Remodeling, of any type, is stressful. And bathroom remodeling which includes multiple trades (like plumbing, electrical, and carpentry), and products you’re NOT buying every day, makes it all the more challenging.
You’re spending a LOT of money per square foot in a bathroom. You want to not only make sure the finished project looks good, but more importantly that it lives well so you don’t have to ‘re-remodel.’ And even though I know ‘re-remodel’ isn’t an ‘official’ word in the dictionary, it happens far too frequently. And who wants to put ‘good money after bad’ (as ‘they’, whoever ‘they’ are, say!)?
And while none of us wants to be ‘worry-warts,’ if worrying – AND knowing what to pay attention to in a shower remodel helps you make smart decisions, then that’s something we’d all sign up for.
And as a guy who has lead a shower remodeling business – and also wholesales shower products for more years than I’d care to admit (and I have the gray hairs to prove it)– it hurts me to see people waste money and have a bad experience in the shower remodeling process.
So, to help you know what TO worry about, and what you DO NOT need to worry about, I’m writing this article. Below you’ll find 10 things where you SHOULD sweat the small stuff (as Stephen Covey might say), and 10 things which (as a New Yorker might say), you should say, ‘Fuggit-About-It!’ You’ll also get tips which’ll help you eliminate problems which can happen in a shower remodel.
I’ll start with the things you should worry about first – because I KNOW this is where you don’t want to get ‘bit in the butt’ (or your wallet) during your project.
10 Things You SHOULD Worry About in the Shower Remodeling Process
#1– Worry about how your shower is waterproofed
Bottom line – a leaky shower is a B-I-G problem. If your shower pan, shower wall surrounds, or glass shower door (or curtains) cause leaking onto the bathroom floor, or worse yet below your shower pan, you may not only be forced to replace the shower – but also the ceiling and contents on the floor below.
So, what can you do to make sure your shower is properly waterproofed? Here’s 5 ideas:
Idea #1 – If you want a tile shower use better waterproofing systems like those made of extruded or expanded polystyrene. What many people don’t realize is the principal place a tile shower is waterproofed is BEHIND (or underneath in the case of a shower pan) the tiles. This is where a waterproof, not water resistant, system is the way to go. Sure – this isn’t an exciting feature of your shower (since you don’t see it), but investing in a waterproof system behind the tiles is an intelligent ‘long term insurance’ system.
Idea #2 – Use urethane or epoxy grout between your tiles – Not all grout materials are created equal. And while sanded grout is simplest to work with, urethane and epoxy grouts do a better job minimizing moisture which finds its way into wall backer boards, or below the surface of the shower pan.
Idea #3 – Invest in a better shower door or buy your higher quality door at a later date – There’s a reason cheap shower doors are cheap. Usually, the door isn’t made as well, it’s thinner, it’s shorter, and not as watertight. So, if you can’t afford a better (and more water-tight) glass shower door now, put up a tension rod and curtains until you CAN get a better door.
Idea #4 – If you need an accessible shower, choose a ‘shower screen’ or weighted shower curtains with a waterstopper – There are cases when you need an accessible shower for someone with mobility challenges – and a full glass enclosure isn’t an option. However, simply installing standard curtains with a low profile shower pan can cause too much water on the floor. To fight against this problem use a shower screen with a pivoting door on the end, and/or a weighted shower curtain with a ‘waterstopper’ to keep more water contained.
Idea #5 – Blow up a tile shower altogether! If you hate tile maintenance – and worry about leaks, choose a better grout free shower wall surround and shower pan. Grout free systems no longer need to look like the cheap stuff you see in home centers (see the pic below as an example).
#2– Worry about the slope of the shower pan
A shower pan – or shower floor, where water pools in spots, is an accident waiting to happen. However, the good news is this problem isn’t hard to solve.
What you can do instead is to buy a presloped ready for tile, or grout free shower pan which uses a factory mold to slope your base. Then you’re not dependent on a random installer to (hopefully) slope it properly by hand.
#3– Worry about the location of your shower drain
I know focusing on the location of your shower drain is as exciting as ‘looking forward’ to your next root canal…. OUCH!
However, if you buy a shower pan where the drain isn’t in the same location as your existing shower, you could spend a LOT of money trying to reroute plumbing.
To eliminate this problem – make sure you (or your contractor) measures where the drain is located today. And if you’re moving it – evaluate how easy it’ll be to put it in the new location.
If possible – see if you can get a standard shower pan (with a common drain location) to save money. If not – understand sometimes it can be more cost-effective to get a custom shower pan made with your existing drain location, so you don’t have to incur the costs of moving the drain.
#4– Worry about future accessibility needs (without settling for an institutional looking shower)
Unfortunately, mobility doesn’t improve as we (or our parents) get older. We don’t age like fine wine!
