Turning a tub into a walk in

Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.

When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown

October 25, 2018, 02:35 PM

tatortodd

When my Mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Mom & Dad hired a contractor to remove the old MBR tub enclosure and install a shower enclosure in its place. As far as I could tell the new drain and old drain location were in the same spot as the pan slightly sloped toward the front.

The new shower enclosure had a seat in it, and the low threshold for stepping over worked great. She was able to use it right up until her last days in the house.

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

October 25, 2018, 04:58 PM

BigWhup

I have admit, I understand the draw of a walk in tub from the point of ease to get in.

However it would piss me off to get nekkid and then have to wait for that SOB to fill up, and THEN wait for it to drain before I cold get out....cold and nekkid.

October 25, 2018, 05:13 PM

T-Boy

There are a multitude of pre-engineered solutions on the market. You did not indicate if you wanted to convert to a "walk-in tub" or a "walk-in shower" but it doesn't matter, these solutions exist for both.

For a walk in tub try:
American Standard
Kohler
Bath Fitter

To convert to a walk in shower:
Latticrete
Wedi
The Onyx Collection
Bathfitter

I just finished converting a standard 36" wide tub to a 42" wide walk-in tile shower. It should be a non-issue to any professional that is in the bath remodeling business.

October 25, 2018, 05:14 PM

comet24

I've used a product by Wedi to do several custom showers.

You can get the shower base in different sizes with the drain middle or either side. You can but the pan section bigger then you need and cut any side by any amount to get the drain where you want.

You then tile the base and wall.

It's a great product but a little spendy.

I've done at least half a dozen showers with this. Some with various custom feature such a bench.

I will try and answer any questions you have.

_____________________________________

Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain. Jack Kerouac

October 26, 2018, 05:51 AM

katndog

This is great info, thanks. Since it would be for my mom and, unfortunately also mu sister, I am not sure if they want a tub or shower. But seems they have options to choose from

October 26, 2018, 07:29 AM

festus haggen

quote:
Originally posted by BigWhup:
I have admit, I understand the draw of a walk in tub from the point of ease to get in.

However it would piss me off to get nekkid and then have to wait for that SOB to fill up, and THEN wait for it to drain before I cold get out....cold and nekkid.

You make a good point!

Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

October 28, 2018, 10:01 AM

jimmy123x

quote:
Originally posted by Lord Vaalic:
I should mention my house is on a slab and the pipes are in the cement, so moving the drain would require busting up the floor

I’m having this done now for a shower. My contractor is just making the shower pan so that it slopes to where the tub drain is located. Then a tile guy is doing all of the tile work. More expensive than buying a fiberglass shower at Lowe’s, but a lot nicer looking.

Cutting/chipping the slab to move/route the drain also isn’t a huge ordeal with the right tools, if you have to go that route either.