Shower kits are a fast, economical way to refresh your bathroom’s appearance. Made of durable, easy-to-clean materials, these all-in-one kits combine convenience with value by providing all the coordinated elements you need to add a separate shower to a master bath, enhance the functionality of a second bathroom or include a shower as part of a basement remodel.  There’s a kit to match any budget, from select kits with the base, shower walls and door to more comprehensive kits that include fixtures and accessories like towel bars and even shower curtains. This buying guide will inform you about the materials, designs and installation options available, so you can feel confident you’re choosing the shower kit that will work best for you.

Easy Care Materials
If you haven’t upgraded your shower since your home was built, you may be pleasantly surprised by the durable, easy care qualities a shower kit can bring to your bath. Typically made of a sturdy composite materials and sometimes with an acrylic finish, these enclosures are easy to clean and resistant to chipping, cracking and peeling. The pre-formed wall panels reduce maintenance associated with grouting and mold and mildew growth. You’ll find a variety of styling, textures and finishes to match virtually any décor.

Versatile Designs
Shower kits are ideal for renovations and remodels because they come as streamlined multi-piece units that can be maneuvered through doorways and up staircases, then fit together to form a watertight seal. Available in several standard designs, they share the common feature of fitting comfortably into existing spaces, such as corners and along walls, with various options for door configurations, including pivot, bi-fold and sliding. When making your selection, consider the shower base configuration and be sure it will fit in the allotted space.

Corner showers are shaped like a square and offer an elegant solution for small bathrooms. They are also a popular solution for master baths with a separate bathtub where a separate shower is desired.

Neo-Angle showers have a distinctive five-sided diamond shaped base.  They maximize available space in the bathroom and bring it up to date with a modern style.

Round shower enclosures fit in a corner and are shaped like a slice of pie with a rounded front entryway. They offer an efficient shower space in a relatively small area.

Framed and Frameless Structures
Shower configurations like those above may incorporate a framed or frameless design to hold the shower walls, door and top cap in place.

Framed showers use a traditional exposed framework and trim to strengthen the enclosure. Because the frame supports the glass, the glass can be lighter and less expensive than that used in frameless showers. The door design includes a track which can collect and trap water, requiring periodic cleaning. Framed pivot shower doors only open outwards.

Frameless designs add an elegant touch to your bath. They allow more light in, and by downplaying the presence of the shower, draw attention to other elements in the bathroom. Because frameless shower doors have no track to collect moisture and mildew, they are easier to clean and maintain. Frameless pivot doors can open in and out.

Installation Options

• Direct-to-Stud shower walls are attached directly to studs in the wall with nails or screws. Installations in existing bathrooms require removing any wall cover in the area where the enclosure is installed. Installing new bathtub and shower walls – direct-to-stud is a project homeowners who are experienced with home improvement tasks and tools can do themselves.
  
  
• Glue-Up showers, also known as easy-up or adhesive applied showers, attach securely to the wall with a strong adhesive. Installation may require replacing any drywall in the area where the enclosure is installed with water-repellent greenboard prior to installation. Installing new bathtub and shower walls – glue up is a project that can be completed by homeowners who are handy with a few common household tools.
  
  

Drain Configuration
While the drain is typically centrally located in newer shower units, some configurations may place the drain on the left or right. If you’re replacing a shower, the drain configuration of your new shower should match that of the existing plumbing. If you’re installing the shower in new construction, you may have more flexibility to arrange the plumbing to match the requirements of the configuration you prefer.

Measuring
Measure the space where your shower will be installed before making your selection. Many shower kits come in standard sizes with the most common for existing bathrooms being 36" x 36" and 38" x 38". For new construction, 42" x 42" is a popular size.

• Accurate measuring is essential to ensure a proper fit—always measure twice for accuracy.
• Measure only when the space for installation has been completed, and not before.
• To measure for a corner shower, measure from the corner outward along both walls where the base will be installed. Be sure the radius is clear of any obstructions.
• If your shower will be installed in an alcove, the space must be accurately measured from wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling.
  
  

Follow these steps to properly measure your existing alcove. Measure twice for accuracy.

1. Measure the width in two places from wall to wall at the top and bottom of the opening. If the measurements differ slightly, use the larger of the two.
2. Measure the height in two places from the base to the top of the wall unit or tile wall.
3. Measure the depth from the back wall to the front of the enclosure area along both side walls. If the measurements differ slightly, use the larger of the two.