Walk-in tubs in San Jose and Silicon Valley

Between the 1950s and the 1970s, orchards across the Santa Clara Valley gave way to neighborhoods of single-story homes. Many of the people who bought those homes, or their children, still live in them. Single-story living is a real advantage for aging in place. The bathroom is usually the room that needs the most work.

Where we help in Santa Clara County

• San Jose: Willow Glen, Cambrian, Almaden Valley, Blossom Valley, Evergreen, Berryessa, Rose Garden, West San Jose, Alum Rock, Santa Teresa
• West Valley: Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino
• North County: Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Milpitas
• South County: Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin

Eichler homes and radiant slabs

Joseph Eichler's mid-century modern homes are scattered across the Bay Area, with notable concentrations in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and parts of San Jose, including Willow Glen and Cambrian. Most were built on concrete slabs with radiant heating: hot water runs through pipes embedded in the slab to warm the floors. The Eichler Network notes that original pipes were made of copper in some periods and steel in others, and that leaks require breaking into the slab to repair.

For a walk-in tub, this matters only if the slab must be cut. Most Eichler bathrooms are compact, and many have a standard tub that can be replaced in place. If the drain must move, or a tub becomes a roll-in shower with a lowered floor:

• Have the radiant pipes located before cutting. Thermal imaging while the system runs, or other scanning methods, can map them.
• Ask whether the radiant system should be pressure-tested before and after the work.
• Use a plumber familiar with Eichler radiant systems.
• Expect the original bathroom plumbing to be decades old, and budget for surprises.

Eichlers also have post-and-beam construction with large windows, so check that a taller walk-in tub will not sit in front of a low window.

Other common home types

Post-war ranch tracts

Much of San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Milpitas is single-story ranch housing from the 1950s and 1960s, many on slabs. The hall bath often has a standard 60-inch alcove tub. With the drain kept in place, these are usually straightforward swaps.

Hillside and estate homes

In Los Gatos, Saratoga, the Almaden foothills and the Evergreen hills, homes may be larger, with multiple levels and long driveways. Check delivery access and whether the bathroom that will be used is on the entry level.

Mobilehome parks

San Jose has many mobilehome parks, home to many older residents. Bathrooms are compact, and the floor must support a filled tub. Permits in many parks are handled by the state Department of Housing and Community Development. A walk-in shower may be the better fit in some units.

Condos and townhomes

Newer condos near transit corridors and older townhome complexes require HOA approval and coordination with neighbors who share walls and plumbing.

Local aging resources

Sourcewise is the Area Agency on Aging for Santa Clara County. Its main line has been listed as (408) 350-3200. Sourcewise offers information and assistance, case management, caregiver support and nutrition programs for older adults. Cities across the county also run senior centers, many with exercise and balance classes. If a number has changed, the statewide line, 1-800-510-2020, will connect you.

Veterans

The VA Palo Alto Health Care System serves veterans across Santa Clara County, with a clinic in San Jose. Contact its prosthetics service about the HISA benefit before buying. VA lists walk-in and roll-in showers as eligible examples and excludes spa, hot tub and Jacuzzi-type tubs, so a specific walk-in tub needs approval.

Permits

San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Cupertino and the county's other cities each have a building department, and unincorporated areas are handled by the County of Santa Clara. Some Silicon Valley cities have extra requirements in historic districts or Eichler neighborhoods for exterior changes. Interior bathroom work is usually a standard building permit question. Your installer should confirm.

A San Jose checklist

• Find out whether your home has a radiant slab, and where the bathroom drain is.
• Measure the height to any low window near the tub.
• Photograph the electrical panel; older panels may need work for a dedicated circuit.
• Check HOA or park rules before signing.
• Contact Sourcewise about local programs.