Replacing a bath with a shower: what to expect

Why the waste route matters most

A bath waste sits high, so water has a generous drop to the soil pipe. A shower tray, and even more so a level access floor, sits much lower. Water still needs a steady fall to drain, so the route from the new waste to the existing pipework has to be checked before anything else is decided.

On a suspended timber floor there is often space between the joists to run the pipe. On a solid concrete floor the options are narrower, and a slightly raised tray may be the honest answer. This is exactly the kind of thing we look at during the survey rather than promise from a photo.

Tray, low profile or level floor

There are broadly three ways to finish the floor. A standard tray is the simplest and the quickest to fit. A low profile tray sits closer to the floor and looks cleaner, but needs the waste to work at a lower height. A fully level floor, where the tiles run straight into the shower, turns the area into a wet room style space and needs the whole floor waterproofed.

Each suits a different home and budget. Our guide comparing wet rooms and walk in showers goes into that decision in more depth.

• Standard tray: straightforward, suits most floors
• Low profile tray: neater look, waste needs more care
• Level access: tiled to the drain, fully tanked floor

The walls around a bath are not built for a shower

The wall above a bath usually sees splashes. The walls around a shower see water every day, sometimes for years. Tiles and grout are not waterproof on their own, so the area needs a proper waterproofing layer or tanking system behind the tiles.

When the bath comes out, the wall behind it is often in poorer condition than people expect. Old plaster, loose tiles or a patched past repair are common. Stripping back and boarding or replastering before the new tiles is part of doing the change properly.

Space, glass and the door swing

A bath is long and narrow, so the space it leaves is usually generous in one direction and tight in the other. That shapes the glass. A single fixed panel keeps a walk in shower open, while a door or enclosure holds heat in a smaller space. It is worth standing in the room and imagining where you will step out, dry off and hang a towel.

Moving the shower to a different wall is possible but moves the waste and supply with it, so it is a bigger job than keeping it in the bath position.

Should you keep a bath somewhere?

This is a personal choice rather than a rule. Households with small children often value a bath, and some buyers look for one. If there is a second bathroom or an en suite, removing one bath is rarely a concern. If it is the only bathroom in the house, it is worth a moment's thought before the bath goes in the skip.