Are you finding it harder everyday to get into your bathtub? If you answered yes…
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But where on earth do you start? And how?
Home improvement projects often break down into many small, detailed steps. This can feel overwhelming, especially for new homeowners or for those who are inexperienced with renovation projects.
But getting deep into the nitty-gritty details is not our goal with this article. We’ll explain the basic steps you need to keep in mind as you start planning a shower conversion for your home. Once you have the foundational steps down, everything else will start to fall into place!
Yes, this step sounds obvious. But remember, you can avoid MANY frustrations and money-blowing mistakes when you decide what you want ahead of time! Shower conversions are no exception.
Any remodel involves a lot of choices. Designs, materials, and deciding whether to DIY or not can feel mind-boggling at first. Knowing what you want and thinking about what is most practical for your bathroom layout, time constraints, and budget all goes a long way. Plus, it improves your odds of liking what you end up with!
Here are some ideas to help you plan:
Try not to overcomplicate your planning!
The goal is not to predict every choice you will need to make. Unexpected circumstances might throw a wrench in your plans. No need to worry, though! Having a basic outline of what you want from a shower conversion will guide you as you work through the rest of the process.
Deciding who’s going to do the work of converting your bathtub into a shower is the meat of the whole project. Some people will be better off going the DIY route. Others will benefit from hiring a contractor. We’ll help you choose what’s best for you!
Start by considering 4 main factors:
Saving money is the greatest advantage of DIY projects. Although paying someone with experience has its advantages, you will need to compensate a professional adequately for their time and skills. Contractors also need to cover additional costs in their pricing, such as overhead for their office space (if applicable), labor for any assistants, and other typical business expenses.
If you’re confident in your ability to correctly convert a tub to a shower, you can save quite a bit of money by putting in the time and labor yourself!
That said, remember to consider all the costs when starting a DIY project. This includes the costs of time, convenience, and potential mistakes. Unfortunate events in the process of a tub-to-shower conversion can be painfully expensive to fix later on. So if you choose to DIY, proceed with caution and do your research well in advance!
Keep in mind that some of the biggest money-sucking culprits in DIY shower conversions are issues with plumbing. You can’t see and check on pipes every day because they’re hidden behind walls. Leaks, especially small ones, are hard to notice until it’s too late and the water damage is extensive. Because this kind of damage is typically unexpected, you may not have a budget readily available when the time comes to fix it.
Professionals are much less likely to make mistakes or overlook issues with plumbing. If they do, their work is usually covered by guarantees and warranties. You don’t have that kind of coverage when you do the work yourself!
Curious how much water damage can cost you? Plumbing leaks can rack up between $1000 and $4000 on average in repairs. But since averages are just predictions, the actual costs could be even higher.
If you aren’t so sure you want to take on the risk of a shower conversion alone, a certified Five Star Bath Solutions technician can help! Each technician is trained, certified, and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to give you the best results possible. We even include a lifetime warranty! Our technicians can also help identify existing water damage (or protect your home against more!) by offering a moisture test on-site.
Time is one of your most precious resources. Unlike money, you can never get it back once it’s been spent. Use your time wisely and protect it, especially when it comes to home improvement projects!
One of the biggest costs of DIY will be your time. If you feel confident about attempting a DIY shower conversion, make sure to take an honest look at how much time you have and how much time you will need to finish the project.
Here are some questions to get you started:
Keep in mind that issues with tools and materials can also extend the timeline on a DIY project. If you are borrowing or renting a tool for a limited time, check to see if you can get an extension in case you encounter issues.
How much will that extra time cost you?
Figure this out before you start working!
You also need to make sure the materials you need for a DIY tub-to-shower conversion are readily available before you start tearing up your bathroom. Availability issues and delivery delays can set you back for several days—even weeks—if you start working before having a plan in place.
In many cases, working with a contractor saves the most time. Their access to materials and professional experience may help you dodge several problems that would require you to go back to the drawing board later on. The added expense of hiring someone is a trade-off worth considering, especially if you find yourself short on time and experience.
Hiring professionals is much more than simply paying for a service. You are also paying to access their wisdom and useful connections within the industry.
If you have previous experience in renovations, your own experience and network can make DIY an attractive option. But if you have little to no experience, you might be disappointed with how your shower conversion turns out.
Many homeowners take on a DIY project only to get halfway through and realize they don’t know how to do something. Even worse—they may realize too late when they’ve done something wrong. Backtracking in DIY home renovations is expensive.
