There’s nothing quite like water damage to send a homeowner into paroxysms of stress. The idea of your home’s very walls being deteriorated from the inside out as water soaks into the plaster and allows mold to grow rampant on studs and drywall is a heartbreaking thought. Even a small leak from an outdated shower can quickly result in thousands of dollars of damage to your bathroom.
If you discover that your shower is leaking, it’s usually time to replace it. Patching a tub or re-caulking is usually just prolonging the inevitable and can also result in further rot, water damage and mold. Instead, it’s time to consider replacement.
Refinishing or liners
There are many companies that can offer tub liners and bathtub and shower refinishing for a decent price. Both options will add years to the life of a tub and will allow the room to look refreshed without replacing the entire structure. The downside to this is that any water damage inside the walls will not be addressed, since the liner will slide right over your old tub, so it’s important to know if you have suffered damage within your walls before choosing this option.
Replace the tub and shower entirely
If you have a one-piece tub and shower that has reached the end of its life, either because they are cracked, worn through, or simply extremely outdated (pink ceramic, anyone?), then it may be time to replace the piece entirely. This is not a cheap or especially simple endeavor. Many tubs and shower are inset into custom-made alcoves, so replacing it often means ripping out everything and rebuilding for it to fit the new tub. That being said, it will also allow you the chance to install something more modern or easier to clean, like a one-piece, acrylic, shower, and tub.
Re-design the space
If you’ve had enough or the old bathroom (and have the extra cash), re-designing the space will allow you to create a bathroom that will meet your needs, both physical and décor wise.
Many people are now choosing to replace one-piece fixtures with walk-in showers and freestanding bathtubs. This allows a level of modern luxury and accessibility that one-piece bath and showers don’t provide. Freestanding bathtubs are often installed as centerpieces of a bathroom and, for that reason, require a generous space. This can be difficult if you haven’t been blessed with a large bathroom. However, if you are re-designing the space, you may be able to rob space from another room by taking down a wall and expanding the bathroom. While it may seem drastic, a large bathroom can actually be a smart investment in a home.
Having a separate shower and tub can also allow for you to build a walk-in shower, which can make the space very accessible and make it easy for you to use the walk-in shower for necessities like washing the dog.
The one downside with a freestanding tub is accessibility. Older people, young children, or those with mobility issues may find it difficult to easily enter and leave the tub unassisted.
Author: Sophia Williams
