A Guide to a Jacuzzi Bath Remodel

If you’re an older adult with decreasing mobility and want to remain in your home, there are many ways to make your bathroom safer. Adding grab bars, anti-slip texturing, seating, walk-in tubs, or walk-in showers can allow you more independence while bathing. Jacuzzi, for instance, is a long-standing leader in the industry of bathroom remodeling. The well-known brand makes a multitude of products including bathtubs, showers, pools, saunas, and spas and hot tubs. 

While Jacuzzi has discontinued their walk-in tubs, we will be looking at Jacuzzi’s walk-in showers and the cost and process of a Jacuzzi shower remodel. A shower probably won’t give you the therapeutic soaking benefits of a walk-in tub though, which Pentucket Medical explains can include pain relief, relaxation, and boosted mood, and if the tub comes with jets, muscle massage and better skin health. But if you decide that a shower is your preference, a walk-in shower can make showering safer, and you have a number of options when it comes to brands and how you go about your research, purchase, and installment. 

For example, you may want to use your own contractor and purchase parts yourself, which can save money. Or you may want to use a company that does the entire project for you using their own designers, installers, and parts. This generally costs more but saves time and hassle. Many of the companies that offer package deals for the entire job can complete your remodel in as little as one day allowing you to use your new shower the following day—Jacuzzi is one such company.

What is a Jacuzzi?

The word, “Jacuzzi,” has become synonymous with a whirlpool-type tub because the Jacuzzi Brothers company was the first to invent hydrotherapy jets in 1968—and they have been a steady leader in the market ever since. The inventive Italian Jacuzzi family first developed the therapeutic hydromassage system when a child in their family was diagnosed with arthritis. Popularity rose quickly and, while “Jacuzzi” used to refer only to a spa or hot tub, the company is now a global manufacturer and distributor of hundreds of models of tubs, showers, pools, saunas, and spas and hot tubs.

Should I Remodel My Bath With Jacuzzi?

As senior care advocate and owner of HomeCaregivers Kosta Yepifantsev said, “The bathroom is often the first room to get modifications because it’s where the majority of injuries happen, mostly slips and falls, and mostly in the shower.” Because of this, a homeowner might look to convert their bath or shower when attempting to create a safe haven for themself or an aging loved one.

A bathroom remodel can be an expensive and daunting process with some important considerations. A few questions to ask yourself include:

• How much does it cost and can I afford it?
• How long will I use it?
• How does it affect my home’s resale value?
• How long will it take to install?
• Do the benefits make it worth it?

The Jacuzzi name brings with it over a century of continued success and a reputation for quality and luxury, but that well-known name comes with a price.

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel Features

Jacuzzi offers some features specifically designed to make the shower safer for those with decreased mobility, including: grab bars; seats that are removable, foldable, or built-in; a low-threshold entrance; textured, non-slip bases; and a wheelchair ramp.

Other design features include solid or textured wall panels (or a custom combination of the two), deluxe shower systems, hand-held slide bars, shower sets, and concealed roller doors with clear, frosted, or rain-textured glass. Jacuzzi exclusively uses Delta faucets and doors. Not much of your remodeled shower is actually made by Jacuzzi.

How to Buy a Jacuzzi Bath Remodel

If you reach out to Jacuzzi directly (either by phone or by chat on their website) they will immediately connect you to an authorized dealer in your area. The only way to begin a Jacuzzi bathroom remodel is to set up an in-home consultation with one of their dealers. The initial consultation is always free. 

How Much Does a Jacuzzi Bath Remodel Cost?

It’s difficult to pinpoint pricing for a Jacuzzi bathroom remodel. Their dealers will not give pricing over the phone or online. They will only give a quote after a thorough in-home consultation involving an inspection, measurements, and a discussion of options and viewing of samples. BobVila.com reported that a typical U.S. walk-in shower remodel will cost between $4,200 and $8,500 (as of June 15, 2022). You will, of course, add to that cost with the addition of grab bars, seats, and special safety bases or ramps. Using Jacuzzi’s solid wall panels will save money compared to tiling your shower walls. Plus, it’s worth noting that showers may be less expensive than walk-in tubs—roughly $5,000 less, according to Jacuzzi reps.

Prices for any type of bathroom remodel have gone up significantly in the last couple of years due to supply chain issues. Prices for any products coming from overseas have increased more than for products made in the U.S., but a bathroom remodel done today will cost several thousand dollars more than one done in 2019. Jacuzzi makes their parts in the U.S., so the increase may not be as much as some other companies with factories overseas.

The In-Home Consultation With Jacuzzi

In order to get a feel for what it’s like to work with Jacuzzi, I investigated the consultation process by contacting them directly and asking for help with remodeling my guest bath to convert a standard-size tub/shower combination to an older adult safe shower. 

My experience went as follows: I was given three phone numbers from the Jacuzzi representative. The first number was for Safe Step. They’re not associated with Jacuzzi but specialize in walk-in tubs. I appreciated that they were willing to refer me elsewhere if they could not meet my needs. 

The second number was for Jacuzzi Bath Remodel and the third number was for Bath Wraps. I set up an appointment with Jacuzzi Bath Remodel, which is apparently the same company as Colorado Living-One Day Bath. I then attempted to set up an appointment with Bath Wraps. When we were finalizing the appointment information it became clear that they are also the same company as Jacuzzi Bath Remodel and Colorado Living-One Day Bath. All of the affiliated companies told me that Jacuzzi no longer makes walk-in tubs. It appears that the name used for the company depends on your location. I was calling from Denver, Colo., so I got “Colorado Living.” For the rest of this review I’ll refer to them as One-Day Bath.

