Many people dream of having a huge, luxurious bathroom with plenty of space. However, the reality is that many of us are working with a limited area. One of the ways to take full advantage of the bathroom space you do have is with a tub shower combo. This type of fixture can be seen in many homes, as it takes full advantage of the available floor space, allowing the user to have both a shower and a bathtub without making the room seem overly crowded.There are several options when it comes to installing a tub and shower combo. The most common involves using treated “wet” drywall and ceramic tiles on the walls in the shower area. It is crucial to install the correct kind of drywall, as the incorrect type may become damaged and rot if it becomes wet, leading to costly repairs. The tub is installed underneath the tiling, and the shower head is installed separately. This type of construction is fairly durable. Leaks can be repaired by re-grouting the area, and cracked tiles can be removed and carefully replaced, provided you have extras of the original tile used. In addition, using ceramic tiles gives you greater artistic liberty when it comes to designing your shower area.
The other type of tub shower combos, often called prefabricated shower stalls, comes either in a single piece, or in a few smaller sections. The wall is usually composed of fiberglass and acrylic and should not leak over its lifetime. However, if cracks do develop, it will be necessary to replace the entire piece. The single piece shower tub combination is frequently larger than a tile shower area and may be difficult to get through the door. It is crucial to measure the width of the doorways as compared to the size of the fixture before selecting one to install. For this reason, many single piece acrylic shower and tub fixtures are installed in new homes as they are being built, rather than as a new addition to older homes.
Sectional acrylic shower tub combos solve this problem. The wall maintains the look of a single piece, but is actually installed in several smaller sections. This slightly increases the risk of leaks developing over time, but also means that the fixture will be small enough to fit through the doors, and thus can be installed in older homes. These fiberglass and acrylic shower and tub areas will usually be a single color, the intensity of which may fade with use, giving you fewer design options. However, these fixtures also often come with more shelving and are less expensive than tiled showers.
Other options for personalizing your tub shower combo include the type of faucet, controls, and curtain or shower door. Shower heads range from a single spraying faucet to removable, hand-held spray heads and multiple shower heads with various spray options, including massage heads. The controls are typically placed directly under the shower head, but it may be more convenient to place them further back so you do not get sprayed the moment you turn the shower on. The addition of a glass shower door may also lend a more elegant touch to your shower tub area. These doors are usually sliding, with the track installed on the rim of the bathtub. Regardless of your preferences, there are many ways to personalize this area of your bathroom.
The cost of a tub shower combo can vary greatly depending on what type you choose and how many extra features you want included. The faucets and controls themselves can range from twenty dollars to several hundred, depending on the functions and materials used. Prefabricated shower stalls are the least expensive and can be found for just over $1000, although better quality stalls will be more expensive. Tile is generally $1-$25 per square foot, depending on the material and design of the tiles selected. Installing a tub, if the bathroom doesn’t already have one, can range from $1,500 to $5000.
Bathroom renovations can be costly, but the shower tub combo is a good way to save space and make the most of your bathroom area. There are many different options for this project to fit all budgets and tastes.
