Whether you’re looking to update the look and feel of your bathroom, or you need to create a shower that is more accessible to those with limited mobility, replacing your shower doesn’t have to be intimidating. Creating a stylish space that meets the needs of your household can be relatively easy if you take the time to consider what you want.
How extensive is your shower replacement?
Start thinking about what kind of shower you want to have. What do you want in a shower? What do you not like about your current shower? Create a wish list of your ideal shower to help you plan. Consider the following:
- Size: Do you want to enlarge your shower or just replace the current materials for a new look?
- Storage: Do you want to incorporate shelving and niches to hold toiletries?
- Comfort: Do you want to install a bench for seating?
- Enclosure: Do you want a glass shower enclosure or another type of enclosure? Or no enclosure?
- Resale: How important is it to you to improve the resale value of your house?
As you begin to answer these questions, you’ll start to get a better idea of what type of shower replacement you would like.
Decide what kind of shower you want in your shower replacement in Los Angeles
There are many different types of showers to choose from when you are replacing your old shower.
- Shower Stall: These offer space efficiency.
- Walk-In: These are great for those with mobility limitations.
- Tub to Shower: Switch out a tub in favor of a luxe shower.
- Small Showers: Make a small area feel larger with a seamless glass enclosure.
Consider a walk-in shower in Los Angeles
Most showers have a lip to keep water from flowing into the rest of your bathroom. However, this lip may become problematic for those with mobility issues.If someone in your home currently has mobility issues, or you are planning for the future, you may want to install a barrier-free shower.
Unlike a traditional shower, a barrier-free or walk-in shower is completely level with the floor. A tray is not necessary because the floor is sloped towards the drain, so the water will drain efficiently. This design gets rid of the risk of tripping on a curb while getting into a shower.
What kind of fixtures do you want in your shower replacement in Los Angeles?
This is your chance to create a whole new shower. What kind of showerhead are you going to want? There are many different options out there.
- Handheld showers: These detachable showerheads have mobility in mind. You can leave the showerhead as is, or pick it up.
- Multi-setting showerhead: This showerhead allows you to choose from multiple comfort settings. Perfect for those households with family members who like different types of water pressure in their shower.
- Aerating showers: These showerheads mix air in with the water, creating a steamier shower experience.
- Rainfall showers: This luxurious spa-like feature showers you with rain, only the indoor variety. These showerheads can be installed coming from a pipe in the wall (similar to a traditional shower) or in the ceiling.
Decide how much maintenance do you want to do on your shower replacement
Custom tile will always have a luxe look to it. It also comes with cleaning grout. Standard fiberglass shower pans and tubs are a less expensive option, but they have a tendency to yellow over time. Decide how much maintenance you want to do. Is it worth it to you to install tile? The answer may be yes. However, if you don’t want the hassle of scrubbing grout, there are other options out there that give the look and feel of tile, without all the headaches.
What’s the deal with shower wall panels?
If you are considering something other than custom tile, you may want to consider shower wall panels. While these have a reputation for looking cheap and not lasting very long, there are actually very nice options on the market now that mimic the look and feel of tile or natural stone. Like the look of traditional subway tile, but don’t want the hassle of cleaning it? You can get wall panels that look and feel just like subway tiles. Like the look of stone tile? Again, you can find shower wall panels that look just like stone tile and come in a variety of colors and textures.
If I’m just putting in wall panels, couldn’t I just DIY?
With any large home improvement project, it’s best to hire a professional, especially if you haven’t done a project like this before. Don’t waste your time, money and get aggravated. Hiring a professional will ensure that the project is done on time and on budget. As a plus, your contractor may even have some cool new ideas you haven’t considered for your shower replacement.
How much will a shower replacement cost in Los Angeles?
How much your shower replacement will cost depends on many factors, but mostly it depends on the materials you use and the labor needed. It can run as low as $500 for a premade kit, and run as high as $15,000 for a luxury walk-in, soaker tub combo. Of course there are other considerations to keep in mind. Are you demolishing your old shower? Are there repairs that need to be made to any of the substructure? Will you want to move any of the plumbing? These are all factors that could add to the cost of your shower replacement. Work with your contractor to answer these questions and determine the best budget for your project.
Replacing your shower can seem overwhelming. A professional contractor can help guide you through the process so you can get the luxurious shower of your dreams.
Looking for a free estimate for your project? Call Los Angeles Bathroom Remodel today at (323) 402-6381.
