Want a new shower without paying a fortune? According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to install a new shower is $450 to $10,000, not including demolition and other expenses. This is a hefty price tag for a single feature in your bathroom, but thankfully, you don’t actually have to pay that. Read on to learn how to remodel a shower on a budget.
You Don’t Have to Replace Your Tile!
The biggest expense in a shower remodel is replacing the tile. Your shower pan, faucets and other elements will add up, but the tile is the bulk of the expense. Rather than replacing the tile you already have, you could get it refinished for a fraction of the cost.
Here’s how it works:
- No demolition whatsoever. We will prep the surface of your tile and shower pan to adhere to new coatings, but your existing tile stays right where it is.
- Detailed preparation to ensure long-lasting results. The prep work is the most important part of the process because it determines how durable and smooth the final coating looks.
- Multiple layers of proprietary coating. The coats we use are significantly stronger than the DIY paint kits you may be tempted to buy. The fully-cured coat will look and feel like the shower came fresh from the factory, despite the decades-old tile below.
- Tile and shower pan refinishing only takes a few hours. The specific timeframe varies based on prep time and the size of the shower, but we’ll be in and out within a day.
- Curing time takes about 48 hours. The longer you leave the coating to cure before using the shower, the better the results will be. The surface dries to the touch pretty quickly, but the layers below need some time to firm up.
- Clean and use your shower like normal. Tile and shower refinishing can last 10+ years or more, depending on wear and tear. Best of all, the refinishing covers your porous grout, making future maintenance a breeze!
Beware of Shower Liners
As you plan your shower remodel, you may consider using a shower liner instead. Please proceed with caution. Shower liners look inexpensive at first glance, but they’re riddled with problems. They can be difficult to retrofit into older bathrooms, and they can feel spongy after installation. Shower liners are tricky to seal correctly, which leaves space for moisture to get trapped behind the liner. This leads to mold, mildew, and a slew of other problems. You’re much better off getting tile refinishing instead.
Plan Your Bathroom Remodel in Stages
If you’re struggling to remodel your whole bathroom within your current budget, plan it out in stages. You could start with fresh paint on the walls and the vanity, then replace the flooring in the next phase. You could get all of the tile and countertops refinished first, then worry about the walls and lighting afterward. Find logical stopping points between tasks, and you’ll eventually have a completely new bathroom.
Use a Neutral Color Palette to Create a Timeless Bathroom Design
No matter how you choose to remodel your shower, try to stick with a neutral color palette. This will allow you to change accent pieces with the trends and still have the foundation of a beautiful bathroom. Neutral colors maximize your return on investment and the length of time you have to enjoy your remodel.
For more information about shower refinishing, tile refinishing, tub refinishing, and other refinishing services, contact Maryland Tub and Tile at 877-717-8827.
