Tub-to-shower conversions across San Diego County
Most San Diego homeowners stop using the tub years before they replace it. A tub-to-shower conversion removes the existing alcove tub, retiles the wet wall, lowers the threshold for a walk-in entry, and adds a new valve and glass. It is one of the highest-value bath projects per dollar spent, and the right call when the tub is purely decorative.
What's included in this service?
- Demo of the existing alcove tub, tile surround, valve, and any rotten backing
- Drain relocation if the new shower footprint shifts, plus new P-trap and venting to code
- Shower pan install (PVC liner or Schluter Kerdi) sized to the new footprint, with curb or curbless transition
- Wet wall and adjacent wall retile with waterproofing membrane behind the tile
- Pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve replacement, new trim, and handheld plus rainfall head
- Frameless glass enclosure measure and install with new hardware
When do you need this service?
- The tub has not been used for a bath in years and the shower in the hall bath is overloaded
- Aging-in-place is a near-term priority and a 20-inch tub step is becoming a fall risk
- The tile surround is failing, the valve leaks, or the drain is slow
- You want a larger shower footprint and the current alcove is too small for a real walk-in
- You are refreshing the bath for resale and a walk-in shower reads as modern to buyers
What do homeowners ask about Tub-to-Shower?
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in San Diego?
A standard alcove tub-to-shower conversion in San Diego runs $10,000-$18,000. A conversion that enlarges the footprint, adds a curbless entry, or moves the drain lands at $18,000-$25,000. The main cost drivers are drain relocation, tile size, and glass enclosure type.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
Plan on 2-4 weeks of on-site work: 2-3 days for demo and rough-in, 3-5 days for waterproofing and tile, then grout cure and a final glass measure. Frameless glass is fabricated 1-2 weeks after the final measure, so the total calendar time can run 4-6 weeks from demo start.
Will a tub-to-shower conversion hurt my home resale value?
In most San Diego neighborhoods, removing a rarely-used second tub and adding a walk-in shower does not hurt resale. In homes with only one bath, you usually want to keep at least one tub somewhere for young-family buyers. We walk the layout and the comps with you at the consult before signing off.
Can I keep a tub and still get a walk-in shower?
Yes, in many San Diego primary suites we keep a freestanding or drop-in soaking tub on one wall and build a separate curbless walk-in shower across the room. This is a common master bath layout. The cost is higher than a pure conversion because the wet area is larger, but the resale and daily-use upside are real.
Do I need a permit to convert a tub to a shower in San Diego?
Yes, because you are moving or replacing plumbing, and the shower pan and waterproofing have to meet current code. The City of San Diego and most surrounding cities handle this through an e-permit portal. Verify any contractor you hire pulls the permit and that the final inspection is scheduled before final payment.
Where do we offer Tub-to-Shower in San Diego County?
We provide tub-to-shower in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
See tub-to-shower in all 67 cities
Homeowners who hired us for this
The crew showed up on the day they said, demo was wrapped in two days, and the tile work was the cleanest I have seen in our 1970s bath. Final walkthrough was a punch list of three small things, all fixed inside a week. Worth every dollar.
We stopped using the guest tub years ago. The conversion took three weeks start to finish, the curbless shower is easy for my mother to step into, and the price matched the quote with no add-ons.
Lived through the remodel with two kids and a dog. Crew kept the dust contained, kept us posted on what was happening each morning, and finished the frameless glass shower ahead of the date on the schedule.
Need tub-to-shower in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.