5 Shower Makeover Options -- From DIY to Pro

Taking a warm relaxing shower is one of the simple joys in life. Many homeowners are enhancing that experience with some simple upgrades or an entire shower makeover. The current shower features available range from a variety of showerheads, easy to install, to complex shower systems that require the skills of a plumbing professional. We’ve come up with suggestions that range the full gambit from DIY to a major overhaul.

Replacing the showerhead is the simplest and quickest ways to improve your shower experience; it is also one of the least expensive. The wide range of options in shower heads allow for a major customization of your shower experience, simply by changing out the showerhead. Showerheads generally come with step-by-step installation directions to make installation easy for the DIY homeowner.

Adding a handheld shower. Handheld showers are a great way to add a shower to a bathtub or bathbay that wasn’t originally equipped with a shower. Installation for these types of upgrades are usually very simple.

However, this is the only reason for installing handheld showers. The flexibility of being able to direct the water stream anywhere on your body is another reason you might want to add a handheld shower to your bathbay, even if you already have a showerhead.

You'll find handheld shower fixtures that fit both scenarios.

Replacing an outdated faucet and shower system. Sometimes an update to your shower requires replacing more than just the showerhead, the faucet and water control fixtures may need to be replaced as well. This can present several challenges, especially in a tile shower.

“Older homes usually have a two handle faucet system instead of today’s one handle water control,” explains Suzanne Boyer, owner of Suzie B’s Plumbing in Minneapolis. “When the owner’s don’t want to change the tile, the solution is to use cover plates to hide the old holes in the tile.”

Adding an overhead rain head to your shower. Adding a rain head to an existing shower is one of the most frequent shower makeover requests received by Vinnie Sporsari of Mr. Rooter Plumbing in Seattle. “Rain heads are very popular requests,” Sporsari says, “Pulsating sprays from the sidewalls are also a frequent request.”

Since this type of upgrade requires additional plumbing to bring water to the ceiling of the shower, this type of shower upgrade is generally done by a plumber or bathroom remodel specialist.

Installing shower panels and columns. Shower panels and shower columns provide both economy of price and ease of installation. With several plumbing features combined into a shower panel, you’ll save money compared to buying each fixture separately. You’ll also save time on installation, which is a great saving for both the DIY homeowner and the homeowner who has hired a plumber to do the installation for them.

Nancy Dalton of Baywolf Dalton in Seattle recently installed a Kohler Hydrorail Shower Column for a client on a conservative budget who wanted to transform their shower into a multi-head unit.

“Most clients don't realize the additional plumbing necessary to install a thermostatic valve, several volume controls and different shower heads and body sprays,” Dalton offers. “[In comparison] the HydroRail is a simple install with the water supply lines for the overhead shower outside the wall. It's designed to be attractive and cost effective. Since you can choose your shower heads, you can really customize this to be soothing or invigorating.”

Custom Shower Systems. If you plan to tear out and replace your entire shower or tub/shower system, your options are endless. At the same time, the more complex the system, the more important it is to hire a professional bath remodeler or experienced plumbing professional.

Today’s custom shower options go beyond multiple heads and body sprays to including sound systems and special lighting, the ultimate in shower experience with price tags to prove it.

Start small and simply replace your current shower head with one that offers multiple streams or go all out and do a full shower/tub replacement; either way, the change is bound to improve your shower experience. Watch out for that increase in your water bill as your family members begin extending their shower times.