Latest / USA Cabinet Store Remodeling Podcast / Shower-to-Bathtub Conversion: Costs, Steps & Permits

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Shower-to-Bathtub Conversion: Costs, Steps & Permits · USA Cabinet Store Remodeling Podcast

• 0:04
  Welcome back to the Remodel Report, the show
• 0:07
  where we walk you through real home projects
• 0:09
  from the first swing of the hammer to the final
• 0:12
  finishing touch. I am Chris, and as always, I
• 0:16
  am joined by our remodeling expert, Jessica.
• 0:19
  Today we are tackling a project a lot of homeowners
• 0:22
  dream about, but very few understand before they
• 0:25
  start. We are converting a shower into a bathtub.
• 0:30
  Jessica, this one sounds simple on paper, but...
• 0:32
  It is anything but, right? It really is, Chris.
• 0:36
  On the surface, people think you just pull out
• 0:38
  the shower and drop in a tub. But a shower -to
• 0:41
  -bath tub conversion touches almost every system
• 0:43
  in that bathroom. Plumbing, the drain location,
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  the framing under the floor, waterproofing, and
• 0:49
  of course, the finishes. When it is done right,
• 0:52
  though, you take a plain stall shower and turn
• 0:55
  it into a relaxing, spa -like retreat that adds
• 0:58
  comfort, resale value, and real style to the
• 1:01
  home. So today we are going to cover the benefits,
• 1:04
  the tub options, the full step -by -step process,
• 1:08
  the budget, and even the permit rules here in
• 1:10
  our area. Perfect. Let's start with the why.
• 1:13
  If someone already has a working shower, why
• 1:15
  go through all of this to add a tub? Great question.
• 1:18
  And there are four big reasons. First, the spa
• 1:21
  experience. A new tub with surrounding tile,
• 1:25
  stylish faucets, and high -end glass doors completely
• 1:28
  changes the mood of the room. Add the right lighting
• 1:32
  and decor and it becomes a place to soak the
• 1:34
  stress away. Second, functionality and value.
• 1:39
  A tub gives you versatility. You can still take
• 1:42
  a standing shower, but now you can also soak.
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  And homes with both a tub and a shower tend to
• 1:47
  appeal to more buyers. Third, water and energy
• 1:51
  savings. Newer fixtures are flow restricted and
• 1:54
  pairing them with on -demand hot water can cut
• 1:56
  your bills. And fourth, accessibility and safety.
• 2:00
  Walk -in tubs offer a low threshold for easy
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  entry, and you can add grab bars and non -slip
• 2:06
  flooring, which is a big deal for children, seniors,
• 2:08
  or anyone with mobility concerns. That accessibility
• 2:11
  point is huge, especially for families planning
• 2:14
  to age in place. So when someone decides they
• 2:17
  want a tub, what are their actual options? What
• 2:20
  kinds of tubs are we talking about? There are
• 2:22
  really two main paths. The first is a standard
• 2:25
  bathtub. This is the most common and most affordable
• 2:28
  choice, usually an alcove or a platform tub in
• 2:31
  acrylic or enameled steel. You can get rectangular,
• 2:35
  oval, or corner shapes, and you can splurge on
• 2:38
  extras like bubble massage jets or an inline
• 2:40
  heater. The second path is a walk -in tub. These
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  have a door so you step right in instead of climbing
• 2:46
  over a wall. They come with inward or outward
• 2:49
  swinging doors, non -slip floors, support bars,
• 2:53
  A, D, A, compliant powered seats, and therapeutic
• 2:57
  jets. The right choice really comes down to your
• 3:00
  needs, your taste, and your budget. Which is
• 3:03
  exactly why we always recommend working with
• 3:05
  a professional bathroom remodeler before you
• 3:07
  commit. Okay, so the tub is chosen. Before any
• 3:11
  demolition starts, what does the prep work look
• 3:13
  like? I imagine you cannot just start ripping
• 3:15
  things out. Definitely not. Good prep is what
• 3:19
  keeps the project smooth. Step one is to consult
• 3:22
  the experts and review your goals, your options,
• 3:25
  and your budget, and make sure permits and building
• 3:27
  codes are handled. Step two is thinking through
• 3:30
  demolition and structure, because the weight
• 3:33
  load for a tub is very different from a shower,
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  especially with cast iron or stone. You have
• 3:39
  to check the floor joists, the drain location,
• 3:41
  the plumbing, and the ventilation. Step three,
• 3:45
  and people always forget this one, order your
• 3:47
  tub early. Custom or specialty tubs can take
• 3:50
  four to six weeks to arrive, so ordering late
• 3:53
  stalls the whole job. And step four, buy all
• 3:57
  your fixtures and materials ahead of time. The
• 4:00
  faucets, the doors, the tile, the lighting. Having
• 4:03
  everything on site means no scrambling once the
• 4:06
  crew starts. That ordering tip alone probably
• 4:09
  saves people weeks. All right, prep is done.
