Whether for disability access or pure style, walk-in showers can be a great addition to any home. They can take an ordinary bathroom and transform it into something super accessible, but also super stylish.
With that in mind, how much will a walk-in shower cost? What sort of ballpark figure can you expect to need to put aside for a walk-in shower? Here's what you need to know.
A walk-in shower is any type of shower that you can simply walk into. Typically, these are larger than simply cubicle showers, although a cubicle shower tray and screen could be considered a walk-in shower.
A walk-in shower differs from a wet room in that the entire room is not designed to be waterproof. A walk-in shower will usually have two walls or three walls and either two glass screens or a door. This way it keeps the rest of the bathroom dry, only getting the actual shower space wet during use.
Don’t miss our post "Wet room cost".
It is hard to pinpoint an actual average when it comes to a walk-in, which can make determining your overall budget quite hard. There are several factors that could impact the overall cost, and many of them aren't down to you or your choices.
If you're looking to get a walk-in shower, be it for mobility issues or otherwise, here are some of the figures you should be aware of:
To prepare a bathroom, you will need to remove the old shower and bathtub. Typically, removal costs for this sort of thing are between £300 and £500. There are then labor costs, which can be anywhere between £1,000 and £1,500 depending on the complexity of the job.
Sometimes there are necessary plumbing alterations, which can add anywhere from £200 to £3,000 to the overall cost.
Not only that, you might also need electricians and tiling contractors. In some places, you might need permits. Some bathrooms might also need waterproofing added to the property before you can put the shower tray down. This will help prevent you from causing any water damage when using the shower area.
In addition to all of the above, you will have to pay for the shower itself, as well as any other materials you need (shower tray, shower screen, grab rails, towel rails, new lights, new flooring).
The costs of these items will depend entirely on what you're trying to create, and what your goal showering experience looks like. Typically, though, you can expect to pay between £750 and £1,500 for a shower.
To get a complete breakdown of what a walk-in shower will cost you, contact a team of professionals like Bath Vision today to enquire.
There are various factors that impact the budget and price of a walk-in shower installation. Some of these will depend on whether you're constructing a walk-in shower for limited mobility or for style, and on the space available. Naturally, small bathrooms have smaller space, and therefore cost less, for example.
Other factors impacting the walk-in shower cost include:
As mentioned before, you can choose between a few types of shower, such as electric, power and mixer. Each type of shower has a different price point and different pros and cons.
In a smaller walk-in shower, you'll need fewer tiles and materials. A larger walk-in shower, just like with anything else, will need more materials. This means larger glass screens, a larger shower tray -- you might even need multiple glass screens to keep the shower enclosures separate from the bathroom, especially if you're opting for no shower door.
There is a huge range of walk-in shower styles and designs. Flick through a DIY or bathroom store catalogue and you'll see options like: corner, recessed, floating, power, mixer, electric and steam room shower.
But even then, there are more. There are walk-in showers that have thresholds, lips, steps and your standard walk-in showers. These different types are suited to different levels of mobility issues.
Which style and type of walk-in shower you opt for will inevitably impact the cost. For example, looking at the different types of showers:
Again, as with any kind of DIY or renovation project, the materials you use in your walk-in shower will impact the cost of the project. This would be the same in a wet room, a lounge, or a garden renovation.
Choosing to opt for chrome metal attachments, for example, or a natural stone shower tray would be much more expensive than cheaper metals and tiles.
But it doesn't stop there. Even things like whether you opt for a shower door, shower curtain or just shower enclosures, and whether you choose to invest in toughened safety glass screens can dramatically impact the cost of your walk-in shower. At the end of the day, luxury materials will equal a luxury price tag!
If your existing shower or bath needs to be removed (which it will unless you do this yourself first) this will cost an extra fee. Typically, bath removal costs are around £400. Other removal costs may vary, and you should always talk to your labourers about what they expect the fees to be when they're creating your new shower space.
Areas with higher average living costs such as London will have higher shower installation costs both due to more expensive materials and more expensive labour costs.
If you need a walk-in shower for disability reasons, you might also need additional features like a doorless shower, a shower tray with no lip, foldaway seats or permanent shower seating, shelving, grab rails or grab bars - these will all add to the cost.
There are also other additional extras when it comes to a walk-in shower that could appeal to anyone, for example, you could also choose to add non-slip flooring, underfloor heating, and digital showers, all of which can add to the cost of your shower space. Once again, those luxury features equal luxury price tags!
Did you know that if you have a disability, lack of mobility or a chronic illness you could be eligible for VAT exemptions? This is the case for a lot of disability-related purchases, not just a walk-in shower!
VAT exemptions could help you achieve a walk-in shower, wet room, stair lift and plenty more things at a much more affordable cost. VAT exemptions essentially take a whopping 20% off the purchasing and installation costs of the shower (or whatever it is you're purchasing)!
If you have a long-term disability you might be eligible for the Disability Facilities Grant, a local authority grant that can pay up to £30,000 in England and £36,000 in Wales to help you adapt your home.You must apply and get this grant approved before the walk-in shower installation begins, as the grant cannot be used retrospectively. But if you get the approval, it could really help you cover the walk-in shower cost!
View our post for more information "Grants for disabled bathrooms".
