Slidell sits at the southeastern tip of St. Tammany Parish, a few miles from the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, and its homes live with the humidity and flood risk that come with that spot. A shower that leaks, cracks or has become hard to step into is worth replacing before it causes damage underneath.
This guide from Big Easy Bathrooms covers the signs it’s time, your options for a new shower, permits in Slidell and the questions to ask before work starts.
When is it time to replace the shower in your Slidell home?
When it leaks, the base or walls crack, the floor around it feels soft, or it has become hard for someone in the home to use safely.
- Water stains on the ceiling below, or on the floor outside the shower.
- Cracks in the base, loose tiles or grout that keeps crumbling.
- Mildew that comes back soon after every cleaning.
- A high curb or tub wall that someone now struggles to step over.
Our article on why you might need a replacement shower goes through these warning signs in more detail.
What are your options for a new shower?
You can replace the shower in the same footprint, switch to a walk-in or barrier-free design, or convert an old tub into a shower.
| Option | What changes | Good fit when |
|---|---|---|
| Same-footprint replacement | New base, walls and fixtures in the existing space | The layout works and only the materials have worn out |
| Walk-in shower | A low entry with a glass panel, door or curtain | Someone wants an easier step in |
| Barrier-free shower | A level, roll-in floor with grab bars and a seat | Someone uses a walker, wheelchair or shower chair |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | The tub comes out and a shower goes in its place | Nobody in the home uses the tub anymore |
Our page on replacement showers in Slidell shows the styles and features we install there.
Do you need a permit to replace a shower in Slidell?
Ask before work starts. Inside Slidell city limits, the city handles building permits. Outside city limits, St. Tammany Parish does.
In the city, that’s the City of Slidell’s Building Safety, Permits and Code Enforcement department. In unincorporated areas with a Slidell address, it’s St. Tammany Parish Permits and Inspections.
Work that changes plumbing or walls is where permit questions usually come up. Your contractor should tell you which office applies and who pulls the permit.
How do humidity and flood risk shape a Slidell shower replacement?
Choose materials that shed water and dry quickly, and check the floor under the old shower for past water damage before the new one goes in.
The City of Slidell’s own hazard mitigation page says all properties in the city are potentially at risk of flooding, from hurricane storm surge and from Bayou Bonfouca backing up when Lake Pontchartrain is high. That history can hide under an old shower.
The air is part of it too. NOAA’s long-term records for nearby New Orleans show average relative humidity of 87 percent at 6 a.m. and 62 percent at noon, so a bathroom here needs help drying out.
Acrylic wall panels and one-piece bases have fewer seams than tile, and sealed tile works well when it’s kept up. Either way, pair the new shower with an exhaust fan that vents outdoors, as the EPA recommends for bathrooms.
What should you ask before hiring a shower contractor in Slidell?
Ask what they’ll check under the old shower, which permit applies, what the new floor and walls are made of, and how the entry will work for the person using it.
- What happens if you find water damage once the old shower is out?
- Which office issues the permit for my address, and who applies for it?
- Which wall and floor materials do you recommend for our humidity, and why?
- Where will the seat, the grab bars and the handheld shower go?
We serve homes across the city, and our Slidell service area page lists the bathroom work we do there. To talk through your shower, contact Big Easy Bathrooms or call 504-688-7786 for a free estimate in Slidell.
Frequently asked questions
Does Big Easy Bathrooms replace showers in Slidell?
Yes. Slidell is one of the areas Big Easy Bathrooms serves, along with New Orleans, Abita Springs, Covington, Hammond, Madisonville, Mandeville and Metairie.
Can a new shower go where the old one was?
Usually, yes. Replacing a shower in the same footprint keeps the drain and supply lines close to where they already are. A different size or a curbless entry may need more work on the floor.
What happens if there’s water damage under the old shower?
Damaged subfloor or framing should be repaired before the new shower goes in. The EPA notes that porous materials that have become moldy may have to be thrown away rather than cleaned.
Is a walk-in shower a good choice for a Slidell home?
For many households, yes, especially if someone finds a tub wall or high curb hard to step over. A low or level entry, a seat and a handheld shower make daily use easier as needs change.
Should I replace the whole shower or just the base?
If only the base is cracked and the walls are sound, a new base may be enough. If water has been getting behind the walls, replacing the whole shower is usually the safer fix.
