Like so many decisions in life, with shower replacement kits, the more research you do, the more questions you uncover.
And you need someone who is NOT a high pressure in-home sales rep looking to close the shower installation sale tonight, or a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ clerk at a big-box home improvement store who knows almost nothing giving you advice not only on what system to use, or whether you should tackle this project yourself, or leave it to a professional bathroom installation contractor.
Bottom line – you need answers from someone who’ll give you the straight scoop, so you DO NOT WASTE MONEY if you need a shower replacement kit!
And in this article it’s my goal to give you practical answers to 17 frequently asked questions so you can make your best decision (and let’s just say I’ve written one, or two – Ok, it’s actually over 800 articles on bathroom remodeling projects – so I’ve ‘been around the block’ a time or two – ha! ha!).
But first I’ll begin with a definition of what a shower replacement kit is.
Now, let’s look at the 17 frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked question #1 – Why should I buy a shower kit vs. a tile shower?
The biggest reason people buy grout free shower replacement kits is they HATE, HATE, HATE tile. And the primary reasons they hate tile are its cost and time to maintain the grout joints.
In addition, a complete shower kit (with readymade components) is more time-effective to install. As a matter of fact, some contractors even brag about ‘one day bath remodels’ with their shower kits.
Another – little thought about – reason to buy a better quality complete shower kit is warranties. I’m amazed how few people buying expensive tile showers realize there’s often very limited installation warranties with them (usually the warranties for tile showers range from no warranty to a maximum of 5 years). And with better quality grout free systems you can get lifetime warranties.
Frequently asked question #2 – What’s the price of a shower replacement kit?
Unless you’re one of Elon Musk’s 14 kids, or have been written into his will, price and cost IS a factor in choosing a shower replacement kit.
And if you’re looking for standard shower replacement kits (including a grout free shower base, a grout free shower wall surround, and a glass door) in a 48” x 36” or 60” x 32” or 60” x 36” system expect to pay from $1,500 (this is using ‘bottom of the barrel’ systems made of fiberglass or fiberglass reinforced plastic and thinner, shorter glass doors) to $7,000 (with systems like solid surface wall panels and bases and thicker glass shower doors) for the materials without installation.
And if you go with a custom sized shower replacement kit, it often requires a custom shower pan, and possibly custom glass doors and can be as costly as $10,000 for the materials.
Frequently asked question #3 – Is it cheaper to buy a shower kit or to buy the components (shower base, walls, door, and accessories) separately?
Since shower kits are shipped with all the components at one time, you’ll save money buying the shower kit vs. buying shower components separately.
The other reason it’s smarter to buy a shower kit (especially buying all components from one vendor) is they’re grouping items to ensure they’ll all work together as one system.
Frequently asked question #4 – Which component(s) should I invest the most money in if my budget is tight? Are there components I can wait to buy if I NEED to do something now, but my budget is small?
If money was no object you’d get the best of everything and buy it right now with ‘cold, hard, cash.’ And BTW – have you ever seen cold, hard, cash? That’s a funny visual of a big stash of frozen cash…. but I digress.
However, for most people money IS an object, and an ‘object’ you don’t have as much of as you’d like. So, if you need to watch your spending, but don’t want to be ‘penny-wise and pound foolish’ (as my dad used to say), which components should be where you invest your money in a shower kit right now – and which components can you save on now (or spend on it later when your funds improve?).
This is where the ‘save and splurge’ strategy comes in. You’ll want to splurge on ‘foundational items’ which need to stand the test of time – and items you can’t ‘change’ down the road.
With a complete shower kit, the #1 foundational item (literally) is the shower base. If the base fails you’ll be in ‘deep-doo-doo’ (and yes, that’s a technical term). Or you’ll go down Schitt’s Creek without a paddle…. If you get my drift. And raise your hands if you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Schitt’s Creek.
The second place I’d splurge is on the wall surround panels. You can’t easily change them after the shower is done – and they’re the ‘show-stopper’ which’ll make people stand up and take notice. I’m a fan of 3/8” thick laminate wall panels because of their durability and style.
What you can wait on is buying a shower door. If money is tight, start with shower curtains. Then transition to the door when you hit the lotto, or your boss FINALLY ponies up the big fat raise you’ve been dreaming about!
Frequently asked question #5 – How can I know a cheap kit from a high quality shower kit?
When it comes to shower kits there’s A LOT of factors to compare.
Look at the materials used and their thicknesses.
Look at warranties. Look at what the customer service/support experience will be (check reviews to get a feeling about this).
