Walk-in bathtubs and walk-in showers – Which is the perfect choice

Don’t walk-in bathtubs and walk-in showers feel and look more ergonomic than traditional ones? If you have decided to remodel your bathroom or move into a new place, we suggest you check out everything these walk-in wet room fixtures have to offer you. Apart from adding to the aesthetic value of the house, they are beneficial for families with kids and elders. The walk-in feature provides comfort, safety, and convenience. Keep reading to know more about walk-in bathtubs and walk-in showers before you finalize your renovation plans.

Walk-in bathtubs
How many times have we all dreaded falling face-first on the bathroom floor? How many of us fear the thought of our parents or grandparents slipping while stepping in or out of the bathtub? As scary as it sounds, there is an answer to this problem. Walk-in bathtubs are the answer to all your ‘slipping and falling in the bathroom’ woes.

Different types of walk-in bathtubs

• Soaker tub
  The soaker tub is the walk-in version of your basic traditional bathtub.
• Wheelchair-accessible tub
  As the name suggests, this particular tub is specially designed to aid people that have to go from a wheelchair to the tub or from sitting on a different surface into the tub.
• Bariatric walk-in tub
  Bariatric tubs are similar to wheelchair-accessible bathtubs, but they are heavy-duty.
• Aerotherapy tub
  These tubs are designed to keep water moving gently inside the tub with some bubbling. This feature is also useful for maintaining a bacteria-free environment inside the tub by drying it after draining.
• Hydrotherapy tub
  Also known as whirlpool tubs, these bathtubs provide a whole new definition to relaxing baths. The water pressure and temperature help relax the muscles.
• Aromatherapy tub
  These tubs mix aromatic essential oils with the water to provide a sweet-smelling and relaxing bathing experience.

Pros
A walk-in tub offers you all the features of the old-school bathtubs, and then some. Some of the additional features of various walk-in tubs include things like jets, faster drainage, and heated backrest. All these help in relaxing and soothing the muscles. The barely-there steps allow safety from accidental falls. They also come with hand-rails for extra assistance and even slip resistance which provides extra safety. Let’s be honest, baths are a soothing experience. Especially if your bathtub provides you with a spa-like experience, at home!

Cons
Proper installation is key to the optimal functioning of a walk-in bathtub. If the installation process goes wrong, the water could leak out of the tub flowing all over the bathroom floor. Now that is a complete no-no! The price you pay for a comforting bath can sometimes make you question your decision. The quality experience you choose will possibly cost you according to the features included.

One of the biggest disadvantages of having a walk-in bathtub is that you can’t leave it to fill while you go around gathering your bath essentials. The door access system requires you to start filling the bathtub after you step in and drain it before stepping out. This is time-consuming and can also leave you feeling cold till the tub fills up with warm water. Not to forget, that tubs use up a lot of water that can be easily saved in a shower.

Walk-in showers
Walk-in showers are a great way of creating an illusion of a larger shower space. It also gives your bathroom a cleaner and more elegant look. For people who prefer long soaks over sitting in the tub, this definitely fits the bill. If you are one of those people and are looking to remodel your bathroom, here’s some bonus information, if you don’t want to invest in a brand new fixture, you can remodel the existing tub into a walk-in shower.

Basic features of a walk-in shower
Walk-in showers are not the same as traditional showers. The biggest difference between the two is that the former lacks doors and curtains. Which means it is an open plan which does not give you a separate shower stall. The floor of the shower is not differentiated either. However, if you want, you can ask for a sloping shower floor which prevents water from seeping out.

Pros
Walk-in showers are easy, quick, and convenient to use. Right from kids to seniors, everyone will be able to take their time in the shower. You can even furnish your fancy walk-in showers with handlebars, non-slip flooring, and benches. For people with mobility issues or with joint problems, getting down to the floor of a bathtub can be a tedious task. Showers save you all that hassle. The basic cost of a walk-in shower ranges around $1,000. This means not only will your bathroom look and feel bigger, but it also won’t put a dent in your budget.

Cons
Walk-in showers lack doors or curtains. They are completely or partially open. This grants water open access to flow out of the shower stall. Which in turn increases the risk of slipping on the wet floor and falling. To avoid it, you might need to re-tile the complete bathroom floor with slip-resistant tiles. The lack of partition can cause a draft in the atmosphere of your shower stall and fluctuate the temperature. The increased humidity inside the shower does not account for a relaxing shower.

Installing a door to a walk-in shower is a costly affair. These doors are costlier than those of traditional shower stalls. This is surely something you should consider before getting a walk-in shower, especially if you think you might regret not having a door. However, the cost of the shower also changes with the features and design of your bathroom and the shower. Considering the type and quality of your walk-in shower design, you will be incurring an average cost of $6,000 to $11,000.

Before choosing between a walk-in bathtub or a walk-in shower, factor in all your requirements related to your comfort, safety, and your family’s needs. Once you know what you want, making the right choice between both will be easy.