Conversions · Los Angeles
Tub-to-shower conversions that fit the room
Swapping a tub nobody uses for a roomier shower is one of the most practical changes a bathroom can get. The work is mostly in the floor and the drain, and in deciding whether this is the right tub to give up.
Is it the right move?
When a conversion makes sense
There is no universal answer. These are the situations where we usually see a conversion pay off in daily use.
The tub is only ever used as a shower
If nobody bathes in it, the tub wall is just something to step over. A shower in the same footprint gives you a wider entry, room to move and space for a bench or a proper niche.
Getting in and out is becoming harder
Stepping over a tub wall is a common reason people start thinking about conversions, particularly for aging in place. A low-curb or curbless shower removes that step. For a fuller mobility plan, see accessible bathroom remodeling.
The primary bath has a tub you never use
A tub that takes up a primary bathroom's best wall while everyone uses the shower is often better replaced by one generous shower.
The tub is failing anyway
If the tub is chipped, the surround is leaking or the valve needs replacing, the wall is coming apart regardless. That's the cheapest moment to reconsider what goes back.
Keeping a tub somewhere in the home
Before removing a tub, ask one question: is there another tub in the house? For families with small children, and for some buyers, a home with no bathtub at all can be a drawback. How much it matters depends on your neighborhood, the kind of home and who you expect to live there next, so it's a judgment call rather than a rule.
A common approach in Los Angeles houses with two bathrooms is to convert the primary bath to a large shower and keep a tub-shower combination in the hall bath. In a one-bathroom home or a one-bedroom condo, the decision is more personal: if a tub never gets used, living with it for years to protect a possible future sale may not make sense.
We don't have a single answer for you, but we can talk it through. Our article on bathroom remodel value considerations covers the wider question of resale. If you'd rather upgrade the tub than remove it, see bathtub replacement options.
What changes
The work behind a conversion
- Tub removal
- The tub comes out along with the surround tile and backer. Cast-iron tubs are often broken up in place to get them out of the room.
- Drain relocation
- A tub drain sits at one end, close to the wall. A shower drain usually needs to move toward the center or to a linear drain position, and it needs a proper trap below the floor. Over a crawlspace that's usually manageable; on a slab it means cutting concrete.
- Valve and head height
- Tub valves sit low. A shower valve is typically raised and the showerhead moved higher, which means opening the wall and reworking the supply lines.
- Floor and pan
- The floor under a tub is often unfinished or damaged from old leaks. It's repaired, then a sloped pan and continuous membrane are built.
- Entry
- A curb, a low curb or a curbless entry. See below.
- Glass and finishes
- A fixed panel, a hinged door or a slider, plus tile, niche and any bench.
The entry
Curb, low curb or curbless
Standard curb
The simplest and most forgiving. The pan can be built on top of the existing floor, and water has a clear barrier. A good fit when the budget is tight or the building limits floor work.
Low curb
A shorter step that reads as more open. It still usually works on the existing floor height, with careful attention to slope and glass placement.
Curbless
No step at all, but the shower floor has to be recessed below the bathroom floor. That depends on the joists or slab, and it isn't always possible. Our walk-in shower page explains the options.
Conversions in condos
Condo bathrooms are where many conversion questions come up, and where the answers depend most on the building. Drains in multi-unit buildings often run into shared stacks, and slabs between floors may contain post-tension cables or other structure you can't cut into. Moving a drain even a short distance may not be allowed.
HOAs commonly have rules about waterproofing, sound underlayment, work hours, elevator reservations and contractor insurance certificates, and some require their own review of plans. Ask for your building's remodeling rules early and share them with us; they may decide between a curbed and a curbless design before we draw anything.
We cover the details in converting a tub to a shower in a condo, and our condo remodeling page explains how we plan work around building rules.
Changing plumbing commonly requires a permit. Confirm current requirements with LADBS or your city's building department, and get written approval from your HOA or building management before work starts.
Budget
What moves the price of a conversion
A conversion that keeps the drain close, builds a curb and uses simple tile is at one end. A curbless shower on a slab with a linear drain and full-height stone is at the other. The main factors:
- How far the drain moves, and whether that means cutting a slab
- Whether the entry is curbed or curbless
- How much subfloor and framing repair the old tub was hiding
- Valve type, plus any handheld or second head
- Tile coverage, tile size and glass configuration
- Building rules and access in condos
Areas we serve
We handle conversions across Los Angeles, including condo buildings on the Westside and older houses in the valleys.
Questions
Tub-to-shower FAQ
Can the new shower fit in the same space as the tub?
Yes, in most cases. A standard alcove tub footprint makes a comfortable shower, and it often feels larger because there's no tub wall to step over.
Does the drain always have to move?
Usually, because a tub drain sits at the end and a shower drain needs a different position and trap. How involved that is depends on whether there's a crawlspace, a slab or a unit below.
Will removing our only tub hurt resale?
It depends on the home and the likely buyers. Families with young children often value a tub. If there's another tub in the house, it matters much less. It's worth weighing before you decide.
Can I have a curbless shower in a condo?
Sometimes. It depends on whether the floor can be recessed, which buildings often don't allow. A low curb is a common alternative. Check with your HOA before planning.
Can you add a bench where the tub used to be?
Yes. A built-in bench or a floating seat fits well in a tub footprint. It has to be planned before waterproofing so it's covered by the membrane.
Call us
Talk to us about your bathroom
Call and tell us what isn’t working in the room. We’ll talk through scope, materials and timing, then set up a visit to measure and see the plumbing and structure.
Call for a consultation
(213) 566-7696Open daily, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Tell us whether it’s a house, condo or ADU
- Describe which bathroom and what you’d like to change
- We arrange a visit to measure and look at the room