When you get older, it gets harder to step over the side of the bathtub to shower and bathe. If you don't have a separate walk-in shower, you could be putting yourself at risk every time you climb over the tub. The bathtub can be a nuisance if you only take showers because getting up from the tub is difficult. Tearing out the tub and putting in a shower is expensive, but converting the tub to a shower with a kit could be the perfect solution. Here's a look at how a kit works and how it saves money.
How a Tub Conversion Kit Makes Showering Safer
These kits vary in what they provide, but they all remove the barrier of having to step over the side of the tub. If you can easily step up one step, then a kit that cuts out a portion of the side of the tub is ideal. You can hire someone to install the kit or do it yourself. It involves using a pattern to cut through the side of the tub to make room for an insert. The insert is a wide step a few inches tall that keeps water from flowing out onto the floor. With this in place, you can easily step into the tub for showering without having to climb over the side.
Some of these kits come with a panel cap that can be placed over the step. When the panel is securely positioned on the step, you can fill the tub with water and take a bath, which is a nice convenience if you share the bathroom with someone who enjoys bathing. Another option for a conversion kit is panels that can be used to create a seat at the end of the tub so you can sit and rest for safety while you shower.
If you prefer to have no barrier at all to your shower entry because you have difficulty stepping up or you'll be in a wheelchair, then you'll need to buy a similar kit that also has a new bottom that's sloped to allow water to flow toward the drain rather than leak onto the floor.
How a Conversion Kit Saves Money
While a converted tub may not be as glamorous as a new glass-enclosed shower, it is only a fraction of the cost. If you're able to do the work yourself or have a family member do it, you won't have any installation costs. The only expense will be for the kit. It isn't necessary to remove your old tub to install the kit, so that saves a lot of work and disposal costs. You also won't have to pay for new shower doors to be installed since you'll use inexpensive shower curtains. Using a tub to shower conversion kit saves a lot of money over putting in a new shower and the work goes much quicker too.
For more information about shower enclosures, contact companies like Kauffman Glass and Mirror.
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