Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Los Angeles

Many Los Angeles homes still have the tub-and-shower combo they were built with, and most people only use the shower part. Turning that tub into a walk-in shower is one of our most requested bathroom projects. Here is how it works and what decides the price.

Why people convert the tub

• Stepping over a tub wall every day gets harder, especially for older family members.
• A walk-in shower uses the same space and feels larger, with glass instead of a curtain.
• It is the moment to fix what is behind the old tile: worn waterproofing, old valves and old drains.

What we check first

1. The drain. A tub drain sits at one end. A shower drain often moves to the center or to a linear drain along one wall. How far it moves, and what is under the floor, shapes the price more than anything else.
2. The floor. Over a raised foundation we can usually reach the drain from below. On a concrete slab, the slab is cut and patched to move the drain.
3. The walls. We take the old tile down to the studs so the new waterproof layer is one continuous piece, from the floor to above the shower head.
4. The valve. A new shower valve, and often a handheld shower on a slide bar, goes in while the walls are open.

Curbless, low curb or standard curb

A curbless shower has no step at all: the floor slopes gently to the drain. It looks clean and is the easiest to walk into, and it takes the most floor work. A low curb keeps a short lip at the entry and needs less floor work. A standard curb is the simplest. At the consultation we tell you which ones your floor allows.

The finishing choices

• Glass: a fixed panel, a hinged door or a sliding door. Glass is measured after the tile is finished, so it is one of the last things installed.
• Niche and bench: a recessed niche for bottles, and a built-in bench or a fold-down seat.
• Grab bars: we add solid blocking inside the walls while they are open, so bars can go in now or later.
• Tile: large tiles on the walls with fewer grout lines, and smaller tiles on the floor for grip.

Cost and timing

Bathroom projects start from $12,000, and a conversion is priced as its own line so you can see it clearly. Most bathrooms take 2 to 4 weeks of construction once materials are on site. A conversion moves plumbing, so it needs a permit; we pull it and book the inspections. Read more in the bathroom remodel cost guide and the permits guide, or see everything we build on our bathroom remodeling page.

Tub-to-shower questions