A bath to shower conversion means taking out the bath and fitting a shower in the same space, usually a walk-in shower with a low-profile tray or a level-access shower with no step at all. The water supply and waste are adapted, the walls in the shower area are waterproofed and finished, and a screen keeps the spray in. For most homes in Liverpool and Merseyside the job takes a few days, and the rest of the bathroom can often stay as it is.
What is involved in removing a bath?
Taking out a bath sounds straightforward, but what is behind it decides how the conversion goes. Baths are often boxed in with panels and tiles that hide old pipework, and the floor under them has sometimes been wet for years without anyone knowing. We remove the bath, panel and nearby tiles, then look at the floor, the waste connection and the walls.
From there, the conversion usually follows one of three routes:
- Low-profile trayA slim tray in the bath space with a small step in. The quickest option and suitable for most floors.
- Level-access trayA tray recessed so it sits flush with the floor, giving step-free access without making the whole room a wet room.
- Wet areaThe floor in the shower area is formed to a fall and tanked, with a drain instead of a tray. Sometimes extended to the whole room, becoming a full wet room.
What changes in the bathroom?
A bath is usually about 1.7 metres long and fairly narrow, which suits a long shower tray with a fixed screen. The main things that change are:
- The waste. A shower waste needs to carry water away well, so the pipe run and its fall are checked and often renewed.
- The water supply and controls. Bath taps are replaced with a shower valve, either a thermostatic mixer running from your hot water system or an electric shower. Thermostatic controls help protect against scalding.
- The walls. A bath only gets splashed; a shower soaks the walls. The shower area is waterproofed before tiles or panels go on.
- The floor. Any damage under the old bath is repaired, and the flooring is extended into the old bath space if needed.
- Safety extras. A fold-down seat, grab rails and a slip-resistant floor finish are easy to add at this stage.
The toilet and basin can usually stay where they are, which keeps disruption down. If you would like those changed too, for example a comfort-height toilet, see our accessible bathrooms page.
Who is a bath to shower conversion for?
This is one of the most common requests we get from older people and their families. A bath side is a real fall risk once balance, hip or knee problems make stepping over it difficult. Conversions also suit busy households where nobody has used the bath in years, and landlords who want a shower that is easier to keep clean. If the person uses a wheelchair or needs a carer to help them shower, a fully level disabled wet room is often the better long-term choice.
Keeping a bath somewhere else
Some families want to lose the bath in one room but keep one in the house, perhaps for young grandchildren, for soaking, or for resale. Options include keeping the bath in the main bathroom and converting a downstairs bathroom or en-suite into a shower room, or fitting a shorter bath alongside a separate walk-in shower in a larger room. We can talk through what works with your layout and plumbing on the visit. If the house only has one bathroom and the person who struggles with the bath lives there full time, the shower is usually the priority.
How does the conversion work, step by step?
- Phone call. We ask who the shower is for, whether they have any mobility needs, and what the bathroom is like now.
- Visit. We measure the bath space, check the floor, waste route and hot water system, and agree a layout with you.
- Written quote. You receive a written quote and plan before anything is booked.
- Removal. We take out the bath, panel and tiles in the shower area and protect the rest of the room.
- Plumbing and base. We adapt the waste and supply, repair the floor and fit the tray or form the wet area.
- Waterproofing and finishes. We waterproof the shower walls, fit tiles or panels, the screen, shower and any seat or rails. Electrical work is done by a qualified electrician.
- Test and hand over. We seal, test for leaks and show you how to use and care for the shower.
How long does it take?
A straightforward conversion with a low-profile tray usually takes a few days. A recessed level tray, a new waste run, floor repairs or a move to a full wet room can take longer, often around a week. Timing depends on what we find under the bath, so we give you a realistic estimate at the visit and keep you updated if anything changes.
Bath to shower conversions around Merseyside
Bath conversions come up in every kind of house, but some patterns repeat. In inter-war semis in West Derby and Crosby, the bathroom is often small and upstairs, so a long tray in the bath space is the natural fit. In Huyton and Prescot we see plenty of family homes where the bath is no longer used. Bungalows in Maghull and Heswall can often take a level tray on a solid floor. You can find out more about our bathroom and wet room installation in Liverpool on the main page.
What affects the cost?
Cost depends on the type of tray or wet area, the screen, whether the waste or supply needs moving, the shower type, the wall finish, floor repairs and whether you add a seat, rails or new electrics. If the conversion is for a disabled person’s own use, VAT relief may apply if the eligibility rules are met. Our wet room cost guide explains each factor in plain English.
When should you call?
Ring when stepping into the bath feels unsafe, after a fall or a hospital stay, when an occupational therapist has suggested a shower, or simply when you are ready to stop using the bath. You can call 07777 659786 and speak to one of our Merseyside wet room specialists.
Swap your bath for a shower
Tell us about your bathroom and who will be using the shower, and we will call you back and arrange a visit. Call 07777 659786 or use the form.
Frequently asked questions
Can any bath be replaced with a walk-in shower?
Most baths can. The bath space is usually long enough for a good-sized shower tray with a screen. What decides the details is the floor underneath, the route for the waste pipe and your hot water system. We check those on the visit and tell you which type of shower will work best.
Will removing the bath affect selling the house?
It can for some buyers, particularly families with young children, which is why some people keep a bath elsewhere in the house. For many homes, and particularly where an older or disabled person lives, a safe, modern shower is more useful. If resale is a worry, ask us about keeping a bath in another room.
Do I need an electric shower or a mixer shower?
It depends on your hot water. A combi boiler or a hot water cylinder with decent pressure can usually run a thermostatic mixer. If your hot water is limited, an electric shower heats water as it goes. We look at your system on the visit and suggest what will give a reliable, safe shower.
Can I add a shower seat after the conversion?
Yes, as long as the wall can take the fixings. If you think a seat or rails may be needed later, tell us before the walls are tiled or panelled, so we can add backing behind them. That makes fitting them later much easier and stronger.
Is there help with the cost of a bath to shower conversion?
For disabled people, a council Disabled Facilities Grant may help, depending on an assessment and, for adults, a means test. VAT relief may also apply to some adaptations for a disabled person’s own use. Our DFG wet rooms page explains how the grant process works.