One-Day Bath sent a design consultant to my home later the same day. The consultant spent 90 minutes measuring my bathroom, showing me options, explaining the installation process, and giving me the history of Jacuzzi and his company. He explained that they are Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS)—which is a credential given to designers or health care providers who have experience in making home installations as accessible as possible for those with disabilities or those who have age-related needs—and have an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business rating. He showed videos explaining Jacuzzi’s proprietary Silver Shield antimicrobial system and their Triple Lock sealing system that makes the units leakproof, long-lasting, and sturdy. Silver Shield is exclusive to Jacuzzi and infused into their acrylic products, making them antimicrobial and easy to clean. Most other manufacturers use Microban to make their products antimicrobial, which he pointed out has had some safety concerns recently. Despite his urgent warnings, as of the writing of this article, Microban is approved by the EPA and considered safe.

We reviewed the design and feature options which included smooth acrylic wall panels in six solid neutral (no upcharge) or six granite-like colors ($600 upcharge), textured wall panels in those same color options ($200 extra upcharge), or a very expensive real stone option which he explained not every Jacuzzi dealer could provide. 

For the shower base, I had the choice of a 2- or 4-inch threshold, both for the same price. The 2-inch threshold base requires a door ($2,000 upcharge). Doors come in clear, frosted, or a rain-like pattern. They recently discontinued exposed hardware doors and now only offer the standard track door. The designer did mention that a door can be a problem if emergency personnel ever need to access someone in the shower. A 12-inch-long wheelchair ramp can be added to the 2-inch base. All showers come with up to six built-in corner wall shelves and up to four grab bars. A stationary acrylic bench seat can be added for an additional $1,500 or a fold-up teak seat for $900.

Most customers have three options when it comes to their faucet:

1. Keep what you have. In my case, that would have involved capping the tub spout since it would no longer be used.
2. If you have a Delta faucet and want to replace it you can keep your valve to save some money. This was not an option for me because I did not have a Delta faucet.
3. Replace everything. You then have the choice of four Delta showerheads:

• Basic Lahara model
• Lahara with a slide bar ($50 upcharge)
• In2ition dual handheld with H2O kinetic technology ($50 upcharge)
• Rain head plus slidebar ($500 upcharge)

In the end, I selected a 2-inch base with a clear door; solid color, herringbone pattern panels for the walls; four corner shelves; one 24-inch grab bar; the foldable teak seat; and the In2ition showerhead. After all of the “special discounts” my final price came to $14,500. There is no difference in price whether you’re converting an existing tub or shower. Financing was offered through Greensky with a 12 month, 0% APR option or a 126 month, 9.9% APR with six months free, and a $191.52 monthly payment (with no early payoff penalty).

Finally, we discussed the warranty. One-Day Bath offers a “double lifetime” warranty, meaning that it transfers to the new owner if you sell your house. Jacuzzi offers a baseline single lifetime warranty, so going with this dealer gives you a better warranty than what you will likely get from most other dealers.

I was told that the project could begin in 10–16 weeks and would not take more than one day to install. The shower could then be used 24 hours after that. The consultant insisted that any other company would take much longer.

The designer was fairly aggressive when it came to getting me to commit to a contract before the end of the appointment, offering a price incentive if I did so. He showed endless quotes from competitors and went into detail as to why I would not want to use any of them. He did not push upsells in the feature selections however, which was refreshing. He tacked on several “special discounts” for things like a relative in the military and my recent attendance at a home show. In the end, he offered me the special same-day price for an extra two days since I was not ready to commit that day.

I feel confident that they would have done a great job and completed the project as promised. The designer was very thorough and confident in his information, transfering that confidence to me.

Another way to pursue a Jacuzzi bathroom remodel is through your Costco membership. You must be an active member in order to proceed or get any information from them. Sure enough, when I mentioned Costco to the OneDay Bath designer, he told me that they send their customers to them as well. It seems if you are anywhere in the Rocky Mountain region and contacting Jacuzzi, you will end up with the same company, no matter where you start.

What Jacuzzi Bath Remodel Customers Are Saying

All online reviews are for specific authorized Jacuzzi dealers, rather than the parent company, Jacuzzi Brands LLC. Your location will determine your choice of dealers and your experience with them. An analysis of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reviews for multiple dealers across the U.S. shows a great majority of happy customers. While most dealers received no less than an A- rating and most had A or A+ ratings, there were several that ranged in the D- range (though they had very few reviews). It’s clear that Jacuzzi takes their customer service seriously and selects quality dealers, but you should verify your dealer’s reputation in your area when possible before purchasing. 

Walk-In Tub Brands We Recommend

If you decide that you’d prefer a walk-in tub, we recommend the following brands:

• Kohler Walk-In tubs
• Meditub walk-in tubs
• Ella walk-in tubs
• Universal Walk-in tubs
• Ariel walk-in tubs
• Safe Step Walk-in tubs

Why Trust Us?

The walk-in tub reviews that we list follow an extensive examination of manufacturers, stated specifications, and reviews. Our reviewers are people who work to ensure claims made by tub and shower manufacturers are ones that are backed up by performance and results.

Our ratings consider factors we list in the review: comfort, manufacturer guarantee, installation, cost. During our research process, we:

• Consulted with medical and tub sources
• Surveyed different models of tubs and showers
• Mystery shopped
• Spent hours researching walk-in tubs and showers
• Read hundreds of verified customer reviews

Many products and services featured on AgingInPlace.org will play a crucial role in your daily life. As these products should help enhance aging at home, we work to uncover as much as possible about the products and services we review. We also consult audiologists, occupational therapists, geriatricians, professional adult caregivers, respiratory therapists, and other experts in the field to ensure we’re providing the most accurate, helpful information.