Tub to shower
A shower with a step-free entry.
We take out the tub and build a shower with a bench, grab bars and a non-slip floor, so a person of any age can step in comfortably.
It is one of the most requested jobs from families with an older parent at home. It fits in a standard bathroom without touching the rest of the room, and the grab bars are anchored into blocking behind the wall.
What's included
Removal of the tub and old tile
Blocking in the wall for the bars
A floor sloped to the drain
Bench, niche and hand shower
Tile or panels up to the ceiling
What changes the cost
Four things move the number.
The number for your home goes in the written estimate, after the visit.
Step-free entry
Lowering the shower floor level with the bathroom can mean opening the floor and moving the drain, and that changes the cost.
Tile or panels
Panels are faster; tile gives more choices and takes more days.
Door or curtain
A glass door is made to size; a curtain isn't. Both work with a step-free entry.
Bathroom size
In a narrow bathroom, the bench and a level entry can mean moving the vanity.
How it goes
Step by step, with who arrives each day.
- 01
Step 1: Measuring and choosing
We measure the tub, the drain and the floor below. Tile, bench and bars are chosen.
- 02
Step 2: Tub removal
One to two days, with the area covered and dust contained.
- 03
Step 3: Floor, slope and waterproofing
Three to four days, with the drying time the product asks for.
- 04
Step 4: Tile, bench and bars
Four to six days. The bars go on the blocking already installed.
- 05
Step 5: Handover
We test the water, the drain and the bars together and sign the handover.
Permits
Permits and rules.
If the drain or pipes move, a permit is needed. A finish-only change doesn't. If the home was built before 1978, the EPA lead steps apply too. We check and file it.
Examples
Sample jobs.
Sample photos.
Questions
What people ask about this.
How long does swapping a tub for a shower take?
One to three weeks on site, depending on whether the floor and drain change. You get a day-by-day schedule.
Can you install grab bars?
Yes. They go on wood blocking behind the tile, at the height you and your family need.
Is it all right to have no tub?
It's each family's decision, and sometimes about a future sale. We tell you honestly what you lose and gain in your case, without promising a resale value.
Tell us about your bathroom.
Send a photo of the tub and the measurements, or ask for the visit.