Walk-In Shower vs. Bathtub: How Collin County Homeowners Decide

It is the first question in almost every master bathroom remodel we do across Collin County: keep the tub, or turn that space into a bigger walk-in shower?

There is no single right answer, but there is a right answer for your home. After remodeling bathrooms in Allen, McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Murphy and the rest of Collin County, these are the questions we walk every homeowner through.

The short answer

• Master bathroom: most homeowners choose a large walk-in shower and remove the tub.
• Hall or kids' bathroom: most homeowners keep a tub, especially with young children.
• The house as a whole: keep at least one tub somewhere for resale.

When a walk-in shower makes more sense

Nobody uses the tub. Many homes in Collin County built in the 1990s and 2000s came with a large corner garden tub in the master bath. If yours holds towels, plants or dust, that floor space is better used as shower. We wrote a full guide on removing a garden tub.

You want easier, safer access. Stepping over a tub wall gets harder with age, after a surgery, or with knee and back trouble. A walk-in shower with a low curb (or no curb at all), a bench, a handheld shower and grab bars is safer for everyone. See our ideas for aging-in-place bathrooms.

The bathroom feels cramped. Removing a drop-in tub and its tiled deck often frees enough room for a shower that is two or three times larger than the original.

You want less to clean. One large tiled shower with frameless glass is easier to keep clean than a tub deck, jets and a separate framed shower door.

You get ready at the same time as your partner. A larger shower can fit two shower heads, or a rain head plus a handheld, so mornings move faster.

When to keep a tub

You have young kids and the hall or kids' bathroom is the only other option. Bathing toddlers in a shower is not fun for anyone.

You actually take baths. If a long soak is part of your routine, keep it. A freestanding tub next to a new walk-in shower is one of the most popular master bath layouts we build.

Your home is the only one on the street without a tub. In family neighborhoods in Frisco, Prosper and McKinney, buyers usually expect at least one tub in the house. It does not have to be in the master.

The middle ground most families choose

In many homes in Allen, McKinney and Plano, the answer is to remove the tub in the master bath and keep a tub in a secondary bathroom. You get the shower you want, and the house still works for families with small kids and for future buyers.

Two other layouts worth considering:

• Freestanding tub + walk-in shower. Remove the built-in tub deck, add a freestanding tub, and enlarge the shower. Needs a medium to large master bath.
• Wet room. The shower and a freestanding tub sit together behind one glass panel on the same waterproofed floor. It looks high-end and saves space, but it must be waterproofed correctly.

What it looks like in a real project

In this master bathroom remodel in Murphy, the homeowners had a corner garden tub and a narrow framed shower. We removed both and built one walk-in shower about 9 feet long, kept the arched window as the focal point, and added a new double vanity.

For a hall bath, this tub-to-shower conversion in Frisco turned a fiberglass tub combo into a walk-in shower with frameless glass.

What affects the cost of each option

Every bathroom is different, so we quote each one after measuring it in person. The biggest factors are:

• Moving the drain. If the new shower drain is in a different spot, the slab has to be opened. Most Collin County homes sit on a concrete slab.
• Shower size and tile height. A larger shower and tile to the ceiling mean more material and labor.
• Glass. A fixed panel, a frameless door or a sliding door all price differently. See how to choose shower glass.
• Freestanding tub. The tub, a floor-mounted or wall-mounted filler, and the plumbing behind it.

Read more about what drives bathroom remodel costs. We also offer 0% financing, subject to credit approval.

How long it takes

A tub-to-shower conversion usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks. A full master bathroom remodel usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Here is what to expect while you live at home.

Questions to ask yourself before you decide

1. How often does anyone use this tub today?
2. Is there another tub in the house?
3. Do you plan to stay in the home for the next 10 years or more?
4. Would anyone in the house benefit from a low-threshold shower now or later?
5. Do you want a soaking tub enough to give up shower space for it?

Frequently asked questions

Does removing the bathtub hurt resale value?

Usually not, as long as there is at least one tub elsewhere in the house, typically in a hall or kids' bathroom. In the master bath, buyers in Collin County tend to value a large, modern walk-in shower.

Can a tub be converted into a walk-in shower in the same space?

Yes. A standard 5-foot tub alcove converts into a 60-inch walk-in shower without moving walls. That is one of the most common tub-to-shower conversions we do.

How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?

Usually about 1 to 2 weeks, including demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tile and glass.

Can I keep a tub and still get a bigger shower?

Often, yes. Replacing a built-in garden tub and deck with a smaller freestanding tub usually frees enough room to enlarge the shower.

Not sure yet? Let us measure

Book a free in-home visit. We will measure your bathroom, show you both layouts, and bring tile and finish samples to your home so you can decide with confidence. Our own in-house crew does the work, and we serve Allen, McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Murphy and the rest of Collin County.