Is a walk-in tub really the only way to stop climbing in?
Options besides a walk-in tub, including a walk-in shower, for older adults and their families in Bradenton, FL.
Maybe a parent in Bradenton still gets out to Robinson Preserve, yet the step into the tub at home has become the hard part of the day. A walk-in tub is the first thing people suggest. You want to hear the other choices before you spend on one, and you want them in plain words.
The trouble is not bathing. It is the side of the tub. A standard tub makes you lift a leg high while you stand on something wet. A walk-in tub fixes that with a door and a seat, and it makes sense for someone who loves a long soak. For someone who would rather shower, the same climb can go away without a tub at all. Think about which one sounds like your parent.
The usual alternatives are a walk-in shower with a low or barrier-free entry, a tub-to-shower conversion, and a built-in seat with grab bars in the new shower. Each of those takes the climb away. One Bradenton shower we put in during 2024 has an open entry with no door, Alabaster walls in a random stone pattern and Brushed Nickel fixtures. Price depends on the space and your picks: size and layout, base, walls, fixture finish and extras.
Start with a frank talk about how your parent likes to wash. A soaker may want the walk-in tub. Someone who only showers may not need one. Then book a design visit with Love Your Bath, which installs both walk-in tubs and walk-in showers. All homeowners are asked to be present. The designer hears out the whole family and builds a custom plan with options and a free quote. Dan F. called his visit "an excellent presentation!"
Once it is in, your parent walks into a Jacuzzi® shower with no tub wall in the way. A seat is there for washing feet, and a grab bar is in easy reach. The walls wipe down fast, so the room stays fresh between visits. Those visits stop feeling like bathroom duty, and everyone relaxes a little.
What people in Bradenton say
"Just had our walk in shower done by Love Your Bath, it is spectacular, far above what I imagined. Jose Castro was our installer and he is the best. He was meticulous, cleaned up after, and kept things on track as he and his helper kept the project going. The shower is just beautiful and I don’t have to clean grout anymore. Thank you Jose and Love Your Bath for a job well done. Could not be more pleased. Diane L."
"It was a surprise to find a beautiful professional woman showing her professionalism each step of the way during this transaction. And these times that is hard to find. Thank you very much for your help and explanation during this transaction."
"Shalina, at Love Your Bath, gave an excellent presentation! Very knowledgeable. We were impressed with the quality of the bath products. So much so that we immediately decided to move forward with our renovation! We were also thankful that she was able to arrive 20 minutes earlier than the appointment so as to fit with our schedule."
Other things people in Bradenton ask
cost to remove a bathtub and make a walk-in shower
We take out the tub and put in a low-threshold or barrier-free shower in the same space, so you are not paying to move walls or plumbing in most homes. You pick the base, walls, seat and grab bars with a designer at home and get a free quote for the whole job.
least expensive way to replace a shower
The lowest-cost way to get a real new shower is to replace just the shower: a new base and wall system installed over a cleaned-out space, with no full gut. That is what we do with Jacuzzi® shower systems, and most jobs take as little as one day.
Ready to talk?
Love Your Bath handles walk-in showers in Bradenton and the area around it.