The Pros and Cons of Installing a Walk-In Shower

In your quest to build the perfect bathroom, you’ve likely considered a luxurious walk-in shower. These fixtures have been all the rage recently for their modern design, accessibility, and low-maintenance cleaning. However, walk-in showers aren’t for everyone. Explore the pros and cons of walk-in showers to decide if this bathroom fixture is for you. 

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What Is a Walk-In Shower?

Walk-in showers are fully open and tiled spaces without any barriers to entry. Some include a door or glass wall to separate the bathing area from the rest of the bathroom. Walk-in showers may have a curb or threshold to help keep water contained, or they may be curbless for greater accessibility, allowing users to walk or roll right in without stepping up. Despite the name, many walk-in showers also feature built-in spa seats and ledges.

Pros of a Walk-In Shower

Before learning the cost to build a walk-in shower, you need to decide if it's the right choice for your bathroom. Here are some of the biggest pros to going with one of these bathroom fixtures. 

Improved Accessibility

It’s right there in the name. You walk into one of these showers, so you don’t have to finagle yourself into a bathtub to get clean. There’s no high ledge or threshold to walk over when you opt for a curbless shower. This makes it a great option for young children who can’t get in and out of a tall tub and for anyone in the home with limited mobility. The open concept also allows plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair or other mobility aids. 

Easy to Clean

Walk-in showers are commonly covered in tiles, which are easier to clean than the porcelain surface inside a bathtub. Plus, there aren’t as many curves, nooks, or crannies as a prefabricated unit with a shower pan and walls, so you can go right in there and mop. Walk-in showers have no use for a mold-attracting shower curtain—just wipe down the glass walls.

Contemporary Design and Customization

The modern, minimalist design of a walk-in shower is tough to beat. They’re almost always custom-built, so you can add any features you desire and choose tiles to match your aesthetic. Add accessibility features like seating and grab bars, or gadgets like a rainfall showerhead and misting machine for a spa-like experience.  A shower installer in your area can give you all the help you need to design and build a walk-in shower that fits your lifestyle.

Fits Any Bathroom Size

One of the biggest advantages of walk-in showers is that they don’t require a bulky tub or standard shower enclosure. So you’re almost guaranteed to find one that fits, as long as your bathroom layout has room for the minimum dimensions of a walk-in shower. Plus, the open shower design lets you be more creative with your space, whether you choose a minimalist corner shower or a sprawling, spa-like enclosure.

Cons of a Walk-In Shower

Here are the downsides to going with a walk-in shower. If these turn you off, you may want to research the cost of a traditional shower installation. 

Water Containment 

Walk-in showers make a splash, but it’s not always the kind you want. Without walls or a curb, water can spill from the shower to the rest of the bathroom if you’re not careful. Opt for slip-resistant flooring that slopes slightly toward a central drain to minimize this issue. You can also install a nozzle that shoots water straight down, which reduces the chances of liquid escaping the shower. 

Cost

Walk-in showers aren’t prohibitively expensive, costing anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000, but they are much pricier than other options. For instance, installing a bathtub can cost as little as $200. A tub-to-shower conversion costs $1,500 to $8,000 and goes up to $15,000, depending on whether the job requires demolition. 

Require More Space 

Very small bathrooms aren’t always the best place for a walk-in shower. You’ll need plenty of room for the toilet and sink and enough space in the shower itself, and remember that water might splash out of the shower. If you don’t have a lot of space but need the accessibility of a walk-in shower, consider converting your bathroom to a wet room.

Less Privacy 

Walk-in showers are great for small spaces and adding luxury to bathrooms, but they’re not the best choice for those looking for a private design since most have open designs or glass panels. This can be uncomfortable or inconvenient for homeowners with shared bathrooms or those who value privacy. You can choose frosted glass or strategically place the shower or panels, but consider that walk-in showers prioritize openness and accessibility.

Shower Feels Colder 

With walk-in showers, you gain space and style, but you can lose warmth. While traditional shower enclosures trap steam and warm air, walk-in showers are open and let heat escape. This can make showering less comfortable, especially in colder climates or in bathrooms without powerful heating systems. If you want a warmer walk-in shower, consider investing in heated floors or adding bathroom heating.

High Potential for Mold 

Mold loves moisture as much as you’ll love your sleek new shower. While the open design of a walk-in shower might suggest it’s less likely to grow mold, the opposite is true—open floors and walls mean more water can escape. Prevent this by having a pro carefully design the space, choosing nonporous bathroom materials, adding effective drainage, investing in high-quality waterproofing, and increasing ventilation.

Alternatives to a Walk-In Shower

You can stick with the traditional bathtub and shower hybrid design. If accessibility is the major concern, go with a walk-in tub. These are basically bathtubs that include a partition that nearly meets the floor, so there’s no ledge to walk over. Curbless showers offer many of the same benefits as a walk-in shower, but with drastically reduced size requirements.

Is a Walk-In Shower Right for You?

If you have the budget and love the look of a walk-in shower, go for it. Homeowners with mobility concerns may be more inclined to go for this accessible feature than those with young children still needing bath time. A custom walk-in shower can be a great investment for aging in place, too. Talk to a local bathroom remodeler to go over your options and make a decision that suits your unique needs.