Predicting how much mistakes will cost is difficult. So if you choose DIY, make sure you know what you’re doing first!
Here are some pros of hiring a contractor:
Contractors often have access to high-end products you can’t get at your local home improvement store.
Professional suppliers also offer longer-lasting, higher-quality options that can serve your new bathroom for years. The upfront investment is greater, but you can have more peace of mind and save money in the future by opting for better materials and professional guidance.
Warranties are another major benefit of hiring someone. Good contractors guarantee the quality of work and protect you with warranties. If mishaps or unexpected circumstances occur, you can get your bathroom fixed at no extra cost. This is not an option when you do it yourself!
Contractors can also help you design and visualize your shower conversion end result. Some bathroom remodel technicians bring you real sample options you can use in your bathroom. Five Star Bath Solutions will do this for you as well! We provide samples of:
Seeing them in real life helps visualize what the final product will look like. Some contractors also use 3D design generators to show you exactly what your bathroom will look like when it’s finished.
If you’re aiming for a high-end luxury shower space, hiring a trained and experienced professional is the best solution. Contractors offer better materials, premium craftsmanship, and the ability to solve unexpected problems you would be hard-pressed to fix yourself.
DIY projects often run into these problems once walls come down:
Doing a project yourself can feel comfortable when everything goes as planned. But construction projects rarely go 100% smoothly! Having a team of professionals ready to help can save you a lot of anxiety, mistakes, and money.
Do both options of doing it yourself or looking for a contractor sound overwhelming? We can help with that!
At Five Star Bath Solutions, we condense the entire shower conversion process into 3 simple steps:
Already sounds better, doesn’t it? Read on to see how our process works.
Schedule a free design consultation with us anytime at fivestarbathsolutions.com.
We will review these items with you during the consultation:
Our moisture meter test lets us test for moisture behind the walls and read those levels before demolition. Walls tend to hide nasty surprises that raise the cost of a remodel. The moisture meter test prevents this by giving a more accurate estimate of the project cost.
Worried about estimates changing on you unexpectedly? At Five Star Bath Solutions, we’re confident enough in our process and testing that all of our estimates are honored at closing, regardless of what we may find behind your walls.
Once our technicians have assessed your bathroom, you’ll be able to look through samples of colors and designs in person. We also use special 3D technology to help design your bathroom. That means you’ll know exactly what it looks like before the physical work even starts!
Great news! You’ll be working with the same people for your entire project. It’s your team. No need to worry about having personnel switched up on you unexpectedly.
You’ll be assigned a project manager who will personally oversee your shower conversion project. Take any questions and concerns directly to them! And rest assured that your project manager will ensure the Five Star quality we pride ourselves on.
Remember when we said professional installs save time? Our process can take as little as 24 hours depending on the extent of your project!
If it sounds too good to be true, just know that our team at Five Star Bath Solutions has perfected a system that works. Our combined experience lets us create your dream bathroom in timeframes that seem impossible!
By the way, we know some homeowners have had negative experiences with contractors leaving damage and messes behind. We take every precaution to keep your house clean and undamaged by tools, materials, and everything else. Now there’s one less thing to worry about.
We will leave your home better than we found it, guaranteed!
In our minds, paradise is a beautiful place free of worries. And your new, luxurious shower should be just that!
Here are just a few lifetime benefits of going with Five Star Bath Solutions to create your personal paradise:
These are just a few reasons why we have tens of thousands of positive reviews across Google, Angi’s List, and many other verified platforms.
Although it may seem overwhelming at first, a shower conversion project doesn’t need to be complicated or take a long time to complete.
Five Star Bath Solutions is here to make sure you have the best experience and results possible.
If there’s one thing you take away from this article, let it be this. Converting your old tub into a hot, cozy shower can be done quickly and with ease!
Thanks to the internet, you can start making a plan for your new shower, even with very little home renovation experience.
Once you know what you want your shower conversion to look like, you’re ready to start weighing the pros and cons of DIY vs. hiring a contractor.
If you choose to hire a team of professionals but are unsure of where to start, consider Five Star Bath Solutions! Our consistent 5-star ratings, experienced technicians, and lightning-fast installation process will have your old tub out and new shower in as little as 24 hours.
Everything is under warranty and guaranteed for life.
We’re confident in our work, and we want you to be too!
Now, Step 4: Schedule your free design consultation with us and enjoy your dream shower in no time! Visit the Five Star Bath Solutions website for more information, or call 855.970.BATH. We look forward to hearing from you!
