Walk In Tubs & Roll In Showers in California, Installed in a Day

California homes and the bathrooms in them

California bathrooms range from 1920s bungalows with cast-iron tubs and tight doorways to 1970s ranches, 1990s Inland Empire tract homes on slabs and apartment-style condos; earthquake-era plumbing updates and permit history matter more here than anywhere else.

That matters because a walk in tub is chosen for the room as much as the bather. A standard 60 inch alcove takes the Hydro Dimensions 3060, Meditub 3060 or Ella Ultimate as a drop-in replacement, with factory extension panels closing any gap. A cramped bath with a 45 to 53 inch space takes the HD 2645 or Ella Mobile. A bathroom that will be used from a wheelchair is often better served by a Bestbath 60 x 30 roll in shower than by any tub, and we will say so on the first call.

Weather, water and skin

Mild coastal weather means older homes often have no ventilation fan at all, so mildew is common; inland heat makes a cool soak popular. Wildfire-area homes on wells need a pressure check before any jetted tub.

Hardness varies widely: Bay Area and Sierra-fed systems are soft, while much of Southern California and the Central Valley is hard. We spec the faucet and flush cycle accordingly.

Permits and code in California

The California Residential Code and Plumbing Code apply statewide, and nearly every city and county requires a plumbing permit for a tub replacement and an electrical permit for a new circuit; Title 24 energy rules apply to new water heaters. Our crews pull the permit.

Either way, our crews pull what is required, install to the manufacturer's spec, and leave the paperwork with you. Our showers are ADA and ANSI A117.1 code-compliant models when that is what the job calls for, and every install is fill-tested with the door closed before we leave.

Paying for it in California

Medi-Cal's Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver and the Multipurpose Senior Services Program can fund modifications; the California Department of Aging and county Area Agencies on Aging are the front door. Many cities also run senior home repair grants.

Veterans: the VA HISA grant pays up to $6,800 (service-connected) or $2,000 toward a walk in tub or roll in shower, filed through VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System or the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Build the itemized estimate the reviewer wants in four minutes with our planner. Everyone else: monthly financing, senior and veteran discounts on every order, and an itemized written price with no high-pressure sales pitch. Medicare rarely pays, and we say so up front.

Install day in California, hour by hour

The crew arrives with the tub, the wall system and every fitting on the truck. Old tub out and hauled away, subfloor checked, drain and supplies roughed in, tub set dead level on its feet, connected, filled with the door closed for twenty minutes, walls and trim finished, then a walkthrough with the bather so the door latch, drain lever and controls are second nature before we leave. Full install-day guide →

California by the numbers

California has more adults over 65 than any other state, and the largest share of them live in single-family homes built before accessibility was a consideration. Bathroom injuries send more than 230,000 Americans to the emergency room each year according to the CDC, and a large share happen climbing over a tub wall. A 3 to 7 inch threshold, a built-in seat and a grab bar are designed to reduce that risk when the tub is installed and used properly.