How Do I Convert a Bathtub into a Shower?

ProSource Wholesale | 10/28/2024

Tricks of the Trade is an article series dedicated to providing answers to commonly asked questions. The interviews are conducted with ProSource Wholesale^® trade professional members, looking to offer their insights and experience to these thoughts that arise during the building or remodeling process.

 

Vio Filip is the president and owner of Servio Pro Floor and More and a remodeler member of ProSource of Elk Grove Village (IL).

 

Homeowners with bathrooms that feature a bathtub but no shower often look out for the opportunity to have a shower installed as part of a remodel.

 

A bathtub-to-shower remodel requires all of the necessary shower materials to ensure that the base, liner, plumbing, and shower wall materials are ready for the exact execution of the design. That requires the help of our partners at ProSource, who help my clients in the showroom, select the products and build out the design plan so that my team and I can execute the labor to perfection. Having that connection and regular communication with clients, installers, contractors, and account managers is what makes ProSource such a great partner.

 

 

Assessing the bathtub

 

When homeowners approach the idea of the conversion, they frequently have higher end tubs that have been kept in good shape with routine bathtub maintenance, like Jacuzzis, acrylic tubs, soaking tubs, and corner units.

 

In most cases, people with freestanding tubs are not converting their tub area into a shower but are simply adding a shower in another area of the bathroom. In those situations, the bathroom is large enough to fit both. They don’t have to worry about the bathtub materials and focus on incorporating the shower into their bathroom design.

 

However, there was one project I worked on, where there wasn’t enough space to keep both the existing tub and shower, so we ended up widening the shower and creating a walk-in concept. It reinforced the current sentiment I’m receiving from homeowners about trying to enlarge the shower and prioritizing it because of its ease of use.

 

Shower base and drain conversion

 

Once the project’s goals are understood and all the shower materials are in our hands, we will address the base and the drain. We’re still traditional in our approach. My team and I still like the customization pouring a shower base offers, like a mortar base and liner method.

 

We’ve been developing this method for over 26 years. When you have a team of skilled and experienced professionals employing a technique like that, you tend to avoid the easier, pre-made kits that require so many products on hand. It might require more challenging work, but it also means that you don’t have to modify the plumbing that much.

 

Knowing how to move a shower drain comes down to the shower base method. It doesn’t matter where the shower drain is or if it’s been a tub. When pouring your own mortar shower base, you are building for that specific job, so you don’t have to line up any products to the existing drain. You start from where the plumbing is and make sure that you can slope it to that drain. It’s all doable whether it is a linear, square, or round drain.

 

Showerhead conversion

 

When adding the showerhead, it is essential to check the local municipality’s code requirements regarding how high a showerhead should be. For example, in the Chicagoland area, there’s a code requirement and minimum height that the showerhead should be if it is wall-mounted.

 

If it is a rain shower on the ceiling, it’s essential to know if the ceiling is near the home’s exterior, so they can double insulate the area and avoid freezing pipes.

 

We’ve had projects that required inspections and architectural drawings to follow guidelines set up to avoid interference with electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other factors.

 

Waterproofing systems

 

With waterproofing systems and their rolled-on membranes, showers can last so much longer than they used to. I’ve taken out old showers, where there was just tile without even a cement board. It was just on drywall, and of course it doesn’t last because once the water goes through some of the grout joints, the board behind it gets exposed and disintegrates over time.

 

With the traditional liner and shower mortar base, we use waterproofing membranes to go up the walls, taping all the seams of the cement boards and the corners.

 

Homeowners lately have been installing steam showers in their homes, requiring us to waterproof the ceiling to create a full enclosure. We’ll even cover the drain with waterproofing, stick a hose in the area and fill it up, giving us a better sense of whether the shower will withstand the moisture over time.

 

Doors and special features

 

The tub-to-shower conversion can be affected by whether or not the homeowner wants a shower door. We’ve always been custom to fit their needs and not relied on pre-made shower doors or frameless glass.

 

When a homeowner wants a pre-made door with pre-made glass, I have my glass subcontractor install it, as it will still require us to create the opening to fit the custom mortar base that we’re already pouring.

 

Customization requires that the homeowner has options, and with many of our showers, these extra choices like niches, LED lights, shelving, and Bluetooth, highlight the beauty of everything we’ve remodeled in the bathroom.

 

They’re really neat, but they must be integrated into the design from the beginning. We can’t create new problems halfway through the conversion or remodel, so we ensure accounting for these customizations in the planning process.

 

Streamlining shower tile installation

 

When it comes to showers, tile comes with the territory. Before the tile is even selected, I stress to every client that they should order a tile, not just a small sample.

 

Getting the tile in your hand lets you know if it’s ceramic, marble, porcelain, stone, or another type of shower wall material. However, I’ve been burned too many times with smaller samples, drawings, pictures, and emails of tiles that were not the correct size or quantity we needed for installation.

 

Consult with your shower remodelers because if the sizing of the individual tiles is off, the number of tiles ordered will also be off, which will cause the shower installation cost and project timeline to increase.

 

ProSource is a great resource when it comes to consulting us about sizing, material, and quantity. They’ve supported my clients whether they’re looking at the actual tile or a small sample, giving them a better understanding of what they actually need.

 

Connect with the pros

 

Whether you are installing a bathtub, installing a shower, or converting a bathtub into a shower, you should not do it yourself. More often than not, any attempt at it will create more problems than before.

 

Whenever I receive a call about a homeowner who redid their shower themselves or converted their tub into a shower, it’s often leaking. That’s usually the tipping point because then we have to figure out if it’s a plumbing issue or the tile, assess the water damage, and check for mold and mildew.

 

We frequently have to open up the ceiling to check the plumbing and determine where the leak is coming from. The shower usually hasn’t been waterproofed, so there can be leaks in the corners. If it’s a liner issue, it has cuts, crimps, or holes, causing leaking around the drain.

 

There’s also the potential for curb damage, grout and joint cracking, and improper door installation that can end up causing our team to have to come in and redo all the homeowner’s work.

 

That’s why it’s so important to do your research and trust skilled trade professionals who are experts in their field. Take advantage of their insights, and trust the knowledgeable team at ProSource, who work with us until the job is done.

 

Are you a homeowner preparing for a remodel or tub-to-shower conversion? Use our Find a Pro feature to get the expert support you need from trusted ProSource members.

Tagged: Tubs Shower Bases Shower Doors Shower Faucets Shower Heads Products