Walk-in shower or bathtub: which belongs in your Lexington bath?

What are the disadvantages of a walk-in shower?

A few, and they're worth knowing before you remove a tub. You lose the ability to soak and to bathe small children or a dog easily. Glass doors and panels show mineral spots quickly with Lexington's hard water, so plan on a squeegee or a glass coating. A doorless design can let cold air in, and a curbless shower needs the floor sloped correctly or water ends up on the bathroom floor.

Cost is the other surprise. Many people assume a shower is cheaper than a tub. In practice, converting a tub to a shower usually costs more than swapping in a new tub, because of the glass, the wall finish and the new valve and drain work.

Should you remove the only tub in the house?

Think carefully before you do. Agents commonly advise keeping at least one bathtub in a home, because buyers with young children often won't consider a house without one. That matters most in three-bedroom family homes, such as many of the ranches in Southland and Gardenside that have one full bath.

If your house has two full bathrooms, the usual plan is easy: turn the primary-bath tub into a walk-in shower and keep the tub in the hall bath. Many owners in Hamburg and Beaumont do exactly that, and often swap a garden tub nobody uses for a larger shower. If you live in a condo, a one- or two-bedroom home, or plan to stay for many years, the resale concern carries less weight.

How much does each option cost?

In the Lexington area, a straight tub-to-shower conversion in the same footprint typically runs $6,000–$14,000. A larger custom walk-in shower with tile, glass and a bench is closer to $8,000–$18,000. If you decide to keep a tub, a bathtub replacement usually costs $3,500–$9,000.

What moves those numbers most: panels versus tile on the walls, the type of glass, whether the drain has to move, and what we find when the old tub comes out. In 1920s to 1940s homes in Chevy Chase and Ashland Park, a cast-iron tub and old drain lines can add work. The tub-to-shower conversion cost guide breaks it down line by line.

Do you need a permit to convert a bathtub to a shower?

Often, yes. In Kentucky, plumbing permits are issued by the state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, and moving or adding a fixture, drain or waste opening requires one. A tub-to-shower swap usually changes the drain location or the fixture itself, so a permit is commonly needed. A new tub dropped into the same spot with no drain move usually isn't. We confirm the permit path for each job and pull what's needed. More detail is in our permit guide.

Is there a middle ground?

Yes. If you need to keep a tub but stepping over it is getting harder, consider a lower-profile tub, a slip-resistant floor, a grab bar on the back wall and a handheld shower on a slide bar. That keeps the bathing option for kids and resale while making the daily shower safer. For bigger mobility needs, see our accessible bathroom work.