And while it can be ‘convenient’ to blow off the reality of aging, that evil guy, Father Time, is undefeated. He even has a ‘better’ record than the 1972 Miami Dolphins (who are the only undefeated NFL team for one year, but unlike Father Time they did lose the next season).
So – if you know you should be thinking about an easier to use shower – but aren’t sure where to begin, don’t fret. There are home accessibility contractors and/or age in place contractors who can assist you. And the better ones can even show you products to make sure your shower DOES NOT look like it’s from the set of General Hospital.
#5– Worry about long-term maintenance…. unless you’re independently wealthy and someone else can do it for you
There’s ZERO glory in cleaning grout joints in tile shower floor pans, walls, or cleaning the tracks under the glass shower door (and I’m sure there’s SOOOO many agreeing with this statement!).
And you can even get sliding glass shower doors which aren’t rickety or have evil bottom tracks which make you want to scream when cleaning them.
#6– Worry if your contractor knows what they’re doing
A bad contractor can be the nightmare which never ends. Poor ones can leave your project half-done, can take your money, and never return again, or do an unprofessional installation which fails shortly after they’ve received their final payment.
#7– Worry about the warranties on materials and labor
I’ve got to tell you, I’m amazed how many times I hear about failed tile showers, only to find the owners NEVER asked the contractor what the warranty was.
So, before you get burned, ask about warranties on materials and labor. You’ll be surprised how many ‘not-too-good’ contractors start stammering when you ask warranty questions.
#8– Worry if your shower components are designed to work together and will work efficiently and effectively in your space.
Buying the wrong products can be a nightmare.
Do you know if your shower pan will work with the glass doors or glass block shower wall you’d like to use?
Do you know if your shower wall surrounds have trim to work around the double hung window in the middle of your existing alcove tub/shower?
Do you know if the fancy large format tiles will work on the pre-sloped shower pan you purchased?
If these worries keep you up at night, a better alternative is to buy a shower replacement kit (which includes the base, wall surrounds, and glass doors as one system). Or if you can’t find a kit in your custom size buy all components from one supplier/installer who will guarantee they’ll all work together.
#9– Worry if the shower door will work well in your space
While there’s a lot of stylish shower doors – knowing how they operate, and how easy it’ll be for you – and your loved one to use them is far more critical than how fancy they look.
So, before thinking about choosing the finish of the shower door frame or glass thickness – pay attention to how the door will open. Look at how easy it’ll be to turn the water on without getting doused with cold water. See if the door is tall enough so you won’t have to duck to get in (or bang your head!). Know the size of the opening so you won’t need to be as thin as a rail to enter.
#10– Worry if the project timeline is realistic and/or if you think having these contractors in your home is going to drive you N-U-T-S!
If your prospective contractor won’t give you a project timeline (start date, amount of time to do the work, expected completion date) I’d recommend you go ‘Gingerbread Man’ on them and run, run, run as fast as you can before plunking down your deposit.
When it comes to project timelines and realistic expectations this can be where choosing the ‘tried and true’ contractors makes sense. Usually contractors who’ve ‘been there/done that’ know what (and how long) it takes. They won’t blow smoke up your you-know-where just to get you to commit to the project.
As they’d say on TV – ‘don’t be fooled by cheap imitations’ who will tell you what you want to hear just to sell a job.
And now let’s turn our attention to 10 things you SHOULD NOT worry about when remodeling your shower.
10 Things You SHOULD NOT Worry About in the Shower Remodeling Process
#1– Don’t worry about chasing every design trend
You can make yourself nuts worrying if every shower element leverages the ‘latest and greatest’ trends in the bathroom remodeling industry.
And while I do ‘get’ why you want to update your shower and bring it out of the dark ages, even all the ‘professionals’ in the remodeling industry don’t agree what makes up the hottest design trends today.
So – while it’s good to get input on the latest designs – don’t feel you need to check every box to follow the latest trends for your shower.
#2– Don’t worry about using a grout free shower system (once you do your homework, and know the good ones from the bad ones)
If you hate grout you’re like millions of Americans. But so many people stick with ‘tried and true’ tile showers because they DO NOT want the thin, plasticky products they see at big box stores.
However, I’m hear to tell you this is no longer a problem.
For example, there are now 3/8” thick shower surround panels which looks so much like tile and stone you’d swear (although don’t let your mom hear you do this!) they ARE the real thing (see the image below).
Don’t be spooked into choosing tile by process of elimination.
#3– Don’t worry about ‘you being you’ in shower selections
While this is my POV I think there’s waaaay too much emphasis on buying products to maximize resale vs. choosing what you love.
Sure – if you’re going to move shortly, it can make sense to put the most emphasis on resale. However, if you’re planning on living in this home until they ‘wheel you out,’ why not enjoy your shower – even if it isn’t going to fit the tastes of every perspective buyer. And who can predict what future buyers will want anyways?
