Built to Code, Not Overlaid
Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Tampa Bay
A real conversion — old tub out, waterproofing rebuilt and inspected, new shower tiled in place. Not an acrylic shell installed over the problem.
- Old tub removed, pan rebuilt & inspected
- Custom tile — not an acrylic overlay
- Licensed & insured Florida contractor
- Free in-home consultation
Free in-home design consultations — call or request a quote and we'll schedule a visit
Request your free consultation
Tell us about the project. We'll come measure, then send a fixed, itemized proposal — no obligation.
Converting a tub nobody uses into a walk-in shower is one of the highest-satisfaction changes we make to a Tampa Bay home. It reclaims the room's most-wasted square footage, it makes the bathroom safer as mobility changes, and in a house with more than one tub it costs you nothing at resale.
There are two very different ways to buy this, and it is worth knowing which one you are being sold. The one-day approach installs an acrylic or composite shell over the existing alcove. It is fast and it is cheap. It also means whatever was behind the old surround — including a pan that may already be failing — is now sealed in behind a shell.
We do it the other way. The tub comes out, the alcove is opened up, the pan is rebuilt and flood-tested to Florida code, and the new shower is tiled in place. It takes longer than a day and it is the version that is still sound in fifteen years.
What it costs, by scope
Find yourself in the range before you talk to anyone. These are typical Tampa Bay market ranges — not our price list.
Standard conversion
$3,500 – $6,500
Acrylic surround with sliding glass
- Tub removal and drain conversion
- Acrylic or composite surround
- Sliding glass door
- New valve and fixtures
Custom tiled conversion
$6,000 – $12,000
Where most Tampa Bay homeowners land
- Rebuilt, flood-tested shower pan
- Full custom tile walls and floor
- Recessed niche and optional bench
- Frameless or semi-frameless glass
Conversion + bathroom refresh
$12,000 – $18,000
Doing the whole room while it's open
- Everything in the custom conversion
- New floor tile throughout
- New vanity, top, and fixtures
- Lighting and ventilation upgrade
These are typical Tampa Bay market ranges for 2026 — not a quote and not our price list. Tampa Bay labor and materials run roughly 18–23% above national averages, and every number moves with your layout, structural conditions, and finish level. We give you a fixed, itemized proposal after a free in-home measure.
Typical Tampa Bay conversion ranges
| Item | Typical Tampa Bay range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic conversion (acrylic, sliding glass) | $3,500 – $6,500 | — |
| Custom tiled walk-in | $6,000 – $12,000 | The most common choice |
| Curbless / accessible entry | $9,000 – $16,000 | Requires recessing the subfloor |
| Frameless glass upgrade | $1,200 – $4,000 | Templated after tile |
What's included
- Tub removal and full alcove demolition
- Drain conversion from tub to shower drain
- New shower pan, flood-tested and inspected
- Continuous waterproofing membrane
- Custom tile walls, floor, niches, and bench
- Frameless, semi-frameless, or sliding glass
- Grab-bar blocking and accessible entry heights
- Valve replacement and code-compliant anti-scald protection
How the project runs
- 45–60 min
Free in-home assessment
We check the drain location, the subfloor condition, and whether the alcove is a standard size. That determines the range.
- 1 week
Fixed proposal
Itemized, with the pan and waterproofing shown as their own line.
- 1 week
Tile and glass selections
We lock tile, niche layout, and glass style. Short lead times on a conversion.
- 2–3 days
Demo, pan & flood test
Tub out, alcove opened, drain converted, pan built and flood-tested before anything is tiled.
- 1–2 weeks
Tile, fixtures & glass
Walls and floor tiled, valve and fixtures set, then glass templated to the finished opening.
Timeline
A custom tiled conversion typically takes 1.5–3 weeks on site. Frameless glass is templated after tile is complete and adds roughly a week. A basic acrylic conversion is faster — but understand what is being sealed in behind it.
Permits & Florida code
Bathroom remodels in Tampa Bay pull plumbing and electrical permits whenever fixtures move or circuits change. The line item Florida takes most seriously is waterproofing: the Florida Building Code requires an inspected shower pan and a continuous moisture barrier in wet areas, and a failed pan test means the tile comes back off. We build to pan-test-first, handle every inspection, and close the permit.
The decisions that move your number
The four things worth thinking about before you get quotes.
Keep at least one tub in the house
For resale, buyers with young children look for one. If this is your only tub, think twice. If it is the second or third, convert it without hesitation.
One-day overlay vs. real conversion
An overlay is fast and cheap and it seals the existing condition in behind a shell. If the pan or the wall behind the old surround has any moisture history, that is exactly the wrong outcome.
Curbless costs more and is worth considering now
If you intend to age in this house, a curbless entry is far cheaper to build during this project than to retrofit later.
Add the grab-bar blocking even if you skip the bars
Solid blocking behind the tile costs almost nothing during construction and makes a future grab bar a ten-minute job instead of a wall repair.
How we work
Not claims about how good we are — commitments about how the project runs.
Design–build under one contract
The team that designs your kitchen or bath is the team that builds it. One contract, one schedule, one person accountable — no handoff gap between designer and contractor.
Fixed scope, itemized proposal
Every line is visible before you sign — cabinetry, counters, labor, permits, contingency. Change-order pricing is agreed in writing before any extra work proceeds.
Permits pulled and closed
We handle Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco permitting end to end, schedule every inspection, and close the permit out. You never deal with the county counter.
Waterproofing flood-tested before tile
Every shower pan we build is flood-tested and inspected before a single tile goes on. It is the cheapest line to cut and the most expensive one to redo.
Built to the Florida Building Code
GFCI and AFCI protection, dedicated circuits, code ventilation, engineered headers, and inspected moisture barriers — the requirements that actually matter in Florida humidity.
Kitchens and baths only
We do not take on roofing, additions, or general handyman work. Two rooms, done to a standard that only comes from specialising.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Tampa?
A basic conversion with an acrylic surround and sliding glass runs $3,500 to $6,500. A custom tiled walk-in shower with a rebuilt, inspected pan and frameless glass runs $6,000 to $12,000. Curbless accessible entries run $9,000 to $16,000.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
A custom tiled conversion takes about 1.5 to 3 weeks on site, plus roughly a week for frameless glass to be templated and fabricated after tile is finished.
Is a one-day tub-to-shower conversion a good idea?
It is fast and inexpensive, and it works by installing a shell over the existing alcove. The trade-off is that whatever is behind the old surround — including a pan that may already be leaking — gets sealed in. If there is any moisture history in that wall, a real conversion is the honest answer.
Do I need a permit to convert a tub to a shower?
Yes, in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco. The drain conversion is plumbing work, and Florida requires the new shower pan to be inspected. We pull and close the permit.
Will converting my tub hurt resale value?
Not if the house still has a tub somewhere. Buyers with young children generally want one bathtub in the home; beyond that, a proper walk-in shower is usually seen as an upgrade — particularly in Florida's large retiree market.
Can you make the shower curbless?
Usually. It requires recessing the subfloor so the entry sits flush, which is straightforward over a wood-framed floor and more involved over a slab. We assess it at the consultation.
Related
Free consultation
Let's price your tub-to-shower conversion properly.
We measure in person, then send a fixed, itemized proposal. No obligation, no pressure, and no allowance games.
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