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Your shower is an integral part of your daily life, so having it out of commission for a long time can become exceptionally problematic. However, sometimes a shower replacement is warranted, whether you want a new look, need to fix a problem, or need a new function. Use this guide to understand how long it will take to replace a shower and the variables influencing that timing.
General Rule of Thumb for Professional Installation
How long it takes to replace a shower first depends on whether you’re trying to do a DIY replacement versus having a professional do the work. With DIY, it will greatly depend on your skill and experience in similar work. However, it’s always best to leave plumbing work to professionals to prevent inadvertent damage from poor joints or undetected leaks. For the average professional installation, you can usually expect the job to take anywhere from one to five days for a simple replacement. If you’re doing a more extensive shower remodel, it can take as much as one to two months, pending hiccups in the process.
What Are You Replacing?
The first factor that’ll influence how long a shower replacement takes is what you have right now that you’re replacing. If your shower is a simple insert and just you need to replace that and the shower head, it’s a rather quick job. However, if you have a grouted tile walk-in shower, it can take longer to pull all of the tile out and prep it for whatever is next. Your installation company should work with you to evaluate what you have and make a plan for what needs replacing and what is good to leave for this project.
What Are You Replacing It With?
While it may be easier to replace your shower with the same kind, sometimes it’s just not what you need. Here are some of the options you may want to consider and how each could affect the time it takes to install the replacement.
Shower Insert
A shower insert is usually crafted from acrylic or fiberglass and includes a single water fixture. This is generally easy to pull out and then replace with a new, similar shower insert. An acrylic shower insert should last 10 to 20 years when properly maintained. This kind of shower has a high risk of leaking and water damage if left in place too long.
Transitional Tub/Shower
The transitional tub/shower is the basic insert that includes a bathtub in the bottom but has a shower head and acrylic or fiberglass walls. This is similar to the basic shower insert but may require more room than a standalone shower. However, if you’re replacing a model like this or if you have a standalone shower that’s wide enough, this is a simple replacement. Keep in mind that these are similar to shower inserts, typically lasting 10 to 20 years, and have the same risks of leaking if they crack as they age.
Whirlpool Tub
Replacing a shower with a whirlpool tub can be a bit trickier. These typically require removing some plumbing if you’re not including a shower. Further, there is often electrical work required to run the jet pumps. If you decide to also keep a shower, you’ll need some sort of wall work to waterproof the area. There are some high-end steam showers with whirlpool tubs available, which may require additional or relocated plumbing plus additional electrical. This can substantially increase the time required to install the system, depending on your current plumbing and electrical setup.
Walk-in Tub
Walk-in tubs are similar to transitional showers but have a door that opens in the side to allow someone with mobility challenges to easily get in and out. These tubs can be combined with a standard shower as long as you have some form of waterproofing material around the sides and back of the tub area.
Walk-in Shower
Walk-in showers come in a variety of styles, but the key to these is the low or no-lift entry. Sometimes there’s a small moulding to separate the shower floor from the bathroom floor and help contain water, but it’s low enough you could easily get a wheelchair or other mobility device over. Walk-in showers also usually offer enough room for shower chairs and other aids. Depending on your particular need, walk-in showers range from simple install kits to custom tile or stone walls and flooring.
Shower Enclosure
Shower enclosures are what you need when you have a shower that doesn’t have walls on all three sides. The walls of an enclosure are typically made from glass and come in framed or unframed options. These have a door that can slide, have swinging hinges or fold in an accordion style. What kind of shower enclosure you choose will influence the time it takes to install the shower.
Multi-Head Shower
The standard shower has a single head, usually above the primary tub spigot if you have a tub or directly above the shower controls if it’s a standalone shower. However, a growing trend is a shower with multiple heads or jets, especially among people making home improvements. These range in complexity from multiple heads running from the single supply pipe, such as a mounted head and a separate handheld, all the way to multiple jets from multiple shower walls. Depending on the system you choose, you may need additional plumbing to run water to the additional jets. Beyond that, you may need to adjust the wall to accommodate a longer mounting bracket for a more complex shower head but not need additional plumbing.
Materials Used
The material used in your shower plays a major role in how long it takes to install. A simple acrylic or fiberglass kit may easily be swapped out in a single day. Likewise, a glass-walled shower is relatively easy but may take longer than a kit. However, get into ceramic, porcelain, or stone tiles and you can add days of work to allow glue and grout to dry to complete a project.
Prior Leak Damage
One of the unfortunate realities of home ownership is that too often maintenance and updates wait until there’s no choice. For showers, that may mean the shower walls or floors have failed and allowed water to leak through. The extent of that damage will determine what repair work is needed to keep the bathroom safe. You don’t want to replace a shower when there’s evidence of water damage to the subfloor, which can cause issues with spore contaminants in the future, not to mention weakened flooring that could give out and hurt someone.
For nearly 70 years, property owners around Greenville have trusted Black-Haak to keep their homes comfortable and plumbing working well. Our expert team provides residential plumbing installation and repair, including showers, sinks, toilets, and water heaters, alongside heating and AC installation, maintenance and repair, residential electrical services, indoor air quality, and home automation solutions. Call to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced and talented plumbers to discuss the proper shower to replace your current one.
