Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase
There are so many examples of large bathrooms, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that most of us have bathrooms that are about 50 square feet (5 by 10 feet). A dream shower can often become a reality only if it fits into the footprint of a dated tub. But what’s the best way to go about this conversion?
The first step is to put everything down on paper. Before you start ripping out tile, bringing home sale items or searching for the perfect grout color, make sure you measure, plan and research.
Measure the bathroom exactly. Draw the finished wall measurements, right down to the 1/8 inch. Most tubs are 60 inches wide, and this is a great width for a shower. The depth is the kicker. Aim for at least 32 to 34 inches from the finished tile wall to the future glass shower door.
You will also need to to have a finished ceiling height of 80 inches minimum and a shower that’s at least 30 by 30 inches to comply with the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s guidelines for bathrooms. If you decide to plan for a bench, make sure it doesn’t crowd this space of 30 by 30 inches minimum.
Record the toilet location. A distance of 15 to 18 inches from the the center of the toilet to the glass on the new shower door tends to be comfortable.
Figure out the shower-door swing. Where will you put the door in your new shower so it does not interfere with the toilet or vanity? I like to use a large scrap of drywall to lay out the potential shower-door swing, and then check the distances of the drywall to the toilet and vanity.
In the renovated bathroom here, a small 1926 tub was replaced with a curbless shower. The walkway from the vanity to the shower was too tight for a swinging shower door, which is why this shower has two glass block walls instead.
Tip: If the bathroom floor is going to get wet outside the shower, select a small tile or another slip-resistant material.
Make sure you’ll still have plenty of space. When you replace a tub with a shower, the toilet can start to feel crowded. Make sure you pay attention to this so it feels right to you.
Try to keep at least 15 inches room from the center of the toilet to the new shower glass. If your shower ends up being on the smaller side, you can skimp on this measurement a bit.
Tip: Hold up a sheet of scrap drywall to act as a fake glass panel and sit on a 5-gallon bucket to mimic the toilet’s location. This can help you decide how close you like the glass, and how big you’d like your shower.
Stand in the place where your shower will be. A shower depth of 32 inches feels small to me, but might work for you. A depth of 34 to 36 inches tends to be ideal, but again, don’t crowd the toilet. Make sure you check your local code for minimum distances, too.
How to Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase
Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase
