Replacing bath with walk in shower. Cost?

Home adaptions are means tested through the OT, but regardless of that you will need a proper assessment of what is required for your husbands condition. You may not need a shower tray at all, if you want the shower chair to go in to the bathroom as we did with my husband. It depends whether your husband can weightier or not and if he is safe standing in shower. You may need a wall chair and as there are so many options you will need proper guidance. Your husband can be strip washed until the work is done, it will do no harm not to shower for a few months. If not perhaps respite while the work is being done. My husband was not allowed discharge until the home was totally ready and safe proved for his arrival home. You will not regret taking your time over this which after all his a major alteration to your home, and which you may want to change back to a standard shower which is warmer at a later stage. No one knows what the future holds, so have your options open and a plan B too.

weight bear

I would wait and speak to your husbands occupational therapist first .
I worked with stroke patients for years and the patients recovery denotes their needs , for instance the balance of a stroke patient can be badly affected which can mean they are not suitable for a bath hoist or a stair lift . Also if they are immobile they may need a shower chair which can be wheeled into a flat floor shower without a lip . As I say you are best discussing his needs with the OT and she will probably do a home visit for all his needs .

These companies rip off the elderly even if it's just bathroom replacement. You should report them to your local council.

We had ours done and it only cost £2000 and that was with extra tiles that fell off and had to be replaced.
We used a local plumber.

We’ve just had a bath removed and a walk-in. Shower fitted, no Invoice received yet.
But we didn’t have a shower enclosure, just the tray and a fixed piece of glass, making it easier if someone has to get into the shower with you to help you.
We have a small Flipper panel to stop the water splashing out onto the drying area. It’s a long shower tray so the water doesn’t come out anyway, but it was just in case.

Sounds expensive to me but builders and plumbers prices have gone up dramatically since Brexit and COVID. There's a shortage of skilled labour and the goods ones are in demand. I would try a local plumber rather than a bathroom fitting company if I were you.

I emailed Convertabath late last night and he phoned me this morning. The basic cost is £600 for adapting the bath, £30 for a chrome grab-rail and £20 for travel costs (35p/mile). He will try to mend our existing (broken) shower screen or fit a new one for £20. He could do it pretty soon. We are having a chat tonight but I imagine it's a no-brainer for our purpose at that price. Will let you all know when it's been done and tried out.

The pics he sent do show a fair step into the bath but DH feels he can manage that.

Goodness, I’m surprised how little some folk have paid. I had existing walk in shower - which had a tray - replaced with level wet room about three years ago. Room fully tanked (which I believe is mandatory) and tiled. Cost including fittings, tiling, underfloor heating (a necessity as far as I’m concerned) etc. was about £11k. I don’t regret a penny of it. Fantastic job done by local tradesmen who have all 10/10 reviews on Which Trusted Trader - which is my go to when I need stuff doing

£10k in 2022 here.

Unfortunately everything from any Grant or LA has a massive long wait. Even then depending on your finances they can be refused.

That seems very excessive. Wet room? My whole bathroom remodel cost less than that! I have a walk in shower.

Madmeg

I emailed Convertabath late last night and he phoned me this morning. The basic cost is £600 for adapting the bath, £30 for a chrome grab-rail and £20 for travel costs (35p/mile). He will try to mend our existing (broken) shower screen or fit a new one for £20. He could do it pretty soon. We are having a chat tonight but I imagine it's a no-brainer for our purpose at that price. Will let you all know when it's been done and tried out.

The pics he sent do show a fair step into the bath but DH feels he can manage that.

Wonderful news!

BellaBella55

Goodness, I’m surprised how little some folk have paid. I had existing walk in shower - which had a tray - replaced with level wet room about three years ago. Room fully tanked (which I believe is mandatory) and tiled. Cost including fittings, tiling, underfloor heating (a necessity as far as I’m concerned) etc. was about £11k. I don’t regret a penny of it. Fantastic job done by local tradesmen who have all 10/10 reviews on Which Trusted Trader - which is my go to when I need stuff doing

The firm I was going to go with was with Which? Trusted Trader. Will post again and say what I think of them when they refund my deposit. 😉

Hi don't rush in. I found a slideboard (£20) meant I could sit down then lift my legs over the bath. Then either stay seated or stand up for a shower! Also I'm under going chemo & was told best to bath to keep picc line dry. Partner bought a bath cushion, that inflates and even lowers & raises me into the bath (£399). Not major alteration and easy for carers to use. Good luck and speedy recovery. Ps second stair lift I rented, the purchased for about (£500)

My late DH had 2 strokes and l was the same as you Primrose. I wanted everything sorted before he was able to come home.
It is a two year wait here in Cambridgeshire for anything over a £1000.00. My DH would have needed stairlift, adapted shower etc.
I also got quotes like you, mine were as high as £9000.00 just to remove bath and put shower in. In the end a lovely local company quoted £2500.00.
Please be careful as there some people who will take advantage of you. I hope your husband continues to improve and recover.

Maya1

My late DH had 2 strokes and l was the same as you Primrose. I wanted everything sorted before he was able to come home.
It is a two year wait here in Cambridgeshire for anything over a £1000.00. My DH would have needed stairlift, adapted shower etc.
I also got quotes like you, mine were as high as £9000.00 just to remove bath and put shower in. In the end a lovely local company quoted £2500.00.
Please be careful as there some people who will take advantage of you. I hope your husband continues to improve and recover.

Thank you so much Mayal.

And also everybody else. Really appreciate your opinions.

Have you somewhere you could have a wet room put in but still keep your bathroom. You will then have the.option of a bath or shower.

I used a local plumber last year. Mine was relatively straightforward as kept shower that was above the bath. Cost with VAT was just under £2000.

Bella Bella, how long did you have to wait before the work was done? I have heard plumbers are very busy.

Onetoein, slideboard, bath cushion and rented starelift. All such useful information. I wonder these innovations are not advertised more on the usual media.

A bidet , sitz bath style, plus strip washing while seated on the bidet might be a way to go, and a lot cheaper. There are 'comfort height ' bidets that can be flanked by secure hand rails

Caleo

Bella Bella, how long did you have to wait before the work was done? I have heard plumbers are very busy.

It’s not so much “busy” many/most small plumbers are self employed and restrict their work to stay below the VAT threshold, 20% on the cost plus 40% tax means they are working for nothing, so they go fishing or play golf.

I waited a couple of months but they could have started sooner. One of the guys also returned recently to fit a new kitchen tap. I recommended the firm to my neighbour, which I only do if absolutely sure, and she was equally delighted with work.

I booked a new ensuite job in in August 2024, and it's now looking like February or March.
I know he isn't fibbing, because I've seen his vans on another job in town.
My garage has all the stuff in it waiting to be fitted.