Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Queen Creek & Tempe
The right bathroom to convert is often downstairs.
Many Chandler and Gilbert homes have two stories, a garden tub upstairs and a family that spans three generations. Here is how to plan a safe bath that works for everyone.
Direct answer: Walk In Tubs Arizona, an Aging Safely Baths company, installs walk-in tubs and roll-in showers in Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Queen Creek and Tempe, often in as little as one day. In two-story homes, we help you choose which bathroom to convert, often a downstairs bath near a ground-floor bedroom. Quotes are free and written, with no in-home sales pitch. Call 1-888-779-2284.
Start with the big question
Which bathroom should become the safe one?
In a single-story home the answer is easy. In the two-story tract homes common across Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek, it takes a little thought.
The upstairs primary bath
It is the bathroom you use now, and it often has the most room. But a walk-in tub upstairs only helps while you can manage the stairs. Choose this if stairs are easy for you today and likely to stay that way.
A downstairs full bath
Many East Valley floor plans have a downstairs guest room with a full bath, often with a tub and shower combo. This is usually the smartest spot. Pair it with the guest room and you can live on one floor if you need to.
A downstairs half bath
If there is only a powder room downstairs, a small addition or a closet borrowed from a nearby room can sometimes make space for a roll-in shower. It is a bigger job, so get a written plan first.
Think a few years ahead
Plan for the body you will have, not just the one you have today
People often buy for how they feel this year. That makes sense, but a bathroom change lasts a long time. Ask yourself three questions:
- If I had knee or hip surgery next year, which bathroom could I reach?
- Is there a bedroom, or a room that could become one, on the same floor?
- Would I rather soak in a tub or sit and shower?
If you are not sure how you would answer, the two-minute Fit Check walks you through it and points you toward a walk-in tub or a roll-in shower.
About garden tubs. Many homes built in the 1990s and 2000s have a wide garden tub in the primary bath. Those tubs sit in a tiled deck and are a different shape from a walk-in tub, so swapping one takes more work. Often the separate shower next to it is the easier place to make safer.
Many generations, one house
A bathroom that works for grandparents and grandkids
Many families in Chandler and Gilbert share a home across three generations. A parent moves into the downstairs guest room. Grandkids come and go. One bathroom may need to serve someone who uses a walker and someone who still needs help washing their hair.
That is good news for a safe bathroom, because the features that help an older adult help everyone. A handheld showerhead is easier for bathing a toddler. A seat makes shaving legs simpler. Grab bars steady a teenager on a wet floor as much as a grandparent.
A walk-in tub works well when the person who needs it loves to soak and can sit and stand from a chair. A roll-in shower works better when a caregiver helps, or when a wheelchair or shower chair is part of the routine.
Privacy for the parent
A downstairs bath near their room lets them bathe on their own schedule.
Room for a helper
Roll-in showers leave space for a caregiver to stand beside the seat.
Easy for kids too
Low thresholds and handheld sprayers make bath time simpler for little ones.
HOAs
Your HOA and install day
Most of Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek is HOA country. The good news: most HOAs do not review work inside your home. The things they do care about tend to show up on install day:
- Trucks and parking. Some HOAs limit work trucks on the street or in shared lots.
- Work hours. Many set quiet hours, especially on weekends.
- Old fixtures. Rules may cover dumpsters or leaving debris at the curb. Our installers haul away the old tub.
- Proof of license. Some ask for the contractor's Arizona ROC license and insurance. We provide both.
Sun Lakes
A different kind of neighborhood
Sun Lakes, south of Chandler, is a 55+ community where most homes are single-story. That makes the "which bathroom" question simple. Like any community association, it may have its own rules for contractors, so a quick call to the office helps.
Around the Southeast Valley
What we see in each community
Chandler
A mix of older ranch homes near downtown and newer two-story plans to the south.
Gilbert
Mostly newer tract homes, many two-story, with standard 60-inch tub spaces that suit most walk-in tubs.
Queen Creek
Newer homes and larger lots, a longer drive for delivery, and plenty of HOA neighborhoods.
Tempe
Older single-story homes with aging plumbing, plus condos near the university.
Choosing a tub
A tub that fits a standard tract-home space
Most walk-in tubs are made to fit the same 60 by 30 to 32 inch space as a standard tub, which is the size found in many Chandler and Gilbert hall baths. That keeps the job simpler. To compare models, seat heights and door styles, look at Hydro Dimensions walk-in tubs and their sizes.
Your free written quote shows every cost up front. See how pricing works, and if a veteran in your household gets VA care, read about VA grants and ALTCS. Neighbors to the north can see our Mesa and East Valley page.
- Free written quote by phone or from photos
- No sales visit required
- Installed in as little as one day for many jobs
- Supply-only delivery if you have your own contractor
- Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau
For the downstairs bath
Walk-in tub or roll-in shower in a guest bathroom?
If you are converting a downstairs guest bath, this side-by-side view can help you decide.
| Question | Walk-in tub | Roll-in shower |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits best | Someone who loves to soak and can sit and stand from a chair-height seat | Someone who uses a walker, wheelchair or shower chair, or has a caregiver |
| Fits the old tub space? | Yes, most fit the standard 60-inch space | Yes, and it can also replace a tub and shower combo |
| Guests and grandkids | Works for adults; small kids may need help with the door | Easy for almost anyone, with a handheld showerhead |
| Time in the bath | You wait inside while it fills and drains | Step in, sit down and start right away |
| Hot water needs | More, since it fills a deep tub | Less, like a normal shower |
There is no wrong answer. Many families choose the shower downstairs for flexibility and keep the upstairs tub for soaking while stairs are still easy. If you would like to talk it over, call our team at 1-888-779-2284. We will answer your questions, send a written quote and give you time to decide.
FAQ
Chandler and Gilbert questions
Should I put the walk-in tub upstairs or downstairs in my two-story home?
If stairs are already hard, or may be in a few years, choose a downstairs bathroom near a room you can sleep in. A tub upstairs only helps while you can still climb the stairs safely. If there is no full bath downstairs, a roll-in shower in a converted downstairs bath is often the answer.
Do I need HOA approval for a walk-in tub in Gilbert or Chandler?
Most HOAs do not review work inside your home, but many have rules about dumpsters, work trucks, parking and work hours. Check your HOA rules or call the management company before install day so nothing gets flagged.
Can I replace the garden tub in my primary bathroom with a walk-in tub?
Often, yes, though it is more work than a standard tub swap. Garden tubs sit in a deck, usually in a different size than a walk-in tub, so the deck, tile and plumbing may need changes. Many people find the separate shower in that same bathroom is the easier spot for a low-threshold shower instead.
Will a walk-in tub work for my parent and my kids at the same time?
Yes. Many families use the walk-in tub for a grandparent and the handheld showerhead to bathe small children while seated. A roll-in shower also works well for everyone, from toddlers to a parent who uses a walker.
What is it like to get a walk-in tub in Sun Lakes?
Sun Lakes is a 55+ community with its own rules, so check with your homeowners association about contractor access and work hours. Most homes are single-story, which makes choosing the bathroom easier.
How do I know if my Tempe home's plumbing is ready for a walk-in tub?
Older Tempe homes may have aging pipes and drains, which can slow a walk-in tub's drain or need a repair. Send us photos of the tub and the access panel or plumbing wall, and we will tell you what to expect before we quote.
Bathe safely again, without leaving home.
Get a free, no-pressure Arizona quote for a walk-in tub or roll-in shower, installed or supply-only.