Frequently asked question #6 – What size standard shower kits are available?
The number one type of shower replacement kit project is a tub to shower conversion (especially with the desire to age in place!). And since many tubs are 60” x 30” or 60” x 32” these are the most popular sized shower replacement kits. And they’ll come with shower bases with side drains so there’s no cost to move the plumbing.
However, even if you’re doing a tub to shower project – you may want to see if you can gain elbow room (if you have deeper side walls) by extending the base to 60” x 36” (although you will likely need to move the drain if you do this). Or another option is to use a curved glass sliding door to make the ‘mid-section’ of the shower roomier than you have today, but in this case you don’t need deeper side walls or to move the drain.
You can also find standard shower kits stocked in 48” x 36” and 60” x 36” sizes which are perfect to replace a one piece fiberglass shower a builder installed years ago which has yellowed and is impossible to clean. With these ‘shower to shower conversions’ the shower pans have a center drain which matches with the existing ‘builder-grade’ unit you’re removing.
Now – if you have a 36” x 36” corner shower, or a 38” x 38” NEO angle shower – or another ‘standard size’ like 48” x 32”, or 60” x 34” etc. you can also get a standard shower kits – but these sized bases aren’t stocked in as large a quantity – so deliveries may be a week or two longer.
So, now this brings us to the question about delivery times.
Frequently asked question #7 – How long does it take to get a standard size – or custom size – complete shower kit?
You’ll find common size shower kits (including the shower base, wall surrounds, glass doors, and accessories) in 48” x 36”, 60” x 30”, 60” x 32”, and 60” x 36” sizes can be delivered in 2 weeks or less.
For less common (yet still standard) sizes like a 36” x 36” corner, a 38” x 38” NEO angle, or 60” x 34” allow 3 weeks.
When it comes to custom sizes – the lead time will be driven by the manufacturers lead times at the time you’re ordering. During the pandemic leads time were CRA-ZY long 12 to 16 weeks – but now custom shower kit lead times are 4 weeks to 9 weeks generally.
Frequently asked question #8 – What’s included in a shower replacement kit?
I hate to say manufacturers (or wholesalers) can be sneaky… but manufacturers (and wholesalers) can be sneaky. For example, if you visit the website of a ‘shower glass manufacturer’ they may advertise a ‘shower kit’ with the shower base and glass door (only) because that’s what they sell.
In addition, some on-line retailers only sell the wall surround panels and shower base as the ‘kit’ and leave out the glass shower doors – which is a significant cost component.
Or other manufacturers won’t sell the sealant you need, or the shower drain, or will give you a ‘Henry Ford-esque’ color selection. And if you don’t know what I’m referring to, Henry Ford, who was the owner of Ford Motor Company years ago, famously said, “We’ll sell you any color car you like – as long as it’s white!”
Frequently asked question #9 – What material choices can I choose from in a shower kit?
Since most shower kits are grout free, the materials you’ll find in a shower kit are ones which are also simple to clean.
Common choices include fiberglass reinforced plastic, fiberglass, acrylic, PVC, laminate, and engineered stone (also called solid surface, cultured granite, or cultured marble). And the price of these materials (generally) increases as you choose a thicker product.
For the shower bases – the better quality shower pans are made of thick cultured granite or solid surface.
For the glass shower doors the thickness, height of the glass, glass surface protection, glass breakage protection, and hardware tell the good shower doors from the ‘not-so-good.’
Frequently asked question #10 – Can I get a shower kit designed for aging in place or accessibility?
Aging in place and accessible bathrooms can not only be critical because of health conditions or life events, but it’s usually more cost-effective to stay in your home vs. a community facility (like independent or assisted living).
And fortunately, there’s a lot of product options for age in place or an accessible shower kit.
For the wall panels make sure they’re not only simple to clean – but also stylish (because aging in place – contrary to public opinion can be cool)! I like the laminate wall panels to make this happen.
Then with the shower door use a sturdy bypass glass door or for a walk in shower consider a glass shower screen. And if a caregiver needs full access, maybe shower curtains would be best.
Frequently asked question #11 – How (and when) do I measure for a shower replacement kit?
The best time to measure for a shower replacement kit are after the old materials are removed. Then you can get stud to stud measurements. Take two side to side measurements in case the space is out of square. Not that you’ve EVER seen that in your home. Ha! ha!
