Can we talk about the push for curbless showers in every remodel?

I was at the local supply house in Boise last month and overheard two designers insisting a client needed a curbless shower for 'future proofing'. The client's budget was $15,000 total. I've done three of these installs, and the waterproofing and floor slope work adds at least $2,500 if you're doing it right (which you have to). For a lot of people, a well-built tub-to-shower conversion with a low threshold is safer and leaves money for other fixes. Has anyone else found clients get steered toward expensive trends that don't fit their actual situation?

3 comments

3 Comments

rodriguez.mia17d ago

Exactly, it's like they're selling a dream instead of a practical solution. A good grab bar does more for safety than a trendy shower most days.

troychen17d ago

Right? The fancy stuff is just for show, but a solid grab bar actually keeps people from falling.

harperr8217d ago

Seen this movie before. It's the home improvement version of upselling the fancy cocktail to someone who just wants a beer. That budget gets blown on one perfect shower floor, then the whole bathroom has cheap fixtures and zero storage because the money's gone. Future proofing is great, but not if it means living with a builder-grade vanity for the next ten years to pay for it. Sometimes the practical choice is the smarter one.