Change a Bathroom Tub Into a Shower
Converting a standard bathtub into a shower can be done in several ways. The existing tub can serve as the base for the shower with certain amenities added. For example, acrylic walls can be attached around the existing tub. Or, the tub space can be revamped to accommodate a pre-molded shower with walls. By reviewing different options and weighing them against a given budget, it's not that hard to decide the best method for conversion.
Instructions
1. Measure the bathtub space to determine if a single shower rod or curved rod around two sides can convert the space to a shower inexpensively. Use a long single rod and curtain, if the tub is enclosed on three sides. Attach the shower rod to walls or the ceiling. Install a shower-head unit about 5 feet above the standard tub faucet.
2. Consider using a curved shower rod along two sides of the tub, if the tub is open on two sides. Add two or three curtains to the rod. Attach the long, curved rod to the ceiling with wires or metal holders made for this purpose. Install an adjustable shower head or add a faucet with a hand-held shower spray unit.
3. Convert a bathtub with a good finish into a shower by installing clear, fiberglass sliding doors. Add metal hardware for the sliding door unit to the bathtub on one of the longer sides. Enclose one or more of the other three sides, if needed, to complete the shower enclosure. Run water lines to the upper shower head through the interior wall above the shower faucet, through the attic or from a bathroom in an adjoining room.
4. Review the option of having a new, pre-molded tub with walls built in. Enlist the help of professionals who can measure and refit the bathtub with a one-piece fiberglass unit that functions as a shower-tub combo. Install this type of unit if it would be time-consuming or messy to remove the tub. Select this method to turn the existing into a shower in a single day.
5. Tear out the bathtub and replace it with a pre-built shower unit that is close in size, if the bathtub is old or broken. Buy a pre-made shower unit that can be assembled in sections on site. Purchase just a shower base and tile the walls around it, if the walls are smooth enough to accommodate new tile work. Make the space look a lot larger by installing two clear Fiberglas doors that open outward into the bathroom. Add the doors to provide more light inside the shower area, especially if a handicapped person lives in the home.
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