Short answer: Replace only the shower when the shower is the problem and the rest of the room is in good shape. Remodel the whole bathroom when the shower’s trouble reaches past the shower, when you want the layout to change, or when you would end up opening the same walls twice. The way to decide is to find out what the water has reached first, then decide how much of the room has to be opened.
Three levels of bathroom work, from three of our jobs
- Brookline, a refresh. The contract repaired a ceiling crack and water damage, removed mold, patched wall cracks and repainted. It replaced the vanity (with a minor plumbing change), the mirror and the light fixture, and moved or added towel holders. It also included a small grout repair near the door threshold.
- Quincy, a shower rebuild. The contract removed the existing shower and replaced it with a new walk-in shower: framing, cement board and waterproofing, then new wall tile and shower-floor tile with grout, plus necessary drywall repairs. The rest of the bathroom was outside this contract. It also listed optional add-ons: moisture protection for the shower wall, a glass door, a niche, grout sealer and, if needed, insulation for the exterior wall.
- Walpole, the whole bathroom. The contract took out the tub and shower, the tile, the vanity, the toilet, the sink, the mirror and the fixtures, and rebuilt the room: a new walk-in shower with a mortar base, cement board and full waterproofing, new wall and floor tile, a new vanity, new plumbing fixtures and baseboards, drywall repair and paint. The linen closet that opened onto the hallway was closed off and rebuilt inside the bathroom, with a pocket-door entry.
Six questions that decide it
1. Why is the shower being replaced? If the tile is dated but sound, a shower-only job can be a clean swap. If water has been getting out, find where it went before you fix the scope. Stains on the ceiling below, a soft spot in the floor, a musty smell or loose tile can mean the damage goes beyond the shower.
2. What will look wrong next to a new shower? New tile beside tired floor tile, an old vanity or a toilet that doesn’t match shows up fast. The edges where the new shower meets the floor and the walls get redone anyway, so ask which of the neighboring surfaces are worth doing at the same time.
3. Do you want to move anything? A wall, a door, the toilet or the vanity: any of these makes it a whole-room job, because the plumbing, framing and finishes all change together. We wrote about what that involves in changing a bathroom layout.
4. What is behind the walls? A shower valve and drain tie into the plumbing that serves the rest of the room. Once the old shower is out, it’s the time to look at the supply lines, the drain, the insulation and the vent. The Quincy contract listed insulation for the exterior wall as an optional add-on, if needed. For a look at what goes into a new shower wall, see what’s behind shower tile, layer by layer.
5. Is the fan up to it? A new shower often means more steam, and an undersized or tired fan will leave it in the room. We covered how to choose one in bathroom exhaust fans in a remodel.
6. How long can you go without the room? Whether it’s the shower or the whole bathroom, the room is out of use while the work goes on. If it’s your only bathroom, one longer job may be easier to live with than two rounds of work.
When shower-only is the right size
- The vanity, toilet, floor and walls are in good shape and you are happy with them
- The problem is limited to the shower, and nothing suggests the water got out
- The plumbing in the room works and you’re not moving anything
- Ventilation is already doing its job
When to go further
- Water damage, mold or soft floor beyond the shower
- A layout change
- Neighboring surfaces that will look worn against the new tile, or would need to be opened anyway
- A fan that can’t keep up, or one that vents into the wrong place
Checklist for the estimate visit
- Write down why the shower is being replaced, and when the trouble started
- Note stains, soft spots or smells in the room and in the ceiling below
- List what you’d like to keep and what you’d like to change
- Ask what will be opened up and what will be left alone
- Ask how the new shower will meet the floor and the walls around it
- Bring this list to the visit; more on what to prepare is in what happens at an in-home bathroom remodel estimate
FAQ
Can I replace only the shower and keep the old vanity? Yes. The Quincy contract covered the shower only. Just make sure the new tile and the old surfaces around it look right together.
Can I do the rest of the bathroom later? Usually, but tell your contractor now so the shower is built with the later work in mind, such as where the floor tile will meet the shower.
How do I know if water damage goes beyond the shower? Look for stains on the ceiling below, a soft or spongy floor, loose tile or a musty smell. A contractor can look at the walls once the old shower is out, so ask for a plan if something unexpected turns up.
Does replacing a shower need a permit? It depends on what is being changed, and plumbing and electrical work usually do. Your town’s building department has the final word; we wrote about it in what needs a permit when you remodel in Massachusetts.
Eric Zhang is the owner of Sun Shore Construction, a general contractor in Greater Boston founded in November 2019. He has more than a decade of hands-on renovation experience.
Planning a bathroom remodel? Get a free in-home estimate: call us or fill out the form on sunshoreconstruction.com.
