Kitsilano Character Home Walk-In Shower Conversion
Client's goals
The client wanted to update their bathroom by converting an old bathtub into a custom walk-in shower: a more modern, functional space that better suited their needs, in a home a century old.
The old bathtub converted into a custom walk-in shower
A more modern, functional bathroom
The realities of a 100-year-old home handled properly along the way
Overview
Roka Projects converted the old bathtub of a century-old Kitsilano home into a custom walk-in shower in one month. Pre-project testing found asbestos in the drywall, so certified abatement came first, followed by the methodical removal of decades of past renovation layers, and then the new shower was built exactly as planned.
Scope of work
Certified asbestos abatement before demolition
Decades of built-up renovation layers removed to expose sound structure
Old bathtub removed
Custom walk-in shower built with new fixtures and finishes
Folding patio doors installed
Staircase refresh
All domestic water lines replaced; Poly-B abandoned
New high-efficiency combi boiler and Hi-Velocity HVAC with HEPA filtration
Structural repairs: floor re-levelled, sagging joists upgraded, load-bearing walls reinforced
Challenges & Solutions
Asbestos and Decades of Past Renovation Layers
Challenge: A 100-year-old home with expected hurdles: pre-project testing found asbestos in the drywall, and demolition revealed multiple layers of materials built up over decades of past renovations.
Solution: We followed our standard older-home process: certified asbestos abatement cleared the space safely, the accumulated layers were removed methodically to expose the true structure, and the new walk-in shower was built exactly as planned. No surprises, no stress for the client.
Result
The bathroom now works the way the client needs it to: a modern walk-in shower in place of the old tub, built over clean, sound structure instead of another layer on the pile. In a 100-year-old home, the process is the product, and this one ran without surprises.
BEFORE photos
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