And while you may consider how resale could affect your heirs down the road, the question might be…..would they do the same for you? It’s ok to be ‘properly selfish,’ a term once coined by leadership author, Charles Handy.
#4– Don’t worry about tile selection sizes…if you follow these tips
If you’re choosing small mosaic tiles for your shower floor, you might be worried every small grout joint is ANOTHER place to clean, and ANOTHER place your shower pan (or shower floor) will leak.
In addition – if you’re using smaller tiles for your shower wall surrounds (like a horizontal or vertical subway look, for example), you may also be worried the wall surround grout joints will cause leaks.
If these concerns keep you up at night – the most ‘water-tight’ (pun intended) solution is to use a nicer-looking grout free system. And if you don’t want to do that, reread ‘worry #1’ for additional ideas to keep yourself out of trouble with tile grout joints.
#5– Don’t worry about choosing matte or gloss shower products – just know the pros and cons.
The ‘high pressure’ sales companies in this industry are notorious for using hard closing techniques because their prices are high. They know if they don’t close the job tonight and let you think it over and get ‘competitive prices,’ you may not buy from them at all.
So – if you’re getting pressure from an in-home sales rep to sign NOW, don’t succumb to their artificially created deadlines. Believe me, their ‘deal of the century’ (and their desire to take your money) will still be there in the future as well.
#7– Don’t worry you have to settle for a ‘matchy-matchy’ shower because you are IN NO WAY an interior designer, and don’t play one on TV.
One of the things which amazes me when I stay at nice hotels is how they’re not afraid to ‘mix things’ up when it comes to designs and patterns. And of course, material selections for these properties were recommended by professional designers.
But I understand it’s hard for many people to feel confident they’re making good selections. That’s why they ‘fall back’ to everything in their shower being matchy-matchy. Don’t assume you need to have the wall surrounds, base, niches etc. all be the same color, patterns, and material.
Image Credits: JTEK Solutions
One of the things which creates interest in a new shower (or in fancy hotels) is mixing things up. Get ‘professional help’ (and no, not the type you have to rest on the couch for) when making shower selections or at least use a bathroom visualizer.
Don’t settle for a boring shower because you’re afraid your ‘interior design skills’ will cause you to make a big mistake. Many bathroom product distributors have designers (free of charge – and I KNOW those are magic words!) to guide your selections, or they invest in shower visualizers to assist you.
#8– Don’t worry about installing (or buying) all materials at the same time.
In a perfect world, it’s nice to complete a project in ‘one fell swoop’ (and no, I’m not sure where this weird phrase, one fell swoop came from). However, in the real world (without having the unlimited budget of Elon Musk or Bill Gates), this isn’t always possible.
So, rather than being forced to ‘cheap out’ on some shower elements, know what ‘foundational elements’ must be installed in ‘phase 1’ of your shower remodel, and what can be added later as your funds improve.
For example, what MUST be done in ‘phase 1’ is the shower pan, wall surrounds, and recessed shower niches (if you want them).
What could be added later are corner shelves, a fold down seat or a shower door (assuming you put the proper backing behind the wall for these products during the installation process in phase 1).
#9– Don’t worry about your shower being ‘Pinterest-worthy.’
Do NOT remodel for the praise of others or getting ‘likes’ on your crazy-good-looking shower on social media.
First and foremost, you need to remodel your shower, so it functions well for you (and your family) now and in the future.
And second, make sure you love the fashion of your shower based on your tastes. The opinions/tastes of the masses on Pinterest or any other social media platform for that matter is irrelevant.
And lastly – let’s face facts – the way social media works these days is most people won’t see your posts (and pictures) anyways unless you spend money so the algorithm pushes them out to the masses.
So, fugedaboud what others think. Design your shower for you and your family!
#10– Don’t worry about maintenance (if you have the money for someone else to do it, time on your hands, or you love your scrub brush)
I don’t know of anyone who likes to clean their shower unless they’re bored out of their minds, have nothing else to do, or are romantically involved with their scrub brush. And yes, I’ll admit that’s a weird thought – ha! ha!
But maintenance is something to think about (unless you’re independently wealthy and other’s will do it for you).
It’s for this reason, if you choose tile, minimize grout joints and use better grouts (see ‘worry #1’ for specific ideas).
Or secondly, go ‘grout free.’ I know this is what my wife and I did in our bathroom remodel – and boy are we glad we did! To learn more about the ‘lessons’ we learned in our own remodel read 15 Lessons You Can Learn from My Safer, Simpler, and More Stylish Master Bathroom. And while I’d love to tell you we did EVERYTHING right the first time, that wouldn’t exactly be true.
So, are you more comfortable what you should (and shouldn’t) worry about in the shower remodeling process? Do you need help with this project and choosing the right products?
I hope you’re now less worried about your shower remodeling project. I know there’s a lot of ‘moving parts’ (and non-moving parts) in the job.
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
