The average size of American bathrooms has been increasing in the past decades. So if you end up moving into an older home, the size of its bathrooms may surprise you. They'll likely be much smaller than you'd expect if you lived in a newer home before. 

Luckily, there's at least one way to increase the amount of usable space in your bathrooms. This is to get a tub-to-shower conversion. Your replacement shower can take up far less space than the tub if you want. 

You must tackle this process carefully, however. If you don't, you could end up with a shower that doesn't meet your needs at all. Read on to learn some tips on how to approach getting a replacement shower. 

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Hire the Right Shower Remodeling Services

It is possible to DIY a tub-to-shower conversion, but doing so is extremely risky. As you are likely an amateur, there are a lot of mistakes you can make. These could end up seriously damaging your plumbing system, bathroom appliances, etc. 

It's better to hire the best shower remodeling services that you can find. Doing so is the best way to ensure that you get the best possible functioning out of all shower replacement types. You can find some tips on how to go about looking for such a thing in the list below. 

Get Recommendations 

It's reasonable for you to want to start your search by using your favorite search engine. However, you can get overwhelmed by the number of results that you find. You can spend a lot of time trying to research every company that you see in your results. 

It's better to reach out to other locals and ask them what services they've used. You can use this information to start your search.

Look at the Lifespan of the Company

You should want shower remodeling services that are well-established in the area. Such a long lifespan proves that they've been offering customers high-quality work.

If they haven't been doing so, customers wouldn't be using their services often and/or recommending their services. This would have made the company go out of business. 

Consider the Materials Used 

See if you can find some information about the products the company uses. For a shower remodeling company, these products would be shower system parts, glass panels, etc. If you can't find any information on the site, get the information from their customer service. 

Then you can look up online reviews of the products. A great company should use the best products possible. If too many of the products they use have bad reviews, question if you want to work with this company.

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Find Out Everyone's Needs 

Everyone in the household deserves to feel like they're truly at home. This means that they must have their needs fulfilled. This can mean different things to everyone. 

Before looking through shower replacement options, try to write down what everyone needs. You can also hold a household meeting and discuss what would work best for everyone. Do your best to reach a compromise if necessary.

Handheld Showerhead 

A handheld showerhead has a flexible pipe running from the plumbing to the showerhead. A shower user can grab the showerhead and move it to where they need it. This ability can be very useful for multiple purposes.

A person can use the showerhead to clean a child or a pet easily. An elderly user who may need to sit down can still get a thorough shower. It can even let a user avoid getting their hair wet. 

Dual Showerheads 

Some household individuals may have a busy schedule. They may find that their morning routine is inhibited as they wait for someone else to finish using the shower. A shower system with two shower heads can fix this issue. 

As long as the shower is large enough, two individuals can comfortably shower at the same time. Some household individuals may struggle to do this comfortably. However, it shouldn't be an issue for, say, a married couple. 

Rain Showerheads 

This type of showerhead can be a great option if your household always seems stressed. A rain showerhead can simulate the feeling of a rainstorm. This natural water pouring can wash all stresses away. 

Keep in mind, though, that a shower under a rain showerhead may take longer. So it isn't a good option if the members of your household are always rushed. If you have the budget, though, you could get a rain showerhead and another option. 

Consider the Bathroom Layout 

You need to ensure that your new shower fits into your new bathroom. This doesn't just mean that the dimensions of the shower fit comfortably within the dimensions of the bathroom. It also means that you're able to access your shower without hindrance. 

Shower remodeling options have multiple types of doors. You want to have one that won't get stopped by another bathroom object when you try to open it. Another option is to just not have a door at all. 

Fixed Door

Fixed door shower types have fixed planes of glass on one side. A person can enter the shower through a permanent opening on another side. This type of shower model can be great when you don't have room for a swinging door. 

Sliding Door

A sliding shower door moves from right to left or left to right along a rolling track. You can have two doors that are moveable or have one glass panel that's fixed. This can be another great option when you don't have a lot of space in your bathroom. 

Hinge Door 

A hinged shower door opens outward and to the left or right. This kind of door can easily hit a toilet, counter, etc. As a result, you may only have a small amount of space to squeeze through. 

A hinged shower is best in a larger bathroom such as a master bathroom. You won't be able to open it in a smaller space such as a half bathroom. 

Think About Cleaning Time

You may feel tempted to get the most beautiful glass design possible for your shower. However, one thing to keep in mind is that some types of glass designs are very hard to clean.

Are you not the type of person who likes to spend hours cleaning bits of dirt out of every single crevice? If so, then you should probably choose a shower door design that's easier to clean. 

Clear Glass Panel

Clear glass doesn't offer much privacy and you can easily see streaks and fingerprints. However, it is very easy to clean. This can save you a lot of time. 

Tinted Glass Panel 

If you want more privacy, you may want to try getting tinted glass for your shower. This darker style of glass makes it harder to see inside the shower. Keep in mind, though, that light has a harder time getting through the darker glass.

If you get non-textured tinted glass panes, it will still be easier for you to clean while also being private. This means you'll get a kind of "best of both worlds" scenario. 

Textured Glass Panel 

Textured glass, despite being hard to clean, can still be a very beautiful choice. You can choose decorative patterns like rain, nature scenes, etc. Depending on the type of glass that you get, it can match perfectly with the rest of your home and/or bathroom decor. 

Match Your Bathroom's Decor 

This aspect isn't as important as the rest, but it still matters. Having a shower that doesn't quite match how the rest of your bathroom appears can feel discomforting. So you should consider choosing a shower system option based on its appearance as well. 

Exposed Shower System 

With this type of shower system, a portion of the shower system piping sits on the shower wall rather than in it. This isn't a very sleek look, but it can work very well if you want something that looks rustic. If your home has a modern farmhouse or vintage look, this style will look right at home. 

Fixed Shower System 

For something sleeker, a simple fixed shower system would work best. With this kind of shower system, only the showerhead and control system is exposed. This will work best if your home has modern decor. 

We'll Install Your Replacement Shower For You 

With all these factors, it should take you considerable time to research everything that you need. Having to be this patient can get frustrating. If you end up feeling this way, try to picture your ideal results and remember the work will be worth it. 

When you feel you have found the right replacement show services, consider our services. We have more than ten years of bathroom remodeling experience. We utilize this experience to offer our customers high-quality tub-to-shower conversions. 

Schedule a free consultation with us by filling out the form on this page.

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