If it’s not practical to remove the existing (because you don’t want to be showering at your Mother-in-laws or the YMCA for weeks before materials arrive or the contractor is hired) then measure to the drywall on the sides and from the back of the tub or shower to the front for an approximate measurement (note in many tubs you’ll get a 58 ½” wide measurement or so – but you’ll need to add for the depth of materials on the sides which’ll usually get you to a 60” rough opening).
You’ll also want to get an approximate measurement of the drain location, which is HUGELY important to make sure you buy the right shower pan.
Frequently asked question #12 – Should I install my own shower replacement kit or hire a professional contractor?
I could answer this question with a ‘yes, no, maybe, or partially!’ How’s that for a ‘Switzerland/P.C.’ (politically correct) answer?
But seriously, whether you should DIY this project is driven by your skills, budget, and time you want to spend doing the job.
Whether you’re doing a tub to shower conversion, or a shower to shower conversion, or a complete bathroom remodel, at a minimum you’ll need carpentry and plumbing skills (and the tools which go with them). And although using a shower replacement kit (vs. installing tile) will be more time-effective – (and far less messy than a tile job – it’s still a major project. And if I’m being real with you…. NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING is as simple as the DIY videos lead you to believe (and I’m also including my companies DIY videos as well!
More people have basic woodworking tools (and skills) to do carpentry work – but when it comes to plumbing you’d BETTER know what you’re doing – or you could suffer dire consequences (a dreaded leak) down the road.
You could also ‘partially’ do the project yourself and handle the demo, framing, installing the wall panels etc. and leave the plumbing to others.
However, no matter what you do remember this saying….
“A wise man/woman knows what they don’t know!”
Frequently asked question #13 – Can I – or should I install a shower replacement kit over tile wall surrounds or a tile base?
The simple answer in my book (whether you’re doing this as a DIY’er or hiring a professional contractor) is a big fat NO, NO, NO!
When you put any grout free product over existing tile you can trap moisture behind the new grout free wall. This becomes a breeding ground for mold.
Do it right. Take down the tile. Install new backer board. Give your base and walls a ‘fresh start.’ Don’t save a few pennies to (potentially) cost yourself ‘big bucks’ if you have to take everything out later because there’s mold behind your panels.
Frequently asked question #14 – Can I get intricate tile patterns in a shower replacement kit without the labor costs, time, and expense of a tile setter?
Getting the cool look of tile without the cost or hassle is a BIG reason to invest in a shower replacement kit. However, I’ll have to warn you some cheap plastic shower kits look like well … cheap, plastic, shower kits!
If your budget allows splurge on the shower surround panels to give you bathroom the ‘wow’ impact you’ll love every day – without being burdened with the maintenance of moldy tile joints!
And if you want something different than a glass shower door –a glass block shower wall is available in cool and unique designs which can’t be achieved with any other material.
And if you’re debating whether to use a glass shower door at all – or opt for shower curtains instead, the case for curtains is they’re cheaper and can be perfect if a caregiver requires full access. The negative to curtains is they don’t keep the shower as warm; more water ‘finds’ its way onto your floor, and they get scummy, dirty, and need to be replaced frequently.
Frequently asked question #16 – Can I add accessories to my complete shower replacement kit?
Just like accessories make the dress (or so, that’s what my wife tells me … and who am I to argue?), so can shower accessories make a shower function better and look better.
And using the right accessories is critical.
Image Credits: JTEK Solutions Group
The most common and important accessories include:
Frequently asked question #17 – Can I add accessories later to save money now?
Earlier we talked about the ‘save and splurge’ strategy and how you can be strategic if you need a shower kit now – but can’t afford to get everything you want at this moment.
And you can – in certain situations – apply this ‘save and splurge’ strategy to your shower accessories as well.
For example, if you want to add a corner shelf, a grab bar, or fold down seat (assuming wood blocking has been added behind the wall) it can be done at a later date since those can all be applied onto the wall at any time.
However, if you want a recessed niche (which is secured inside the wall) it must be done during the initial installation.
So, do you now have a better grasp about shower replacement kits? How can our team assist with questions, wholesale pricing, or a referral to a bath remodeling contractor?
After reading this article you may have come to the conclusion there’s more to shower replacement kits than meet the eye – and getting insights from a Shower Specialist may not be a bad idea after all (considering you’ll want pricing for your kit or installed project. And you’ll also want installation information, delivery dates, and product details etc.).
Thanks for reading and getting answers to 17 frequently asked questions about shower replacement kits and living through my ‘attempted’ humor. There’s more to this subject than meets the eye, and I hope my article has helped you figure out the right option for you.
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
