A shower remodel is always an exciting opportunity for a homeowner to level-up the look and feel of their bathroom and improve a home’s return on investment. By switching out a showerhead or modernizing a shower enclosure, a homeowner can transform their bathroom to a tropical oasis or a luxe spa. Modernize is here to walk you through the ins-and-outs of remodeling your bathroom’s shower area. From the steps to consider, to the timeline and cost— here’s what you need to know about the shower remodel process.
How Much Should I Budget to Redo My Shower?
A shower remodel can cost between about $3,000 and $11,000 in 2024.
However, depending on the options a homeowner chooses, the cost of a shower remodel can vary widely. For example, basic renovations to an existing shower, such as a glass door replacement should cost just a few hundred dollars.
On the other hand, larger scale renovations like installing a brand new, luxury walk-in shower or converting a bathtub into a shower can cost $10,000 and up. As a general rule of thumb, the more customizations you add to your project, the more the cost can go up. You can explore our walk-in shower cost guide to see how these prices break down.
The total cost of your shower remodel project will ultimately depend on materials used, the necessary plumbing work, styles chosen, and more. Because shower remodel costs can vary depending on your decisions, Modernize always recommends using a cost calculator to estimate costs specific to your home and choices.
Save yourself some time and use our shower remodel cost calculator below.
Shower Types
The style of shower you choose will ultimately depend on how large your bathroom is and who will be using it. You can choose from seven main types of showers:
- Frameless. A shower enclosed by glass with no metal.
- Semi-frameless. The shower has a metal structure but the doors are solid glass.
- Framed. A metal frame outlines the entirety of the shower.
- Double. This is a large shower with two showerheads.
- Walk-in. These showers have no door. Glass separates a portion of the shower from the rest of the bathroom. You can read more about them in our guide to walk-in showers.
- Corner. This is a small shower that fits against two bathroom walls.
- Steam. Luxurious showers like these can be standalone or added to an existing shower.
Choosing from among these types of showers will be one of the first things you need to do during a shower remodel.
Choosing a Shower Door
Believe it or not, there are many options when it comes to choosing a shower door during your shower remodel. Many times, the shower enclosure style you choose will narrow down the shower door options.
For example, a shower and tub combo unit lends itself best to a sliding glass door, while a freestanding shower unit lends itself best to a pivoting or hinged door.
However, in additon to choosing the functionality and style, you also get to choose the type of glass you want for the shower door. Explore our guide to types of shower doors to find the one that works best for your style and space.
Choosing Shower Heads
Shower remodels typically involve two main components: the shower and the bathroom fixtures. After choosing the best type of shower for your needs, it is time to choose a shower head.
Based on the bathroom’s purpose and who it is serving, the best shower head option for you can vary. A family bathroom with a shower-tub combo will probably require different shower head and fixtures than a couple’s suite bathroom that might feature jets or a rain shower head. Explore a few different types of showerheads so you can find the one that best fits the needs and preferences of your bathroom and its users.
Replacing Glass Shower Doors
Replacing only the shower door costs an average of just $598 including materials and installation.
A homeowner may want to only replace the glass shower door, rather than doing a full shower remodel project. Swapping out the glass door on your shower for a new one can take care of any damage to the door or fix any leaks coming from the shower area. It is also a quick and easy way to modernize the look and feel of your bathroom.
Shower Materials: Walls and Floors
When choosing a material for your shower remodel project, think about functionality, cost, and style. You want the walls to be sturdy and easy to clean. At the same time, shower walls are often a focal point in the bathroom, so many homeowners also prefer to choose a material that stands out. There are multiple options to choose from for both walls and floors.
Some homeowners choose to maintain the same material for both the shower walls and floors, while some decide to vary them. For example, an acrylic shower floor pan is usually more affordable than installing tile on the shower floor, so you may choose to install tile on just the walls to cut costs.
You can find more shower floor specific information in our guide on Shower Pan Replacement.
To determine the best choice for your bathroom, the best place to start is to weigh the pros and cons to each shower material.
Once you have narrowed down your options, you can use our shower tile square footage calculator to help you figure out how much tile you’d need to buy. That way, you can start pricing out options.
Acrylic
Acrylic is an inexpensive and highly functional material for showers. Many U.S. homes have showers that use acrylic floor pans. Acrylic in the shower is easy to maintain, lasts 10 years or more, and can even be installed DIY. However, it is not as sturdy as other materials and can be very hard to fix if damaged.
Tile
Many homeowners choose tile for shower walls and floors because they come in a variety of unique choices – including ceramic, porcelain, stone, and even glass – and add a nice aesthetic to the bathroom. Homeowners can opt to replace only their shower tile, rather than replacing the entire shower, to cut costs on a shower remodel.
You can match the tile in your shower walls with tile in other areas of the bathroom, or add an accent wall. Tile can last 10 to 75 years or more and depending on the type you choose, can be very affordable. Because tile is installed using grout, it can be tricky to clean and can build up mold if not maintained properly.
Natural Stone
Natural stone comes in tiles and can be used for shower walls and floors – or both! This material can give your shower a unique, natural, and high-end look, but note that these tiles tend to be more expensive than typical porcelain or ceramic shower tiles.
There are plenty of options when it comes to natural stone tiles for your shower. For instance, marble tiles in the shower can add a beautiful, sleek, and timeless look to your bathroom. You can match the marble shower floors with your bathroom counters for an elegant design. Marble can also be installed in various shapes and designs – for instance, subway tiles, hexagons, or classic four by fours.
Travertine is also a popular natural stone that homeowners love to use in their bathrooms. It comes in beautiful shades – including earth tones and grays – and features earthy textures, giving it great visual appeal. Travertine is also slip-resistant.
Fiberglass
One of the biggest benefits to using fiberglass for showers is that it does not use grout. This can help to prevent mold build-up and makes your life so much easier when it comes time to clean the shower. Fiberglass is also very cheap. However, there are not many styling options as it usually comes only in solid white.
Aluminum
Some homeowners are surprised to learn that aluminum can be used for shower walls! They are often used as accents rather than for the entire shower. However, aluminum is a great material for showers because it is rust-resistant, lightweight, and easy to clean.
Finding a Shower Remodel Contractor
A shower remodel will give you enough tricky decisions — finding a reliable shower remodel contractor doesn’t have to be one of them. Modernize can help you find and compare contractors with ease. We recommend comparing three to four full bathroom shower quotes from different contractors to find the best option for your needs and budget.
It is important to consider and talk to potential shower contractors about the following topics:
Your ideal timeframe
Your ideal project timeline may limit some of your bathroom renovation options. On the other hand, some bathroom remodel projects can be completed in as quickly as one day! Bathroom and shower remodel projects are not one-size-fits-all. It is important to account for a chunk of time without a bathroom or plumbing access.
Timing is not just about the length of a project. The start date of your shower remodel project can impact the competitiveness of contractor bids and your final cost.
The off-season
Winter is usually the off-season for bathroom renovation. This can mean an opportunity for discounts, since it is a slower time for home improvement projects. Quotes should be more competitive than during the summer or spring when contractors are sometimes booked weeks in advance. Additionally, fixture manufacturers may run discounts to align with the off-season, which can lead to more affordable upgrades on showerheads and enclosures.
Planning ahead
Planning ahead for your bathroom project is important. Multi-day or longer-term bathroom projects typically call for water being turned off while work is being done. Much like any fixture replacement or room remodel, noise or dust can also be factors. Modernize recommends working through a plan for these issues ahead of time and discussing options with a contractor.
However you decide to proceed, a shower remodel is an exciting chance to upgrade your bathroom, and Modernize is ready to help you with it!
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