Cheap Walk-In Showers: Why DIY Shower Insert Kits Don’t Last

When you’re looking to upgrade your shower, that $2,000 shower insert kit from Home Depot can be pretty appealing. After all, it costs less than half of a professional shower remodel and if you believe the product listing, it has everything you need to install it. What could go wrong?

At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we’ve completed thousands of walk-in shower remodels across eleven different states and counting. While many of our customers are simply ready to replace an outdated tub or shower, some are looking to replace botched installs and cheap materials from a recent DIY or low-cost remodel. In other words, we’ve seen the aftermath of those cheap shower inserts, and we’re here to tell you why they tend to fail. We’ll address:

• Shower insert costs
• What’s included in a shower insert kit
• How long DIY shower inserts last
• When to consider using a shower insert kit

How Much Do DIY Shower Insert Kits Cost?

First, let’s talk about why so many homeowners consider getting a shower insert kit in the first place: they’re the cheapest option on the market. Just how cheap are we talking? Here’s a breakdown of average market costs.

Keep in mind that not all shower kits are designed to be installed by inexperienced homeowners, meaning they’re really not DIY-friendly. Even some of the options from Home Depot are meant to be purchased and installed by a professional, usually for an additional $2,000 or more.

Plus, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of demolition waste disposal (unless you’re using a shower insert kit to outfit a new-build property). For something like a 10’ x 20’ rollaway dumpster service, you can expect to spend between $500 and $800.

In total, that means you’re looking at an average price range of between $1,000 and $2,800 to purchase and install a shower insert kit.

What Comes With a Shower Insert Kit?

One of the biggest sources of frustration for homeowners who buy a shower insert kit is that a lot of times, they don’t come with everything you need to have a complete shower. In fact, some of those basic stall or corner shower kits don’t come with one or more of the following:

• A shower drain kit and shower drain cover
• A shower door or curtain rod
• Shower walls
• Waterproof backer boards
• Adhesive to attach shower walls to backer boards

We know what you’re thinking. How could a shower insert kit not come with shower walls? Frankly, part of the goal here is probably to keep costs deceptively low. These no-wall kits also give you the option to do something like tile your shower, rather than install an acrylic shower panels.

Additionally, shower insert kits won’t come with all the tools you’ll need to properly install your shower.

This includes everything from a level to a drill to a caulking gun–we’re talking about several hundred (or thousand) dollars worth of tools. A professional installer should bring everything they need to get the job done, but this is yet another thing to consider before committing to DIY installation.

How Long Do Shower Inserts Last?

You’ve searched far and wide for the answer to this question, and you’re getting wildly different answers. Some sources say that something like an acrylic or fiberglass install kit will last ten years. A handful of snarky Reddit users say that your shower should last for 100 years if you just know how to install it right. What’s the actual answer?

The truth is that your shower insert kit lifespan is going to depend on factors like:

• How durable the materials are that come with the kit
• How level the install is and how easily water is going to get funneled towards the drain
• How reliable your waterproofing system (including those corner seals) is

Cheap shower insert kits can fail in as little as a few months if they’re not installed with precision and expertise.

Something as simple as a small gap in your corner sealant is going to pave the way for water damage and mold growth. Cheap shower pans start to warp with regular use. Brittle wall materials crack under the pressure of a drill if you decide to install accessories.

Ultimately, there are a ton of reasons and opportunities for your cheap shower to fail, and those reasons only increase with DIY installation.

When Are Shower Insert Kits Worth It?

We may not be big advocates of cheap shower insert kits, but that doesn’t mean they’re the wrong choice for everyone. You may find shower kits to be worth the risk if:

• You have experience with plumbing and shower installation

• You have all the tools you need to install your shower kit
• You’re flipping a property and don’t care if your buyers need to replace their shower in the near future
• You know for sure that replacing your existing shower won’t require additional work like plumbing replacements, structural repairs, or mold mitigation

You may be surprised that we didn’t include something like, “You’re working with a tight budget.” Yes, you can get a shower insert kit at a lower cost than professional, custom shower remodeling. The problem is that in the long run, low upfront costs will likely result in expensive repairs. The cheapest option is not inherently the most budget-friendly option.

Up Next: The Best Shower Wall Materials

We understand that your budget is one of your top concerns when you’re looking to remodel a walk-in shower. As you can see, cheap walk-in shower insert kits aren’t always as cheap in the end as they are in the beginning.

What’s next? If you’re ready to consider professional shower installation, it’s time to start thinking about shower wall materials. Find out why ZINTEX Remodeling Group specializes in acrylic shower panels in our guide to the best shower wall materials.