A common trend in bathroom remodeling is homeowners wanting to convert a shower-tub combo into a high-quality walk-in shower. These targeted bath conversions are often driven by resale or lifestyle needs. In comparison, shower-to-bathtub conversions are far less popular, but there’s one major exception, which relates to home resale values.
Most realtors are adamant that buyers tend to prefer homes with at least one bathtub. Whether for bathing kids or washing up pets, there’s a consistent demand for homes with a bathtub. That often serves as the incentive for homeowners to pursue a shower-to-tub conversion.
In this post, I’ll explain why it can be beneficial to have a bathtub in your house and will go over some of the practical considerations when deciding whether and how to convert your existing shower to a new tub.
Benefits of Having a Bathtub in Your Home
In order to decide if a shower-to-tub conversion is a good option for you, it’s worth considering the benefits of having a tub.
- Increased home value: Most real estate agents will tell you that a home’s resale value is higher if it has one or more bathtubs. For some homebuyers, not having a tub is a dealbreaker. As a result, you can make your home more marketable if you convert a shower to a bathtub.
- Bathing kids: Bathtubs offer a safe and contained space to bathe children, enabling parents to control the water temperature and ensure a thorough cleaning. The depth of a bathtub also allows kids to enjoy splashing and playing, turning bath time into a fun experience.
- Bathing pets: For pets, bathtubs provide a convenient and controlled area for bathing, preventing water and soap from getting all over the bathroom. The raised sides of the tub can also make it easier to handle pets, especially larger or more energetic animals.
- A relaxing soak: After a long day or stressful experience, there are few things more relaxing than an extended soak in hot water. Having a tub in your home keeps this option available whenever you need it.
- A spa-like setting: If you want even more luxury for your warm bath, you can opt for a jacuzzi or jetted tub. This can convert your bathroom into a quiet, comfortable space that feels almost like a wellness retreat.
- Accessibility options: Although some people consider a walk-in shower to be better for people with mobility issues, a walk-in tub—or even a step through tub—is a compelling alternative for those considering a shower-to-tub conversion. Walk-in tubs have a low threshold, reducing fall risk when getting in and out. Even with a more traditional tub, grab bars and other accessories can enhance safety and accessibility.
- Easier maintenance and cleaning: For many people, a bathtub is easier to clean than a shower. Because it has a smooth surface and no grout lines or high walls, a tub often makes for simpler maintenance and cleaning.
- Aesthetics: While there’s always a subjective element to aesthetic preferences, many homeowners and interior designers find that a bathroom with a quality bathtub creates a classic and elegant look that can be hard to replicate with a shower alone.
Bathtub Types and Tub Conversion Options
When installing a new tub, there are numerous styles that you can choose from. The best choice depends on your personal preferences as well as the size and shape of the existing shower area.
Freestanding tub
Freestanding tubs can fit in an open space in your bathroom and typically provide the biggest “wow factor” in a remodel. Whether you choose a sleek and modern tub or a traditional claw-foot style, a freestanding tub can give the room an inviting spa-like appearance.
Alcove tub
For many bathroom remodels, an alcove tub is a top choice. With an alcove tub, you have walls on three sides, giving the bathtub the appearance of fitting into a carved-out niche. Custom tiling around the bathtub can enhance the visual appeal and provide space to install robe hooks or towel bars.
Corner tub
Corner bathtubs are another option for a shower-to-tub conversion. As the name implies, this approach is most convenient if the shower being replaced is located in a corner of your bathroom.
Shower-tub combo
Some homeowners want to keep the functionality of a shower and opt for a combination tub shower. Many tub-shower combos are affordable, easy to install, and made with leak-proof materials. However, they tend to offer less in terms of aesthetics.
Walk-in tub
Walk-in tubs are another possibility, especially for people with limited mobility. These tubs have a hinged door in one wall with a very low threshold, enabling safer movement into and out of the tub. Many have water jets for a relaxing soak. That said, walk-in tubs are not as visually attractive and may not have the same impact on your home’s resale value.
Adding Style to Your Bathroom During a Shower to Tub Conversion
A shower-to-bathtub conversion is an opportunity to rejuvenate your bathroom’s look.
