Bathtub conversion to walk in shower?

Question

Anyone ever cut the side of an existing bathtub to make a walk in shower? I am looking at a way to modify my mother-in-laws bathtub to make it more accessible since she can no longer climb into the tub. The tub is a cast iron/fiberglass covered design. Thanks for your help

Answer 1

I've never, but it sounds like a good idea.

http://www.bathtubcut.com/tubcut-walk-in...

Answer 2

I actually did cut my tub for a walk in shower but only to remove it. When you cut the side there are 2 pieces with a space in between the inside and outside so turning it into a shower is not impossible but would require you to cut through cast iron which would take a torch. This would burn the fiberglass and even if you got it cut you would have to form a new fiberglass edge.

Tear out the whole thing and replace with a retrofit shower floor.

http://www.theswancorp.com/products/show...

Home depot can order one from the company. A white one is $205 and you specify either left or right drain opening(when you look at the tub it will be your left or right)

Answer 3

Optimum would be to do a real walk-in shower, but as a stopgap till you get things figured out, can she use a transfer seat and some good grab bars?  These can often be borrowed from senior centers for temporary use.

http://www.vitalitymedical.com/Catalog/B...

The only time I've been involved in cast iron tub removal, it involved a  very large friend with a very large sledgehammer.  And yes, it was a complete bathroom makeover.

BTW, tubs are a whole lot slicker than most of us should be standing on routinely.  You'd need to add some good skidproofing to a tub to even begin to make it safe.

Answer 4

It would be better to buy one made for such a thing.

Answer 5

getting it out? that's not a problem at all go with the sledge steel tubs crumble when you slam on them. if you're worried about the cost then go with a shower pan, and some glass board sides. the shower pan would be about $75 and the glass board is about 40 a piece (but you could go only up to the tile yeah it'll look bad but it'll do the trick). this way you could leave the existing plumbing (assuming you can find a pan with the drain where you already have it or REAL close). you COULD cut the tub and weld in new steel for the notch. follow that up by painting with enamel that you use to refinish a tub (i'd get enough to do the whole tub though so it don't look out of place).