What to Know Before a Tub-to-Shower Conversion

Why people do this

Plenty of tubs never get used for a bath. They hold up a shower curtain and get stepped over every morning. A walk-in shower loses the step and makes a small bathroom feel bigger.

Still deciding? See tub vs. shower.

What's behind the old tub

Once the tub and surround come out, the wall is open to the studs.

Plenty of older houses around Kansas City have green board back there. It's drywall that handles humidity a little better, and it doesn't belong behind tile. Soft or stained board means water has been getting through for a while.

The drain and the valve

A tub drains at one end. A shower base drains wherever it's designed to, so the drain usually has to move.

• Basement or crawlspace underneath: often reached from below.
• Slab: means cutting concrete, which adds cost.

The valve usually gets replaced too. A rain head or a handheld each need their own rough plumbing, so decide before the walls close.

Chino does some of the plumbing and electrical himself and brings in licensed trades where the work requires it.

Waterproofing

Tile and grout let water through a little at a time. The layer behind them keeps it out of your walls, and you never see it again once the tile is up.

We work with HydroBlok and Schluter Kerdi. Our waterproofing guide covers what each warranty does and doesn't cover.

Base, curb, tile and glass

A premade base or a tiled floor both work. A low curb is normal in a converted alcove; curbless looks great and takes more work to slope right. Bigger tiles mean fewer grout lines and less scrubbing.

Want a niche or a bench? Plan it before the walls close. See niches and benches.

Glass gets measured after the tile is set, because it has to fit the finished walls. A frameless or semi-frameless door turns an old tub alcove into a real walk-in shower.

Where we do these

Kansas City, Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, De Soto, Mission and Merriam. More on our tub-to-shower conversion page.