The Pros and Cons of Different Shower Designs for Your Bathroom Remodel

When planning a bathroom renovation, your shower design choice significantly impacts both the room’s functionality and aesthetic appeal. At G.M. Roth, we’ve helped countless homeowners throughout the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire transform their outdated bathrooms into stunning retreats. Let’s explore the advantages and drawbacks of popular shower options to help you make an informed decision for your remodeling project.

Walk-In Showers Offer Modern Simplicity

Walk-in showers have become increasingly popular for their sleek, contemporary appearance. With no doors or curtains to manage, these open-concept designs create a sense of spaciousness even in modest-sized bathrooms. The curbless entry variation eliminates the threshold, providing unhindered accessibility for family members of all ages and mobility levels.

The frameless glass enclosures commonly used with walk-in showers allow light to flow freely, enhancing the perception of space. These glass panels do require regular cleaning to maintain their transparent beauty. While walk-in showers excel aesthetically, they may not contain water splashes as effectively as fully enclosed options, potentially leading to wet bathroom floors without proper drainage planning and installation expertise.

Traditional Shower-Tub Combinations Are Versatile and Practical

For households with young children or those who enjoy occasional soaking, shower-tub combinations deliver remarkable versatility. These units maximize functionality in smaller spaces while providing the option for both showering and bathing. They’re often more budget-friendly than separate shower and tub installations, making them excellent for moderate renovation budgets.

The drawback? Shower-tub combinations typically require stepping over the tub wall, which may present challenges for older adults or individuals with mobility concerns. Additionally, the design, while practical, might not deliver the luxurious feel of a dedicated, custom shower space that many homeowners desire in modern bathroom retreats.

Steam Showers Deliver the Home Spa Experience

For the ultimate in relaxation, steam showers bring spa-like amenities directly into your home. These enclosed units convert water into steam, creating a therapeutic environment that can help relieve muscle tension, improve circulation and offer respiratory benefits. The enclosed nature of steam showers also means they’re efficient at heat retention.

The luxurious experience comes with considerations, however. Steam showers require complete enclosure with specialized materials and proper ventilation to protect surrounding areas from moisture damage. They also demand more complex installation, including a vapor barrier, waterproof sealing and steam generator placement. This complexity translates to higher installation costs and potentially increased maintenance requirements.

Wet Rooms Bring Ultimate Design Freedom

Wet rooms represent the most open concept in bathroom design, with the entire space waterproofed and the shower area typically defined by glass partitions rather than full enclosures. This design creates a striking, contemporary aesthetic while eliminating barriers between bathroom zones.

The spacious feeling and accessibility benefits of wet rooms are counterbalanced by their more complex installation requirements. The entire room must be properly waterproofed with appropriate drainage slopes, which often necessitates substantial structural modifications. While visually impressive, wet rooms may feel less private and can create challenges in maintaining warm shower temperatures due to the open design.

Custom Tiled Showers for Personalized Elegance

Custom tiled showers offer unparalleled design flexibility. From mosaic patterns to large-format tiles, the material options provide endless aesthetic possibilities. These showers can be configured to fit unusual spaces and incorporate features like built-in benches, niches and multiple showerheads for a truly personalized experience.

The craftsmanship involved in creating these showpieces comes with higher labor costs and longer installation timeframes. Maintenance requirements vary based on the tile and grout selections, with some materials demanding more regular cleaning and periodic resealing to maintain their appearance and water resistance.

Making Your Shower Design Decision

When selecting the ideal shower design for your bathroom remodel, consider your family’s daily routines, long-term accessibility needs, maintenance preferences and overall design vision. As experienced bathroom remodeling contractors serving the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire regions, our G.M. Roth design team can help you weigh these factors against your space constraints and budget considerations.

