Whether you are renovating a new home or just want to update the look and feel of your home, the bathroom is a great place to start! It is one of the home renovations that offers the greatest return on investment.
One place you may want to start to give your bathroom a face-lift is by replacing your bathtub with a shower. With so many shower style options to choose from, it may be hard to decide how you want to update your bathroom. Whatever you choose, your new shower will be a great addition to your home.
What kinds of options are there for showers?
After a hard day at work or play, there’s nothing quite like a hot shower to relax in. Older showers tended to be attached to a bathtub or placed off in a dark corner of the bathroom. Not anymore. With doorless showers, glass doors, rainfall showerheads, even LED lighting, there are a plethora of choices to consider when designing your shower.
Custom made or Pre-fab?
One of the first considerations you may want to make is this -- do you want a custom built, one-of-a-kind shower or a pre-fabricated shower that is installed quickly and easily?
A shower kit is a pre-made shower cubicle that is ready to be installed the minute you have it delivered to your home. You will want to work with your contractor to make sure the plumbing is all in order before you order one. You also want to be careful to make sure your kit’s drain falls where your current drain does, or you are looking at some headaches with installation. Shower kits have everything you need in a shower. You just have to decide what kind of design you want. This is the more budget friendly option.
You may, however, want to go for a more high-end, unique look and design a custom made shower. Want LEDs in your shower? Water jets? A rainfall shower head? Specialized tile? Set a budget, then work with your contractor to design the shower that you want.
What are my shower options in Los Angeles?
There are so many options for walk-in showers, it may be hard to choose from. Here are just a few:
- Glass Enclosed: Create a seamless transition between the shower area and the rest of the bathroom with a transparent glass enclosure.
- Frameless Glass: Drop some drama into your bathroom with a frameless glass shower. With clean, minimalist lines, your shower can be made of one or two glass panels.
- Spa Inspired: Get ready to relax by designing your own private spa. Choose soft earth tones for paint colors and use wood for the shower floor to give your shower spa experience. Add a touch of greenery to add to the ambience.
- Doorless Showers: Yes. That’s right. A doorless shower. These are usually designed with a rainfall showerhead to keep water from bouncing all over the rest of the bathroom. These showers offer a seamless design aesthetic.
What should I know about installing my new shower in Los Angeles?
Don’t let those DIY YouTube videos fool you. Installing a shower is not for the faint at heart. Hire a professional to get the job done right the first time. When you work with a contractor, you can set your budget and the contractor will work with you to find the best options for your pocketbook.
What you need to consider:
- Plumbing: You may need some plumbing work done when you install your new shower. Whether your pipes are old and need to be replaced or your new shower requires pipes to be moved, plumbing is a major concern when installing a new shower.
- Showerhead: What kind of showerhead do you want? Work with your contractor to make sure the showerhead you pick will work with the size of your shower.
- Multi-setting showerhead: This showerhead allows you to choose from multiple comfort settings. Perfect for those households with family members who like different types of water pressure in their shower.
- Aerating showers: These showerheads mix air in with the water, creating a steamier shower experience.
- Handheld showers: These detachable showerheads have mobility in mind. You can leave the showerhead as is, or pick it up.
- Rainfall showers: This luxurious spa-like feature showers you with rain, only the indoor variety. These showerheads can be installed coming from a pipe in the wall (similar to a traditional shower) or in the ceiling.
- Current location of plumbing: If you are renovating an existing shower, you may not need that much plumbing. However, if you are installing a new shower or moving one, there will be some additional planning, labor and materials. That means the cost will go up.
- Existing bathroom design: You may or may not want to install a doorless shower in a small bathroom. You may not want those transparent glass doors to look out at the toilet. Is there a window where you want to place your shower? Consider the current layout of your bathroom. Work with a designer to create a shower that makes the best use of the space you have, while providing you with the shower you want.
- Adding built-ins: Why buy a shower caddy when you can install built-ins? Add extra shelving or niches for all those shampoos and shower gels.
- Benches: Give your shower more of a spa-like experience with a bench -- built in or not.
- Walk-In Shower: Why have a shower tray to stumble over when you could simply walk into your shower? This is an especially popular option for those with mobility issues.
Whatever choices you make in creating your new shower, be sure to work with a contractor to make sure you stay on budget and get the shower of your dreams.
Looking for a free estimate for your project? Call Los Angeles Bathroom Remodel today at (323) 402-6381.
