Alcove Type Shower

[Dennis The B]

The Domestic Executive has deigned that we shall remove our current bath tub, and install/have installed an alcove-type shower. The bathroom is old and tired, and we've already bought the vanity, toilet, and floor. Replacement of the 4" subway tile and medicine cabinet will fall into my assignment.

I've looked on line at Lowes and Home Depot at some of the pre-built models that are step-in with a 4" threshold. The dimensions we want are 32x60x77, which are readily available. Our plumber can install, but I'll need to do the drywall and tile work.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of install? Prefab models run anywhere from around $1K, up to over $4K. We'd like to stay in the middle ($2K-3K). Having a molded-in seat isn't necessary, since a standard put in/take out seat is an option.

There's also the possibility of fabricating on site, but I'm not sure about cost vis-a-vis prefab.

We really trust our plumber, so the hardware is the issue, and not work quality.

What say you?

 

[arjay]

Should work out fine.Less expensive and time consuming than a new base and tile work.Might take a look at your lighting and exhaust fan set up while you're at it.

 

[msinc]

I do 2-3 of them a year...one thing to consider is if you go with a one piece molded fiberglass shower you need to make sure BEFORE you buy it that you can get the thing into the room where it needs to go. Most of these types are installed when building the house so size is not an issue.
If you want it quick and like fiberglass I suggest you take a look at the Kohler Sterling that Lowe's carries...it is a snap together shower that does not need caulk or sealer between the panels. I have one in my hunting cabin and it works great.
Personally, the best thing to do, since you are ripping everything out anyway is to install a tile "walk in shower." Don't need a curtain or doors and I don't know how old you are or your health status but you can roll a wheelchair into a walk-in if you ever have to. This shower design is getting more and more popular. It is ceramic tile and labor is a little more, but you wont be buying that expensive shower door.

 

[Old TexMex]

My 80 year old house had a bad case of under tub rot. I tore it out, framed it back, tiled the floor and built a walk in shower. I absolutely love it.
It's 6'x3' and 9' ceiling. I oriented it so as to use the existing wall plumbing and drain (my house is on piers, 3' off the ground. A friend did the job of tiling, it cost me less than 2000.
Build it walk in tile if you can, is my suggestion.
$.02 (Almost free advice )

Note: I looked at the fibreglass ones and it wouldn't fit, except those tiny phone booth sized ones. Real glad I had it all tile.

 

[shaggist]

One thing to remember about fiberglass bathing areas is they will get progressively more dirty the older they get and progressively harder to clean. Staining will become a problem, and, the more aggressive the cleaner you use, the more porous the surface will become, exacerbating the problem even more. Go ceramic tile and make your cleaning chores easier for a longer period.

 

[Tom S.]

We did this conversion quite a while ago. Put in cement board and used ceramic tile for floor and wall. Never regretted it.

 

[hsguy]

I used this in our master bath years ago, has held up wonderfully! Search reviews online, very positive.
Schluter®-KERDI-SHOWER-KIT | KERDI-SHOWER-KIT | Shower System | schluter.com

 

[nodpete]

One thing to remember about fiberglass bathing areas is they will get progressively more dirty the older they get and progressively harder to clean. Staining will become a problem, and, the more aggressive the cleaner you use, the more porous the surface will become, exacerbating the problem even more. Go ceramic tile and make your cleaning chores easier for a longer period.

I have a fiberglass shower and love it. We have well water and if I let the filters go to far the shower will start to show some orange film, a light scrubbing with some rubbing compound and it is like new again. I should have stated that I put on 2 coats of a marine wax when the unit was new. The rubbing compound brought it back to the wax finish. I'm now applying another coat of wax and should be good for several more years.

 

[Gulfecho]

It sounds as though you have made up your minds. Enjoy your new remodel! We just remodeled our master bath. The tub is expensive and so was the tile work. I love it!

 

[Huskerguy]

I just put a new tub surround in a rental house and am in the process of putting a fiberglass shower in my basement. It is a larger shower with a seat and is low to the ground. I wanted to put a tile walk in shower in the basement but it really isn't something we will use that much down there, mainly for guests, the kids when they come back home. Putting in a walk in shower with tile is not that difficult if you can come up with the tools. A tile saw is the biggy. I agree with what has been said above, go with the walk in and no shower door and you will be happy you did.

 

[msinc]

I would add one more thing to the tile shower...use epoxy grout. It does not ever need to be sealed like the regular masonry type grout and it does not absorb any kind of stain. it's also very resistant to cracking. It can get dirty, but cleans up easy wit 409 or one of those "purple" type cleaners.
Many tile men do not like to use it, if the ambient temperature is much above 70 you have limited working time. Nobody around here wanted to use it, that is why I got a wet saw and started doing it myself.