The perfect shower balances practicality with your personal style preferences, creating a space that enhances your daily routine while adding lasting value to your home. Call G.M. Roth today at (603) 880-3761, visit our contact page, or visit our showroom, conveniently located at 12 Murphy Drive in Nashua, NH. to discuss how we can transform your bathroom vision into reality with expert craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Alan Cohen

I am a returning customer who recently needed a wall and ceiling repair due to water damage, and a bathroom remodel. My experience was j7ust as good as it was many years ago - with everyone and everything. Our leads were Kris and Liam - both excellent at their work and very approachable. They took great pride in doing an excellent job. Everyone that came to our house was did at good job, very gracious and always cleaned up. Forgive me for not remembering everyone: John, Dominic, Sabeno, Matt, ?. They were great. On the phone, Scott, Diane and Theresa were very helpful and were genuinely hapy to engage with us. The first person that I had contact with Justin.He represented the company. We talked about the job over the phone. That was followed by a thorough meeting on-site to understand exactly what we wanted and how best to move forward. We met with justin three additional times, once at the shjowroom to pick out products and twice at our house.His job was sales, but he treated the project as if it was important to GM Roth, and to him personally, and more importantly he treated us like valuable customers. The first person that you meet in any organization sets the tone and establishes expectations. We had confidence that the project would turn out well and we could rely on everyone to make sure of it. we were very pleased with the outcome and would not hesitate to recommend GM Roth or to call upon you again.

Kerri Figueroa

We couldn’t be more pleased to have chosen G.M. Roth to help us renovate and refresh our outdated primary bathroom. They did high quality work, at a fair price, on schedule and they even offer a warranty on their work. Their thorough process ensured that our selections were ordered and on-site, ready to go, and their well-planned schedule made for a seamless construction process with no surprises. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Anne on the design process! She made the process enjoyable and her expertise was invaluable. She was very accommodating, often meeting us at vendors to help narrow selections and/or scheduling design meetings around our busy schedules. She was super helpful in guiding us towards more cost-effective options to achieve the same design aesthetic whenever possible. Liam and Matt ensured that all of the subcontractors understood the schedule and the job. They provided timely updates via the construction app and answered all of our questions/concerns, resolving any minor issues quickly and efficiently. All of the subcontractors were skilled craftsman, very pleasant to work with and extremely professional, arriving on time, working efficiently and cleaning up after themselves each day. Perhaps most importantly, we were thrilled with the quality of the work throughout and how the finished product came together beautifully. We now have a gorgeous spa-like retreat that we use and enjoy every single day!

Dianne Devito

As homeowners our connection to G.M.Roth Design Remodeling began in 1992 and ever since we have returned to them (most recently, this Fall of 2024)for our home improvement needs. For us, as homeowners G.M. Roth gives us a peace of mind that comes with knowing we were working with a team of professionals who prioritize our satisfaction. G.M. Roth listened to our ideas, preferences, and/or our concerns. In return, G.M Roth provided thoughtful feedback while outlining the construction process. Their excellent communication skills made it easy for us to stay informed about the progress of the project. Throughout the construction process, the professionalism displayed by everyone on the team was exceptional! Our experiences with G.M.Roth has been and IS very positive! Their long-standing reputation in the home remodeling industry is well-deserved and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking dependable , professional and high-quality home remodeling/construction services.

Jay Nannicelli

When we first contacted G.M. Roth we were envisioning a complete replacement of of the front door and entryway to our home. After discussion and review of the problem we were trying to solve, Roth was able to recommend a less costly solution. The two carpenters assigned to the job were professional, took care to protect our property and completed the repairs efficiently and on time. Wew are very pleased with the outcome and our experience with G.M. Roth.

Cathy Waters

GM Roth completed our third project in ten years this summer, so we are very confident in recommending them. They have redone three bathrooms, one kitchen, and in our latest project, an assortment of things that improved our new home. They are meticulous in their planning and their people are nice, trustworthy, and competent. We had to wait a few months for the job to start, but once they got going, they made regular progress. If there was a hangup, they explained what was causing it. We have to drive further than is convenient to meet them in their showroom, so the fact that we are willing to go the extra miles is proof that we appreciate their work!

Bill Fitzgerald

Couldn’t be more pleased with our experience with G.M. Roth Design Remodeling. We upgraded to a walk in shower. Every employee at G.M. Roth was very professional and clear from the beginning to completion. Matt was the on-site supervisor and kept us updated every step of the way. Work area was cleaned every day. Questions were answered clearly & succinctly. The new shower is beautiful. If you want a first class installation then G.M. Roth is who you want. We plan on having more work to be done by G.M. Roth.

kathy

Many of us have a goal to age in place. GM Roth help us make sure that goal became a reality. Our new bathroom now provides my husband, who has mobility issues, with confidence that he will stay safe while showering. The entire GM Roth process is very transparent and the communication between the team members and myself was great. We are very pleased with the final project outcome and appreciate everyone's patience and assistance while we made our final decisions.

Customer Testimonials