• 4:13
  Walk me through tearing out the old shower. What
• 4:17
  is the right order? You want to be methodical
• 4:19
  so you protect everything that is staying. First,
• 4:23
  shut off the water supply lines feeding the shower
• 4:26
  valves so nothing leaks while you work. Then
• 4:29
  remove the shower drain, unscrewing the top plate
• 4:32
  and the pipe body from below and plug the hole
• 4:34
  so debris does not fall through. Next, take out
• 4:37
  the shower base, carefully breaking up that mortar
• 4:40
  bed while protecting the floor. After that, extract
• 4:44
  the surround walls or tile without damaging the
• 4:46
  wall structure you need for the tub. And finally,
• 4:49
  remove the plumbing fixtures, the shower head,
• 4:52
  handles, valves, and any diverter spout, and
• 4:55
  cap the supply lines. One serious note here.
• 4:58
  If you find asbestos or any hazardous material,
• 5:01
  it has to be handled according to federal and
• 5:03
  local regulations. That is not a do -it -yourself
• 5:06
  moment. Good safety call. So now the space is
• 5:09
  blank and ready. This is where the new tub goes
• 5:11
  in. What does a proper installation involve?
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  This is the precision part. You position and
• 5:17
  level the new tub exactly where you want it,
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  using shims to get it perfectly flat, and you
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  mark where the plumbing cutouts go. Then you
• 5:26
  install the drain and waistlines with proper
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  fittings, and you confirm the slope, which is
• 5:31
  typically a quarter inch per foot for good water
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  flow, and you leak check it. Next come the structural
• 5:37
  modifications, strengthening the subfloor and
• 5:40
  adding blocking to handle that extra weight.
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  If you're adding an air bath or a heated or electronic
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  tub, Now is the moment to wire and plumb those
• 5:48
  features while the walls are still open. Then
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  you waterproof the surrounding walls with backerboard
• 5:53
  above the lip, and seal the seams and plumbing
• 5:56
  penetrations with a membrane -like red guard.
• 5:58
  And only after that do you install the surround,
• 6:01
  whether that is acrylic panels, tile, or decorative
• 6:04
  wall panels. You mentioned the drain. A lot of
• 6:07
  people assume they can just reuse the existing
• 6:09
  shower drain, can they? That is one of the biggest
• 6:12
  misconceptions, and the answer is no. Showers
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  have a center drain, but tubs need a side -mounted
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  drain, usually 8 to 15 inches from the end wall.
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  That means cutting into the subfloor, running
• 6:24
  new drain lines at that quarter inch per foot
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  slope, and possibly re -venting to meet plumbing
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  code. You really want a licensed plumber to assess
• 6:33
  it. And the weight is the other surprise. A filled
• 6:37
  cast -iron tub can weigh 500 to 800 pounds, compared
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  to 150 to 200 for a shower base. That usually
• 6:44
  means sistering the floor joists or adding solid
• 6:47
  blocking, and ideally a structural engineer calculating
• 6:51
  the load so you never get sagging or worse. So
• 6:53
  the tub is in, sealed, and structurally sound.
• 6:56
  Now we get to the fun part, the finishing touches.
• 7:00
  Walk me through the doors and the hardware. This
• 7:03
  is where it starts to feel like a finished space.
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  Start with your tub filler faucets, chosen to
• 7:08
  match your hardware finish and mounted to code,
• 7:10
  with anti -scald valves integrated properly.
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  Then add a diverter tub spout, which lets you
• 7:16
  switch between filling the tub and running the
• 7:18
  shower head with a simple lever. Next, custom
• 7:22
  shower doors. Semi -frameless glass actually
• 7:25
  makes a small space look larger while adding
• 7:27
  elegance. And you can choose hinged or sliding
• 7:30
  styles. Just be sure every edge is sealed against
• 7:33
  leaks. And do not overlook built -in storage.
• 7:37
  Recessed niches, a glass front medicine cabinet,
• 7:40
  and floating shelves keep your essentials close
• 7:43
  but the space clean and uncluttered. I love that
• 7:45
  small spaces look bigger with the right glass.
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  Let's talk design and decor. How do people make
• 7:51
  this space feel like their own? The options are
• 7:54
  almost endless, and it comes down to the look
• 7:56
  and feel you want. Lighting sets the mood. Anything
• 8:00
  from sleek LED strips for a modern spa to vintage
• 8:03
  wall sconces for old Hollywood glamour. For flooring,
• 8:07
  think heated stone mosaic, marble, rich wood
• 8:10
  plank patterns, or easy clean porcelain that
• 8:13
  resists moisture. Backsplashes and accents are
• 8:17
  where you can really have fun. Natural stone
• 8:19
  waterfall edges, glass or quartz mosaic, even
• 8:23
  three -dimensional wave tile. Then layer your
• 8:26
  textures and colors, maybe a classic white tub
• 8:29
  against colorful tile, or an all -neutral palette
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  for a seamless look. And do not overlook the
• 8:35
  hidden health and accessibility touches, germ
• 8:38
  -resistant brass fixtures, even a HEPA air purifier
• 8:42
  for humidity, plus low thresholds and lever handles
• 8:45
  that make the space easier for everyone to use.