In addition to choosing a new type of tub, you’ll have the option to select a material, such as cast iron, stone resin, natural stone, composite, or acrylic. While we typically recommend cast iron tubs, other materials may make sense based on your budget, design preferences, and available floor space.
The tub installation process is also a good time to upgrade other aspects of your bathroom, including tiling the walls, swapping out hardware and fixtures, or putting in new floors. This phase also allows you to update plumbing connections, valves, and other shower components to ensure everything integrates properly with the new tub.
Do You Need a Bathtub?
In most cases, having a bathtub isn’t strictly necessary, which is why homeowners should carefully weigh whether a bath conversion aligns with their long-term plans. However, as I mentioned before, bathtubs offer several advantages, including increasing the value of your home.
But if you would rather have walk-in showers, there’s no reason that you have to install a tub. Some people simply prefer the functionality and compact look of a shower with a glass door. And despite the accessibility offered by a walk-in tub, many people with mobility problems feel more comfortable with a walk-in shower that has no threshold or step.
If you don’t have any plans to sell your home, or if you don’t need a tub for bathing kids or pets, a shower-to-tub conversion may not be worth the cost, and, in fact, you may want to convert a tub to a shower.
Alternatives to a Shower to Bathtub Conversion
If you’re not sold on a classic shower-to-bathtub conversion, you could consider having a walk-in shower and a freestanding soaking tub in the same bathroom. This offers the best of both worlds and enhances the spa-like feel of the room. However, it requires more space and may not be an option for all remodels.
A variant of this approach is to design a large section of the bathroom as a wet room, putting a tub inside the walk-in shower. This keeps both the shower and tub inside a leak-proof area accessed through the shower door, and it ensures that you always have the option to take either a bath or a shower (or both!).
FAQ About Shower to Bathtub Conversions
How Long Does a Shower to Bathtub Conversion Take?
In most straightforward shower-to-tub conversion projects, the work can be completed within a few days. As you would expect, the job can be finished more quickly if it only involves shower removal and subsequent tub installation in the same space. Some homeowners explore shower conversion kits to streamline the process, though these options may be limited in customization compared to a full remodel.
However, the timeline will change if the remodel is more complex and involves plumbing modifications, including installing the tub in a different location than the shower. In addition, if the project scope includes other bathroom upgrades, such as changes to the floors, walls, tiling, vanity, or lighting, the project will take longer than what is needed just for the shower-to-tub conversion.
How Much Does a Shower to Tub Conversion Cost?
If you ask around among bathroom remodelers, they’ll tell you that there’s no standard price for a shower-to-tub conversion. That’s because no two projects are exactly the same.
Although it might seem like every conversion would be similar, the truth is that most homeowners supplement the conversion with other bathroom remodeling work. That means that the actual materials and labor costs can differ significantly from project to project. Costs can also vary depending on whether prefabricated shower conversion kits are used or the project is built entirely with custom materials. Please feel free to get in touch if you are considering a shower-to-bathtub conversion in the Ithaca, NY, area and would like a free estimate.
Can Your New Bathtub Use the Existing Shower Drain?
Whether you can use the same drain when converting a shower to a bathtub depends on a few factors, including:
- Drain location
- Drain type
- The condition of the existing plumbing
- The type of tub you’re installing
- Local plumbing codes
When preparing proposals, bathroom remodelers can discuss the possibility of using the existing drain and the pros and cons of doing so.
Designing Your Bathroom Renovation
Perhaps you’re thinking about a basic shower-to-tub conversion, or maybe you’re drawing up ideas to build out your dream bathroom. No matter the scope, thoughtful design, careful planning, and skilled tradespeople are essential to getting the project done right. Choosing professional installation helps ensure proper waterproofing, code compliance, and long-term durability of your new bathtub.
Providing those services has been our specialty for over 30 years. We draw on our deep roots in the Ithaca region and our experience remodeling its many unique and historic homes. Our design-build process promotes collaboration through all the key steps in the project, from initial planning to final inspections.
Our website offers more information about our team and services, and we invite you to contact us directly to schedule a call or an in-home visit to discuss your bathroom renovation.
