and a mighty mess will be on the floor. That said, the professional from Joyce Factory Direct will remove everything down to the subfloor and the wall studs. This will also include any substrate the plumber used to seat the tub when it was originally installed. Homeowners will be left with a rather large hole in the floor and wall.

 

Step Three: The Base

Here is where the homeowner makes the first choices. If the usual size tub/shower combination was in the bathroom, then a square or rectangular shower pan will be chosen. However, if the tub/shower combo fit into a smaller space, then the usual shower pan will be too large. A custom-floated concrete shower pan will almost certainly be necessary in this example. Concrete mud slopes to the drain. Atop that will be waterproofing plastic going up the walls a little way and to the drain. A layer two to three inches thick of concrete is then sloped to the drain one quarter inch for each square foot of space.  

Step Four: The Plumbing

The former tub/shower combination will have the plumbing necessary for a new shower already installed. If homeowners want multiple shower heads, though, or a spray especially for seated bathers, then extra plumbing will be necessary. Homeowners choosing a standard shower pan have the choice of putting shower heads wherever they wish, since the water will stay in the pan. Likewise, homeowners with a small space choosing a custom shower base will have a wonderful shower without worrying the water will harm the bathroom floor. The plumbing will need to be in place for this to happen.  

Step Five: The Walls

Now homeowners can have some fun. Tile walls usually surround showers. Do homeowners prefer doors that open inside for the benefit of wheelchair-bound bathers? Perhaps such bathers would benefit from a hand-held shower wand, while at the same time water is sprayed around the bather’s back, hips and legs. Shall the soap holder and shampoo caddy be within reach of the seated bather? How about a separate soap holder and shampoo caddy for the standing bather? Homeowners can have both or even a separate arrangement if they so desire. Choices in glass, tile and even acrylic shower walls are available for the homeowner’s convenience.  

What Else Should I Know About Trading a Bathtub for a Walk In Shower?

Homeowners should know they have a choice of grab bars, mold-resistant materials and low threshold or barrier free shower bases. All bases are slip-resistant for safety. Other than that, the benefits of a new walk in shower are manifold. Increased mobility means elderly, disabled or temporarily immobile family members can forego the embarrassment of asking for help in bathing. Joyce Factory Direct understands that Independence means a lot to everyone.

 

It’s not easy cleaning bathrooms. It is especially not easy scrubbing mildew stains and getting rid of mold. Modern tubs and showers are made with this in mind. They are made of non-porous materials, meaning mold and mildew can’t get a grip on the material. Elderly or very young family members won’t need a doctor to cure an infection that originated in a bathtub susceptible to germs and bacteria getting into its surface. All homeowners need do is wipe the surface. These materials won’t chip or peel and come with a lifetime guarantee.

 

Even folks who are not elderly, injured or disabled benefits from grab bars occasionally. More accidents happen in the home than on the road or in industrial settings. The number of grab bars installed is up to the homeowner, while non-slip seating is available also. If families need restraints for the seating, be sure to ask the Joyce Factory Direct professional about their installation. Sometimes disabled or elderly family members could use a seat belt or shoulder harness in case the warmth of the shower makes them sleepy. Sometimes they could slide off the seat all together. In these cases, it is better to have the necessary accessories for their safety.

 

Walk In Shower with BenchOne of the hallmarks of a professional is attention to detail. A new shower will look as if it had been in the house from the beginning. The installation will be smooth with no mess left behind. One of the hallmarks of Joyce Factory Direct is their attention to homeowners’ budgets and their willingness to work together for the best experience.