More and more Utah County homeowners are pulling the tub out of their primary bath and putting in a big walk-in shower. It looks modern, it is easy to step into, and it is easy to clean. But the tub is not dead. Here is how to pick the right one for each bathroom in your home.
I am Dakota. I have remodeled bathrooms across Utah County for over 13 years. This is the question I hear most: keep the tub, or go to a walk-in shower? There is no single right answer. It depends on the room, your family, and your plans for the home. Let me walk you through it.
The one big rule: keep at least one tub somewhere in the house. You can turn your primary bath into a shower-only space and love it. Just leave a tub in a guest or hall bath. If you take out your only tub, you can hurt your resale and turn away buyers with young kids.
Why people are choosing the walk-in shower
The walk-in shower is winning in primary baths for good reasons. Most folks shower far more than they soak. A big, open shower just fits how they live.
It looks modern
A tile walk-in shower with a glass panel feels clean and high-end. It opens up the room and makes a small bathroom feel bigger. This is the look most people want when they remodel a primary bath today.
It is easy to step into
You do not have to climb over a tub wall to get in. A low curb, or no curb at all, makes it easy at any age. A curbless shower has no step at all. You walk straight in, level with the floor. That is a smart pick if you plan to stay in your home for the long haul.
It is easy to clean
No tub to scrub around. A glass panel and tile wipe down fast. Good tile and a clean drain mean less work every week.
"I've worked with dozens of general contractors in Utah county. Dakota was excellent with communication, fair pricing, great subs, and the bathroom remodel turned out incredible. I live in a 105 year old house in Springville, which comes with many challenges. By the time we ran into a problem, he already was churning up a solid permanent solution."
Sinjun Halladay · Bathroom remodel, SpringvilleWhy the tub is still worth keeping
The tub has real strengths. Do not rip one out just because showers are trendy. Here is what a tub gives you.
Resale
This is the big one. Most agents will tell you to keep at least one tub in the home. Buyers with little kids look for a tub. If your house has none, some of them keep driving. One tub in a guest or hall bath checks that box.
Families with young kids
Bathing a baby or a toddler in a walk-in shower is hard. A tub makes bath time simple and safe. If you have small kids, or plan to, you want at least one good tub.
Soaking
Some people love a long soak at the end of the day. If that is you, a nice soaking tub is worth the space. Many homeowners put a soaking tub and a separate walk-in shower in a large primary bath and get both.
Best of both, when there is room: in a big primary bath, you can have a walk-in shower and a freestanding soaking tub side by side. That gives you the modern shower you use every day and the soak you want now and then. It costs more, but it is a popular choice when the space allows.
Rough cost ranges
Here are real ballpark numbers for Utah County. Every bathroom is a little different, so treat these as a range, not an exact quote.
Keep or replace a tub: about $3,000 to $8,000
Swapping in a new tub with a tile or panel surround in the same spot is the cheaper path. There is less to tear out and the plumbing stays put.
Simple walk-in shower: about $6,000 to $12,000
A clean walk-in shower with tile and a basic glass panel lands in this range for most baths. The tile, the glass, and the waterproofing all add cost over a plain tub.
Large custom tile shower with glass: about $12,000 to $25,000 or more
A big curbless shower with floor-to-ceiling tile, a bench, a niche, and a full glass enclosure is a bigger job. More tile and more labor means more cost. Top materials can push it past this range.
Two things move these numbers the most: how much tile you choose, and whether we move the plumbing. Keeping the drain and water lines where they are saves real money. Moving them adds cost.
Tile and glass choices
Tile is the biggest swing in a shower. A simple tile in a basic pattern is easier and cheaper to install. Large-format tile, small mosaics, and fancy patterns take more labor. A tile niche and a built-in bench add a nice touch and a little cost.
For glass, you have two main paths. A single fixed glass panel, often called a walk-in or "no-door" panel, is clean and budget-friendly. A full glass enclosure with a door costs more but keeps every drop of water inside. We help you pick the one that fits your room and your budget.
"We were doing some remodeling in our bathrooms. Lynnwood Construction did an excellent job with drywall and flooring. They were very good with communication to keep us up to date. They completed the job in a timely manner and workmanship was excellent. They were also very good at cleaning the areas after the work was done."
rgamett · Bathroom remodelHow to decide: primary bath vs guest bath
Here is the simple way I help homeowners choose. Think about each bathroom on its own.
For your primary bath
This is the room you use every day. A walk-in shower is usually the right call here. It feels modern, it is easy to step into, and it is easy to clean. If you have the space and you love a soak, add a soaking tub next to it. If your primary bath is your only tub in the house, that changes things, so check the next part.
For a guest or hall bath
This is the smart place to keep a tub, especially if it is the only tub in the home. It covers you for resale and for families with young kids. A clean tub with a tile surround here lets you go shower-only in the primary bath without worry.
So the common winning plan looks like this: a big walk-in shower in the primary bath, and one good tub kept in a guest or hall bath. You get the modern shower you want and you keep your resale safe.
Get help picking the right one
The ranges and tips here are a good start. Your best choice depends on your home and your plans. The easy move is a free in-home estimate. I walk your bathrooms, talk through what you want, and give you one honest price in writing. No pressure and no commission salesman.
Want to learn more first? See our bathroom remodeling page for what we do. If you are nearby, we also cover bathroom remodeling in Springville and bathroom remodeling in Lehi.