Barrier Free Showers: Curbless Roll In Showers, Installed in a Day
No curb to step over, no door to fight with, nothing for a wheelchair or walker to catch on. Here is what makes a shower truly barrier free, the sizes that fit your bathroom, and what one costs installed.
Accredited since 2012★ 4.9 Google (35 reviews)In business since 2012No in-home sales visitWhat is a barrier free shower?
A barrier free shower has no curb at the entry. The threshold is flush or a low bevel of up to about 1 1/2 inches, the pan slopes to the drain so water stays in, and a weighted curtain or collapsible water dam replaces the swinging door. A wheelchair rolls straight in, and someone with a walker or an unsteady step walks in flat.
"Barrier free," "curbless," "zero threshold" and "roll in" describe the same idea. The ADA version is a roll in shower at least 60 x 30 inches with a threshold no higher than 1/2 inch. Residential systems use the same pans with a slightly taller beveled lip that holds water better and is still easy to roll over.
Barrier free vs. curbed vs. code compliant
| Pan type | Entry | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Barrier free (roll in) | 0 to 1 1/2 inch bevel | Wheelchair users, walkers, caregivers bathing someone |
| Curbed | 2 to 6 inch curb | People who step well and want the driest floor |
| Code compliant / ADA transfer | 36 x 36 with a half-height curb and L-seat | People who transfer from a chair to a seat |
| Collapsible water dam | Rubber dam folds flat under a wheel | Barrier free floors that need an extra water stop |
All three pan styles are on our shower pans page in 56 sizes.
Barrier free shower facts
- Threshold 0 to 1 1/2 inches (ADA roll in: 1/2 inch max)
- Common sizes 60 x 30, 60 x 33, 60 x 36, 63 x 33
- Compact 48 x 34 and 48 x 36 fit small baths
- Floor slopes about 1/4 inch per foot to the drain
- Center, end or trench drain
- Fold-up seat 17 to 19 inches high
- Walls reinforced for grab bars
- Multi-piece units fit up stairs and through 30 inch doors
- 30-year coverage on ADA shower systems installed to spec
What a barrier free shower costs
Installed by our crews, a 60 x 30 barrier free system with seat, grab bars, handheld wand, demolition, plumbing and a sealed wall system runs about $15,500 after the current $2,000 promotion ($15,250 with the veteran discount). Oversized one-piece systems run about $17,000. Relocating a drain in a concrete slab adds $800 to $1,500. National TV brands quote $20,000 to $30,000 for the same scope. See the itemized cost →
If you have your own contractor, supply-only pans and complete shower packages start in the low thousands with free freight to the lower 48 on many models.
Will water get out with no curb?
Not if it is built right. Three things keep the floor dry: a pan with the slope molded in (not a flat pan with a shim), a drain sized for the flow, and a water stop at the entry, either a weighted curtain that overlaps the pan lip or a collapsible dam. We level the pan, run the wand at full flow and check the floor before we leave.
Who pays for one
- Veterans: VA HISA grant for a roll in shower, up to $6,800.
- Medicaid waivers in most states fund bathroom modifications.
- Everyone: monthly financing, senior and veteran discounts.
Barrier Free Showers: Curbless Roll In Showers, Installed in a Day FAQ
What is a barrier free shower?
A barrier free shower has no curb at the entry: the threshold is flush or a low bevel up to about 1 1/2 inches, the pan slopes to a drain, and a curtain or collapsible dam replaces the door, so a wheelchair or walker goes straight in.
Is a barrier free shower the same as a roll in shower?
Yes, in practice. Roll in, curbless, zero threshold and barrier free all mean no curb to climb. The ADA roll in shower is the strictest version: at least 60 x 30 inches with a threshold of 1/2 inch or less.
What size barrier free shower do I need?
A 60 x 30 replaces a standard tub. Choose 60 x 33 or 60 x 36 if a caregiver will help bathe someone or a larger wheelchair is used, and 48 x 34 or 48 x 36 when the bathroom is small.
How much does a barrier free shower cost installed?
About $15,500 installed for a 60 x 30 system after the current $2,000 promotion, $15,250 for veterans, and about $17,000 for oversized one-piece units. Supply-only systems start in the low thousands.
Can a barrier free shower be installed on a concrete slab?
Yes. Low-profile pans work on slabs; if the drain must move, cutting the slab adds about $800 to $1,500 and is usually done the same day.
How long does installation take?
Most tub-to-barrier-free-shower conversions are done in one day, with an occasional half day more for subfloor repair.
Let's make your bathroom a safer room in the house.
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