Tub to shower remodel ?

[starente15]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has had to remove a tub and install a wheelchair accessible shower. We're at the point and I want to make sure I've considered everything. The bathroom is small to begin with. I envision open access, tiled walls and floor with a shower curtain to try to contain some of the water. It probably won't be the perfect situation but we need to get something going. Any ideas greatly appreciated! TIA

 

[DreamsEnd]

We removed a shower and added a bigger, tiled one with roll-in shower access and a curtain. But it's been important for us to have a 5 ft turning radius for week chair and roll in shower chair. A bidet has been wonderful too.

Sherry

 

[Nikki J]

An alternative is a portable fold away shower. One of the PALS in a face book group reported she liked hers. Obviously setting it up and putting it away is work. I think it would depend on how long you foresee the need, as well as financial and caregiving resources. A proper roll in shower is clearly the nicer choices but expensive and will not happen instantly

 

[Tractor Boy]

I also highly recommend installing a ceiling mounted heater/exhaust fan combo to keep the patient nice and warm after the shower. Maybe pointed toward the area he/she would be drying. Mine is a Panasonic. Works great! TB

 

[cheerleader]

Another way to get additional space in a small room is to replace doors with pocket doors! Easy change.

 

[starente15]

Lots of great tips! Thanks

 

[Barbie]

having a tub removed is not all that hard, but you want to make sure everything is as open as possible and accessible. a good add on is a hand shower in addition to the regular shower head for getting closer to the bum if he is in a chair. also love the idea of a heat lamp instead of a regular light...keeps the area warm.

 

[gooseberry]

You can put a floor drain in that runs the length of shower and not woorry about dividing things so much physically

 

[T.Low]

We did the rain shower with a hand held also. Upper niches for my wife's stuff , lower niches for mine. Haven't installed grab bars yet. Toilet w/bidet seat cover installed after picture. Heater cannot be wen in pic.

 

[karla r]

Been thinking about this myself. I have a big garden tub I was thinking of having removed and installing a roll in shower. The room also has a small shower already in it, but no way to enlarge that because it is next to the door and the vent for the room. It is a pretty good sized bathroom, 12 by 15. Just have to wait until I save money for it. We only used the garden tub once because our hot water heater wasn't big enough to fill it.

 

[starente15]

Beautiful job T!

 

[cheerleader]

Lovely room- think you could hold a bathroom party I that large room!

 

[MaxEidswick]

>We did the rain shower with a hand held also.

looks great!

 

[T.Low]

Lovely room- think you could hold a bathroom party I that large room!

I like the way you think. :twisted:

Thanks, guys.

 

[starente15]

The linear drain and water dam are great ideas! Does anyone know if there's any pitch to the floor or if it's totally flat? Also, for anyone who's done this, did you get a contractor who understood ADA requirements? How did you find them? Thanks!