How Can I Convert My Bathtub into a Walk in Tub?

Feb 25, 2016

Turning your existing bathtub into a walk-in tub/shower is no easy task. Consider for a moment the materials and tools you would need for the project. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a professional to do it for you, you should weigh the cost of tools and materials against that of a fully functional, ready-made walk-in tub. Is it worth it?

In terms of safety, there are several things you could do to make sure your newly transformed bathtub incorporates all the standard safety qualities of a walk-in tub. Take a moment and consider what these qualities are:

• Low threshold entrance (0" - 7")
• Wheelchair accessibility
• Leak-proof doors
• Easy-to-reach grab bars
• Slip-resistant floor

More on standard safety features can be found here.

How to Mimic the Safety Features of a Walk-In Tub

Your transformed bathtub can host the standard safety features of a walk-in tub but it can be expensive if you're not careful. Take the time to plan and weigh your options.

AmeriGlide's Walk-in Tub Conversion Kit can meet three safety qualities on its own in terms of the low threshold entrance, wheelchair ramp, and leak-proof door. Which leaves you with two safety features yet to be addressed, and these are the easy-to-reach grab bars and anti-slip floor. Avoid portable grab bars at all costs as they are not reliable. Wall-mounted grab bars are easy to install with a drill and can be placed where you find them convenient. Anti-slip floors are also easy to apply with a simple non-slip solution like SlipDoctors' treatment kit.

At least, in theory, you now have a perfectly functional walk-in bathtub with all the standard safety features.

For additional tips and pointers on conversion kits and wheelchair accessibility, click here. For ways on combining bathtub safety items (safety rails, transfer benches, bath lifts etc.) with your conversion, click here.

Plumbing

Building your own walk-in bathtub is no easy task since it requires a lot of planning and experience in flooring, plumbing, and bathroom remodeling in general. Unless you're a pro, don't try this at home.

The plumbing plays a large role in the placement and orientation of the tub due to the location of the drain (left or right) and overflow.  If you plan to move the tub from its original position to save space or for other reasons, you need to be mindful of the drain location and overflow.

You can take a look at the installation styles of walk-in bathtubs here.

How to Mimic a Walk-In Tub with Safety and Therapeutic Features

Turning your regular bathtub into a whirlpool or air massager takes time and money. You would need several jet nozzles, an in-line air or water pump, and a conversion kit just to reach the standard therapeutic features that you would get from a hydrotherapy model.

Each air jet costs around $70, an in-line pump to generate air pressure will cost you anywhere between $300 and $800. Excluding installation costs, you’re creeping up to $2,000 in total at this pace. Keep in mind that the whirlpool feature requires some 20 jet nozzles. Underfilling whirlpool tubs can damage the pump -- some have sensors to shut off the jets if the water level is too low and these can be expensive. An in-line water heater to keep the circulating water from getting cold can also push it.

Economical vs Affordable

At this point, adding more components and expenses is starting to defeat the point of a bathtub conversion. The amount you pay for tools and equipment needed can easily exceed the retail price of a fresh-out-of-the-factory model with the same safety and therapeutic features, not to mention the warranty service that comes with it in the case of a malfunction.

The materials available to you are what determine the number of features to be included in your project. The materials themselves need to be of high-end quality to make the overall performance of the tub long-lasting, corrosion-resistant, low-maintenance and efficient. The more features you want on your homemade walk-in tub, the higher the cost will be. For example, adding only the whirlpool feature instead of a dual hydrotherapy feature might be cheaper but not necessarily economical. To be economical, you have to make sure that each feature or addition is supported by precautionary equipment that saves the system from malfunctioning. Also, water jets should not be turned on when the bathtub is underfilled because the water pump may overclock and break down.

The prices listed above are true retail estimates of the tools you would be needing for the project. Don't try this at home if you don't have the experience in bathroom remodeling. Hiring a professional can be costly but it's safer and leaves you with a product that's of higher quality. 

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