Giant tubs are no longer in vogue as they once were. According to interior designers and remodelers, the number of requests to replace the tub with a large, luxury walk-in shower has increased steadily over the last several years. When considering this choice, many homeowners wonder whether having a master bath without a tub will impact the selling value of their property in the future.
Unfortunately, most of us just do not have the time to relax in a hot tub. The vast majority of us take daily showers but only sometimes take a bath, primarily to relax. A recent survey revealed that only one-third of women and less than 10% of males want a tub in the main bathroom, but only if the bathroom also included a huge shower. Showers are also becoming more popular as people seek ways to conserve water. A huge tub can use up to 80 to 100 gallons of water, and in many cases, before it is even half-full. A standard shower will use significantly less water.
The removal of the tub provides you with more space to work with when it comes to constructing your bathroom. It provides you with the necessary space to install an elegant walk-in shower. But is there a cost associated with it?
Although walk-in showers bring several benefits to their users, they are not without drawbacks, which should be considered before calling professional walk in shower installers. An examination of the advantages and cons of a walk-in shower is presented in this article.
Pros of Installing a Walk-in Shower
If you’ve been observing the bathroom trends, the growth of walk-in showers is one of the most prominent remodeling trends of the past decade. Whether the homeowner is working with a bathroom renovation professional to reorganize their current shower setup or do an entire tub-to-shower conversion, this sleek, curbless layout provides several benefits.
These benefits include:
Easy Cleaning
Cleaning a walk-in shower is simple because most surfaces are flat, and there are fewer corners or locations where dirt or grime can accumulate quickly. It also takes less time to clean the glass walls and tiled floors than a standard shower enclosure since there are fewer nooks and crannies to scrub and disinfect.
Greater Accessibility
The vast majority of adults wish to remain in their own homes as they grow older. However, the restroom is where most falls occur as we become older. Accessibility improvements to your bathroom will benefit both you and the future resale value of your property, so invest now. Due to the zero-threshold design of walk-in showers, everyone may wash their hands without worrying about obstacles such as doors or split levels. Walking into a walk-in shower is a comfortable solution for people who lead active lifestyles, including young adults and non-disabled people.
Elegant Aesthetic
Modern bathrooms’ simple look is perfectly complemented by walk-in showers, which infuse the area with a sense of premium luxury while maintaining simplicity. Walk-in showers are designed to merge seamlessly with the rest of the bathroom, resulting in a unified and harmonious environment. There are only a few items that detract from the design; it is a virtually transparent feature that emphasizes the importance of space while minimizing the appearance of clutter.
More Space
A walk-in shower gives the impression of a vast area, even though it may be easily accommodated in small bathroom spaces. Because there is no shower door blocking the view of the shower, the shower itself becomes apparent. This settled footage is added to the entire bathroom, thereby doubling the overall size of the bathroom.
Cons of Installing a Walk-in Shower
Walk-in showers have become a defining feature of contemporary bathrooms. On the other hand, having a walk-in shower has its disadvantages. Some believe that the design can occasionally be detrimental to the functionality.
Let’s have a look at the cons of installing a walk-in shower.
Lack of Privacy
Because it lacks a door, a walk-in shower does not provide adequate privacy; its designs are composed of glass walls. It’s not recommended for usage in a commercial setting where individuals share a restroom since it may result in only one person being able to use the facility at a time. People who choose to install a walk-in shower in their bathroom, on the other hand, have the option of customizing their level of seclusion.
Slippery When Wet
The most significant downside of using a walk-in shower would be the possibility of slipping and falling. That is to say, because it is a freestanding shower, water will spill out and collect on the floor, increasing the likelihood that you will slide and be injured when you get out of the shower. However, there are fixes for this.
A glass or marble wall might be constructed adjacent to the showerhead to retain the water that deflects off your body when bathing. Your remodeler may also recommend a showerhead with a nozzle that shoots water straight down. Choose slip-resistant flooring that slopes slightly toward a central drain to ensure the greatest level of safety possible for your customers.
High Moisture and Humidity
Regardless of the design, water and moisture will somehow escape the shower, whether in water splashes or steam from hot showers, depending on the temperature. Excessive humidity and moisture produce a wet atmosphere, a preferred recipe for mold, resulting in extensive damage to the entire bathroom space.
Higher Cost
Walk-in showers are often a little more expensive than standard showers, owing to the specialized drainage systems and the higher cost of high-quality glass used in their construction. However, this is not always the case, particularly if the design does not incorporate any glass. In the end, the extent of the task and the amount of specialized labor necessary are the deciding factors.
Walk-in showers are a contemporary, elegant, and efficient solution that can elevate any bathroom to higher comfort. Besides being an excellent alternative for new installations and minimalist upgrades, they are also the appropriate midway option between a wet room and a standard shower.