Whilst it is often straightforward to swap a bath with a shower, there are plenty of things that you should consider before beginning the process.

Many of us still love our bath, but a growing number are ditching the bath entirely for a shower enclosure. Due to the very busy lives we lead, many people find a quick shower is both efficient and invigorating – as well as saving plenty of water, making it a great way to create a sustainable bathroom.

You could make the switch in a weekend, with some easily fitted shower wall panels, but there are some pros and cons that you should consider before making any decisions.

What are the benefits when you replace a bath with a shower?

Reclaim floorspace

Depending on the type of shower tray you choose, a shower will usually take up considerably less space than a bath. If extra floorspace is a priority for you, and you have restricted space in your bathroom, then choose a compact design that will guarantee extra room. If you do choose to replace bathtub with walk in shower, you’ll find that your space is maximised.

Save water

The average shower uses less water than it takes to run a bath, particularly if you’re the type of bather who likes a quick and efficient shower but a long, hot plunge in the tub. Of course, you may have a bath-shower combination that works perfectly, but this is still a factor to take into consideration if you want to replace a bath with a shower.

Easy accessibility

If you have reduced mobility or worry about slipping when getting in and out of the bath, a shower enclosure would make things easier for you – particularly when you replace bathtub with walk in shower. Stepping in and out of a shower feels much safer than climbing in and out of a bath, so this is a replacement that could give you extra peace of mind.

Affordability

If your old bathtub needs to be replaced, a shower will always be cheaper to purchase than a bathtub of the same quality. This is especially the case if you look at electric showers, mixer showers or power showers.

Stylish options

With a wide range of showers available, you’re sure to find one that fits perfectly with your décor scheme. Whether you go for traditional, contemporary or futuristic, a shower enclosure fitted with shower wall panels and a glass enclosure will always fit in with the style of your bathroom - especially if you install concrete effect wall panels, for example.

A brand-new digital shower is a particularly stylish option, especially if you want to equip your new bathroom with all the latest mod cons. So, this is a great reason to replace bathtub with walk in shower.

What are the disadvantages when you replace bathtub with walk in shower?

Extra remodelling

While generally a new shower will fit within the footprint of your existing bathtub, there are times when this isn’t the case, and you may need to change the entire layout of your bathroom to make the new enclosure fit or look right in the room. In this instance you could consider using bathroom wall panels rather than tiling to keep costs down.

This could require professional help or opinion which could add to the overall cost of your project.

Could affect the value of your home

If you replace a bath with a shower it could affect the value of your home, but this isn’t always the case and depends on how well designed the shower room is.

However, it may reduce the number of interested buyers – some buyers look specifically for homes with bathtubs, particularly families with children. So, bear this in mind when deciding whether or not to get rid of your bath.

Refinish floor

Whether you have tiles, wooden flooring or waterproof flooring, if you replace a bath with a shower this will usually mean redoing the floor. Baths are generally 170cm x 70cm, whereas shower enclosures range from 70cm x 70xm, meaning you will be left with a gap in your flooring where the bath used to be.

Plumbing

Bath wastes usually run out of the bathroom above floor level, but under the bath, and this means if you want to do a straightforward swap then you’ll need to buy a shower kit with a riser kit to raise it off the floor.

If you have a shower tray that sits flush to the floor, then the waste will usually have to be re-run.

The hot and cold pipes that currently feed the bath taps will probably need rerouting to the new shower position, too, if you replace a bath with a shower. These will need to be recessed into the wall in some way (which will depend on what the walls adjacent to the tray are made of, and other factors such as the existing plumbing under the bath).

How much will replace bath with walk in shower cost?

The average price of removing a bath and installing a walk in shower is anywhere between £500 and £5,000, and will depend on a variety of different factors, like the equipment you are installing, and how much maintenance you need to perform once the bath has been removed.