Replacing a bath with a shower is more than carrying the bath out: in its place you need a shower from which the water drains with the right fall and does not stay on the floor. We do the plumbing part: removing the old bath, adapting the drain outlet, and installing the tray or floor drain, the trap and the shower mixer. There is no single price for this job, because it depends on the chosen solution, and we agree the price before the work starts.
A bath stands on feet and its trap is above the floor, so the drain opening in the wall is often too high for a low shower. A shower tray is much lower, but with a floor drain the pipe has to run under the floor with a continuous fall to the riser.
So the solution is chosen by how low the outlet can go:
If the tee has to be lowered or a riser section replaced, this affects the building's common property. This work is agreed with the house manager, and the riser has to be shut off for it: riser replacement.
A shower in place of a bath involves several trades. The plumber is responsible for the water and drainage, while the floor, waterproofing and tiles are finishing work done by a tiler or a renovation team.
Waterproofing is applied once the floor drain and pipes are in place, and before the tiles. The floor drain must have a waterproofing flange or collar that is bonded into the waterproofing layer. This is exactly the spot that most often starts letting water through to the neighbours, so the order of the plumbing and finishing work is agreed in advance.
For an older person, stepping over the edge of a bath is hard and a slipping risk. A shower without a threshold or with a very low tray lets you walk in without stepping up, even with a walking frame. Such a bathroom is usually planned with:
The positions of the grab rails and seat are best planned before tiling, so the wall has a firm base there. For choosing the mixer see shower system installation.
Inspection and choice
The outlet height, the distance to the riser and the floor construction are measured, and the tray or floor drain is chosen on that basis.
Removing the bath
The bath is disconnected from the trap and the mixer and carried out. For the details of removal see bath replacement.
Drainage and water
The drain outlet is rerouted or lowered, and the mixer outlets are moved to the height the shower needs.
Finishing work
The tiler builds the floor slope or plinth and applies the waterproofing and tiles.
Installation
The tray or the floor drain grate, the trap, the mixer or shower system, the glass screen and the grab rails are installed.
Testing
We check that water from the whole shower area runs to the drain, that no puddles are left anywhere and that the joints are dry.
There is no single starting price for replacing a bath with a shower: the amount of work for a shower with a tray on the existing outlet and a shower with a floor drain differs several times over. We give the price for the plumbing part after an inspection and agree it before the work starts. It depends on:
The plumbing price does not include materials (tray, floor drain, trap, mixer, glass screen, grab rails) or taking away and disposing of the old bath. The floor slope or plinth, waterproofing, tiling and making good the wall are separate finishing jobs, and they are quoted by whoever does them.
If you are still undecided, see the article bath or shower. If you are replanning the bathroom more widely, combining the bathroom and toilet will be useful. All jobs are on the plumbing services page.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bath to shower conversion | after inspection | plumbing part; depends on the tray or floor drain, outlet rerouting and the mixer; tiles and waterproofing extra |
Sources
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