Tub to shower · Tacoma
Tub to shower conversions in Tacoma.
Swap the tub you never use for a tiled walk-in shower. Tub-to-shower conversions in Tacoma with low or no curb, niches and grab-bar blocking. Free quotes.
A tub-to-shower conversion removes your bathtub and builds a walk-in shower in the same space. Because the alcove is usually around five feet wide, the new shower often fits without moving walls, and the drain and valve are relocated inside the existing footprint.
Who converts, and why
Three kinds of owners tend to ask for this. Owners of mid-century one-bath homes who are tired of stepping over a tub wall. People planning to stay in the house as they get older. And buyers of older homes who inherited a chipped cast iron tub and would rather have a big shower than refinish it.
What changes under the floor
A tub drain sits at one end of the alcove; a shower drain usually wants to be centered or run as a linear drain along one edge. Moving it is routine on a crawlspace house and trickier over a finished basement ceiling or a concrete slab. We check access during the walkthrough so the plan is realistic before you sign anything.
Curb height and getting in
A low curb keeps water in with very little step. A curbless entry needs the floor recessed so water stays in the shower, which is not possible in every house. We will tell you which one your floor framing allows.
- Low curb: simplest, works almost everywhere
- Curbless: needs floor work, best for long-term accessibility
- Grab-bar blocking: cheap to add while the walls are open
Should you keep one tub?
If this is the only tub in the house and you may sell in a few years, it is worth thinking about. Families with small kids often like at least one. If another bathroom has a tub, converting this one is an easy call.
Budget
Tacoma planning ranges
Shower or tub-wall retile
Same layout, new waterproofing and tile on the walls and pan
$8,000 to $16,000Tub-to-shower conversion
Tub out, new pan, valve and drain moved as needed, tiled walls
$12,000 to $25,000Hall or guest bath, full remodel
Studs-out rebuild of a typical 5x8 to 5x10 room, layout mostly kept
$20,000 to $40,000Primary bath with layout changes
Walls or fixtures relocated, larger shower, double vanity, heated floor
$40,000 to $80,000+Estimates only, for planning. Not a quote. Your written estimate is the real number.
Questions
Tub to shower questions from Tacoma.
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Tacoma?
See our Tacoma cost guide for planning ranges. Your real number comes from a free estimate, because drain location, tile and glass move it the most.
Can you remove a cast iron tub?
Yes. Old cast iron tubs are heavy, so we plan the removal, sometimes breaking the tub in place to protect floors and stairs.
Can the shower be the same size as the old tub?
Usually it is about the same footprint. Sometimes we gain a few inches by rebuilding the end walls.
Ready to plan your tub to shower?
Free walkthrough, written scope, no pressure.