What to Consider When Installing a Bathtub or a Shower

ProSource Wholesale | 10/24/2024

Tricks of the Trade is an article series dedicated to providing answers to commonly asked questions. The interviews are conducted with ProSource Wholesale^® trade professional members, looking to offer their insights and experience to these thoughts that arise during the building or remodeling process.

 

Adrienne Bolstad is the co-owner for Innovative Carpentry Inc. and a member at ProSource of Naperville.

 

With various aspects to consider during a bathroom remodel, homeowners have a lot of decisions to make. From deciding on a corner shower or a compact bathtub when remodeling a small bathroom to selecting an acrylic stand-alone tub and the best tile materials for shower walls that can foster the relaxation that the space demands, many of these decisions stem from making sure that significant thought is put into the tub and shower. That’s why homeowners should lean on their experienced trade professional and expert account managers at ProSource for their knowledge and ability to guide them toward stylish and smart solutions that fit the bathroom space.

 

 

Evaluating the bathroom

 

When I walk into a homeowner’s bathroom for the first time, I have a certain set of expectations. There’s usually a tub or a shower, and there’s not a whole lot of other space to navigate.

 

In those situations, it’s about playing with the space itself. It’s about taking out the good old measuring tape and taking the necessary measurements, so that everything can be custom fit to the room’s specs. It’s about bringing those specifications home and making a drawing of them, figuring out what will work and what won’t.

 

The biggest thing to be concerned about is the spacing for the toilet. You need about 13 inches on each side, but other than that, other elements can be crammed in. Sometimes, vanities go all the way to the door, if it can open, but because shower and tub sizes are pretty set within the confines of the given space, they become easier to navigate.

 

When it comes to bathtub and shower installation and materials, it requires having all of the materials and placement down pat that fit the bathroom design concept, which is why I rely on Fred [Musselman] and Christine [Spanola] to do the 3D drawings at the ProSource showroom. They can take my hand-drawn renderings and measurements and assist the homeowners in choosing the best material for shower walls or a sliding glass door right for the space.

 

Bathroom remodel goals vs. needs

 

When it comes to homeowners’ goals and needs, each is a little different. Freestanding showers are very popular right now, causing homeowners to want their tubs removed. When I go about this process, the homeowners and I both have to know that these freestanding showers are typically five feet wide and three feet deep. Many homeowners then want a bench in the shower, so within that five feet, we make a bench. From there, our shower glass professional adds glass to the top of the bench for design purposes.

 

With all these steps, homeowners can better see what it takes to achieve their goals during a bathroom remodel and what elements may simply be a wish list item, including special features like niches, Bluetooth and ADA accessibility elements like grab bars, which have to be accounted for at the very beginning of the drawing and planning process.

 

We’re adaptable to each person’s needs, and I do try and walk them through the space they have, helping them understand that if the toilet is right next to the shower, for example, they can’t have the door open. They’re going to need a bypass.

 

Avoid doing the remodel yourself

 

When homeowners attempt to perform the bathroom remodel themselves, they are risking quite a bit. Leaks become more common, and new products could easily get damaged in the process. We’ve had to go in for projects that homeowners attempt, and we see that they’re not caulking. They’re not waterproofing the shower. They don’t know how to install a bathtub. They don’t know how to install a shower. They’re not using pan liners. We’ve even replaced showers, where they never put a liner in, and it was just the concrete base.

 

We’ve seen grout fail because they didn’t use underlayment or didn’t use enough thinset, and when we go to tear it out, surprise, there’s vinyl underneath the tile without any underlayment.

 

When pursuing a bathroom remodel, it’s usually something you save up for and plan out for a while, making it too important to attempt yourself if you don’t have any experience accomplishing the project. Homeowners shouldn’t risk installing a bathtub or a shower incorrectly. Trust your local experienced trade professional and their partners at ProSource to get the job done right.

Tagged: Shower Bases Shower Doors Shower Faucets Tubs Tub Faucets Shower Heads Bathroom