Do you have to move plumbing for a conversion?

The drain almost always moves, because a tub drains at one end and a shower drains where the floor slopes to. Supply lines usually stay, though the valve is typically replaced and often raised.

Can I keep the same tile on the surrounding walls?

Rarely worth it. The wet area comes back to substrate, and matching a discontinued tile at the boundary is usually more visible than retiling the enclosure as one piece.

Is a conversion cheaper than a full bathroom remodel?

It is a smaller scope, because the layout, vanity, flooring and lighting are untouched. We quote the specific room after seeing it rather than publishing figures that would not survive contact with your bathroom.

Can you convert a drop-in or corner garden tub?

Yes, and it often produces the biggest improvement of all, because a corner tub deck usually gives up enough width for a genuinely usable shower once it is gone.

Shower service

Tub-to-Shower Conversions

Turning an unused tub into a shower that fits how the bathroom is actually used, without moving walls.

Short answer

A tub-to-shower conversion removes an alcove or drop-in tub and rebuilds the same footprint as a shower. Because the walls and the water supply usually stay where they are, it is the most contained shower project there is — but it is still a full rebuild of the wet area, including a new drain position, new waterproofing and new surfaces.

When a conversion is the right call

The decision usually comes down to how the household actually uses the room today and who else uses the house. Removing the only tub in a home is worth thinking about twice.

Good candidate: a primary suite with an unused garden tub and a cramped shower beside it.
Good candidate: a hall bath where stepping over a tub wall has become the daily problem.
Think twice: the only bathtub in a house with small children.
Think twice: a single-bathroom home you may sell soon, where buyers still expect one tub somewhere.

What changes behind the wall

The footprint stays, which is why conversions read as straightforward. The systems inside it do not stay.

1The tub and its surround come out and the substrate behind them is inspected for existing damage.
2The drain moves from the end of the alcove to the position the new floor requires.
3The valve is replaced, and often raised, with a hand shower added on a separate outlet if requested.
4Blocking is added where a bench, grab bar or glass panel will be fixed.
5A new sloped pan and continuous waterproofing system replace the tub's own flange.
6Tile or panels, glass, trim and sealant complete the enclosure.

Old alcoves frequently hide something: an earlier repair, a soft subfloor at the drain, or a valve that predates modern anti-scald requirements. We look before quoting the finish work, not after.

How low the entry can go

A conversion is a natural moment to reduce the step. How far it can drop depends on what is under the floor.

Entry options in a converted tub alcove
Entry	Typical step	What it needs
Standard curb	About 4 to 6 inches	No structural change; the simplest path
Low-profile curb	About 2 to 3 inches	Careful pan design and a shallower drain assembly
Curbless	Level	Recessed framing or a raised bathroom floor, plus drainage planning

Where we build this

We install tub-to-shower conversions across Idaho’s Treasure Valley. These city pages explain what we typically find in each area’s housing stock.

Frequently asked questions

Services

Guides

Thinking about tub-to-shower conversions?

Tell us about the shower you have and the one you want. We will come back with questions, then arrange to see the room before anything is quoted.

Request a Shower Estimate Call (208) 891-1890