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  Okay, the question everyone is really waiting
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  for. What does all of this cost? Let's break
• 8:53
  it down. The tub unit itself runs anywhere from
• 8:56
  $500 for a basic model to $3 ,500 or more for
• 9:00
  high -end or specialty walk -in tubs. Installation
• 9:04
  labor typically lands between $2 ,000 and $5
• 9:07
  ,000, depending on complexity. And the surround
• 9:10
  finishes, the tile, glass doors, lighting, and
• 9:13
  hardware add another $500 to $2 ,500. For a complete
• 9:18
  mid -grade tub and shower combo, you are usually
• 9:21
  looking at around $6 ,000 all in. To put that
• 9:25
  in context, Bob Villa reports the average homeowner
• 9:28
  spends between $3 ,000 and $8 ,000 on this kind
• 9:31
  of conversion. And here's the part people miss.
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  Labor alone is usually 60 to 70 percent of the
• 9:37
  total, so the install is where most of your money
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  goes. That labor percentage really reframes the
• 9:43
  budget. Now, a lot of our listeners are right
• 9:45
  here in Northern Virginia. Are there local rules
• 9:48
  they need to know about? Absolutely, and this
• 9:51
  trips people up. In Fairfax County, a shower
• 9:54
  to bathtub conversion almost always requires
• 9:56
  both plumbing and building permits, and those
• 9:59
  go through DPWES. the county department, using
• 10:03
  the ePlan portal. You submit proof of ownership,
• 10:06
  plans, and plumbing specs. Permits are mandatory
• 10:09
  any time you relocate a drain or make structural
• 10:11
  changes, and skipping them can void your insurance,
• 10:15
  cause legal headaches when you sell, and lead
• 10:17
  to fines. Budget roughly $100 to $500 for permits.
• 10:22
  On cost, Fairfax tends to run toward the higher
• 10:25
  end of the national range because of labor rates
• 10:27
  and strict code compliance. So most homeowners
• 10:30
  here spend around $6 ,000. And one more tip.
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  Make sure your contractor holds a valid DPOR
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  Class A license and a Fairfax County BPOL license.
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  That protects you. Smart. Let's do a quick lightning
• 10:45
  round of the questions we hear most. Can people
• 10:48
  DIY this? How long does it take? And does it
• 10:51
  actually help resale? Quick answers. DIY. Only
• 10:55
  if you have real plumbing and carpentry experience,
• 10:58
  because a mistake can cause water damage or mold
• 11:01
  that costs more than the labor you saved. Timeline.
• 11:05
  A professional conversion usually takes five
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  to ten business days, longer if your custom tub
• 11:10
  has that four to six week lead time. Resale.
• 11:14
  It depends. Adding a tub to create a full bath
• 11:17
  can boost value, and about 65 % of home buyers
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  want at least one tub in the house. But you never
• 11:23
  want to remove your only shower or your only
• 11:25
  tub, because that limits your appeal. And a fun
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  one people always ask. The military method of
• 11:32
  showering. 30 seconds to get wet, water off while
• 11:36
  you soap up, 30 seconds to rinse, using under
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  two gallons instead of the 25 to 50 a bath can
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  use. A nice water saving trick once your new
• 11:45
  tub is in. That is a great rundown. Jessica,
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  if someone takes just a couple of things away
• 11:49
  from this episode, what should they be? Three
• 11:52
  things. One, plan before you demo. Order your
• 11:56
  tub early, line up your materials, and confirm
• 11:58
  your permits. Two, respect the drain and the
• 12:01
  weight. You cannot reuse a shower drain, and
• 12:05
  a full tub is far heavier than a shower, so plumbing
• 12:08
  and structure are not optional. And three, lean
• 12:11
  on professionals for the parts that matter, the
• 12:14
  waterproofing, the slope, the load calculations.
• 12:18
  Get those right, and you end up with a tub that
• 12:20
  is leak -free, safe and beautiful for years.
• 12:23
  Could not have said it better. If you are thinking
• 12:26
  about a shower to bathtub conversion, the team
• 12:28
  at USA Cabinet Store can guide your project from
• 12:31
  concept to completion. With showrooms across
• 12:33
  Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Florida,
• 12:36
  and beyond, you can book a complimentary consultation
• 12:39
  at usacabinetstore .com to get a custom quote
• 12:43
  built around your space, your style, and your
• 12:45
  budget. Jessica, thanks as always for breaking
• 12:48
  this one down. My pleasure, Chris. Thanks for
• 12:51
  listening everyone. Go enjoy that soak and we
• 12:54
  will see you on the next episode of the Remodel
• 12:56
  Report.