A walk-in shower uses a low-profile or level-access shower tray with a fixed glass screen, so you walk straight in rather than climbing over a bath or a high tray. Only the shower area needs waterproofing behind the walls, which usually makes it simpler, quicker and less expensive than a full wet room. We install walk-in showers across Liverpool and Merseyside, often in place of an old bath or a tired cubicle.
What is involved in a walk-in shower installation?
The heart of a walk-in shower is the tray. A low-profile tray sits only a few centimetres above the floor and has a small step in. A level-access tray is set into the floor so its top edge sits flush with the surrounding floor covering; that takes more floor work but removes the step altogether. Both have a built-in fall to the waste, so the drainage is engineered into the tray rather than formed in the floor.
Around the tray we fit a fixed glass screen or a screen with a short hinged return panel. Walk-in screens are usually open at one end, so there is no door to swing or slide. Behind the shower area the walls are waterproofed before tiles or wall panels go on, and the shower itself is normally a thermostatic mixer or electric shower, chosen to suit your water system.
- Low-profile trayQuick to fit, works on most floors, small step that most people manage easily.
- Level-access trayFlush with the floor, recessed into timber or concrete, suits wheeled shower chairs and people who shuffle.
- Walk-in screenToughened glass, open entry, easy to clean; length and position set to keep spray in.
- Tiles or panelsTiles for a classic look, or waterproof wall panels for fewer grout lines and less upkeep.
Who does a walk-in shower suit?
Walk-in showers suit people who can stand and walk safely but find a bath or high tray awkward, couples who never use the bath, landlords who want a robust, easy-to-clean shower, and anyone who wants a modern, open look. They also suit people planning ahead who want a shower they can keep using as they get older, with space to add a seat and rails later.
If the person uses a wheelchair, needs a carer in the room, or needs to wheel a shower chair right in, a full disabled wet room is usually the better choice because the whole floor is level and the space can be used flexibly.
When does a walk-in shower beat a full wet room?
A walk-in shower is often the better option when:
- Nobody needs to roll in. If everyone using the room can step a few centimetres, a low-profile tray is simpler and keeps the rest of the floor dry.
- The floor is awkward. On some upstairs timber floors, joist direction or depth makes a fully level wet room floor hard to achieve. A tray can solve the drainage more easily.
- You want to keep the rest of the bathroom. A tray-based shower can go in where the bath was without re-flooring the whole room.
- Time and disruption matter. Less floor work and tanking usually means a shorter job.
A full wet room usually wins when level access across the whole room matters, when space is tight and you want every centimetre usable, or when a carer needs to help. Our wet room buyer’s guide sets out the differences in more detail.
How do we install a walk-in shower?
- Call back. We ask who will use the shower, any mobility needs, the room size, whether it is upstairs or downstairs and what is there now.
- Survey. We visit, measure, check the floor and waste route, look at your hot water system and agree where the tray, screen and controls should go.
- Written quote. You get a written quote and plan before anything is booked.
- Strip-out. We remove the bath, old shower or cubicle and any tiles that need to come off.
- Tray and waste. The tray is bedded level on a solid base, or recessed for level access, and connected to the waste.
- Waterproofing and walls. We waterproof the shower walls and fit tiles or panels, then the screen and shower. Electric showers and any lighting or extractor work are done by a qualified electrician.
- Seal, test and hand over. We seal, test for leaks and show you how to use and look after the shower.
Most walk-in shower jobs take a few days, depending on how much strip-out and wall work is needed. We confirm the likely timing at the survey.
Walk-in showers in Merseyside homes
Many bathrooms in Merseyside’s inter-war semis are compact and sit on timber floors, which suits a low-profile tray where the bath used to be. In larger 1930s and post-war houses in Childwall and Woolton, there is often room for a long walk-in screen alongside a separate bath. Bungalows in places such as Formby often have solid floors, which can make a recessed level tray easier to achieve. Whatever the house, the visit tells us what the floor and waste will allow. You can see the wider range of work we do on our wet rooms in Liverpool page.
What affects the cost?
The main cost factors for a walk-in shower are the tray type (low-profile is simpler than recessed level access), the screen size and glass, whether we tile or use wall panels, how much needs stripping out, whether the waste or water supply has to move, and the type of shower. Electrical work, extraction and any making good to ceilings or floors add to the total. Our wet room cost guide explains these factors and how a walk-in shower compares with a full wet room, without guesswork prices.
When to call
Call when climbing into the bath feels unsafe, when your current shower tray is cracked or leaking, when you are replacing a bathroom anyway, or when you want to plan a shower that will still work for you later on. If you are replacing the bath specifically, our page on bath to shower conversion covers that job in more detail. If you are not sure which option suits, ring and we will talk it through with you as your local walk-in shower and wet room fitters.
Planning a walk-in shower?
Tell us about the room and who will use it, and we will call you back and arrange a visit. Call 07777 659786 or leave your details on the form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a walk-in shower and a wet room?
A walk-in shower has a tray, either low-profile or set level with the floor, plus a screen, and only the shower area is waterproofed. A wet room has no tray: the whole floor is tanked and laid to a fall towards a drain. A walk-in shower is usually simpler; a wet room gives fully level access across the whole room.
Can I have a level walk-in shower without a step?
Usually, yes. A level-access tray is recessed into the floor so its edge sits flush with the floor covering. On timber floors that means cutting into the floor and supporting the tray between the joists; on concrete floors it may mean channelling out. We check what your floor allows on the survey before recommending it.
How big does a walk-in shower need to be?
There is no single rule, but a longer tray gives a more comfortable open entry and keeps spray inside the screen. In a narrow room a shorter tray with a hinged return panel can work well. We look at the room, the door position and the shower height and suggest a size that stays dry and feels open.
Will water splash out of an open walk-in shower?
A properly sized screen and a sensible shower position keep most spray inside. Splashing usually happens when the screen is too short for the tray or the shower head points towards the opening. We plan the screen length, head position and tray fall together so the floor outside stays dry in normal use.
Can a seat and grab rails be added to a walk-in shower?
Yes. A fold-down seat and rails can be fitted at the time or later, as long as the walls can take the fixings. If you think you may need them in future, tell us at the survey so we can add support behind the wall before tiling. That makes later fitting much easier.
Is a walk-in shower suitable for a rented property?
Often, yes. Landlords like walk-in showers because they are durable and easy to clean, particularly with wall panels and a good extractor. A low-profile tray is quick to fit between tenancies. We can talk through finishes that will stand up to regular use.