Tub and surround removal
The bathtub, tile surround and any damaged drywall behind it come out. We check the framing and subfloor and repair what the water got to.
Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, Kingwood and the Lake Livingston area
Tub to Walk-In Shower
Tub to Walk-In Shower
Conversion in Houston, TX
The bathtub nobody uses comes out and a tiled walk-in shower goes in its place: built pan, waterproofed walls, low curb or curbless entry, niche and glass. Most conversions are done in about a week.
What the conversion includes
A conversion keeps the rest of the bathroom and replaces only the tub area. That is why it is faster and less expensive than a full remodel, and why the waterproofing has to be done right the first time.
Drain and plumbing adjustment
A tub drain is not a shower drain. The drain is relocated and sized for a shower, and the valve is set at shower height. Licensed plumbing work is coordinated under the same contract.
Built shower pan
A sloped mortar pan or a foam pan system with the drain centered or linear, built to shed water toward the drain with no low spots.
Waterproofing and flood test
Cement board, then a liquid or sheet membrane on the walls and pan. The pan is filled and left for 24 hours before any tile is set.
Tile, niche and curb
Wall and floor tile in your chosen layout, a recessed niche for shampoo, and a low tiled curb or a curbless threshold for step-free access.
Glass, trim and finish
Frameless or semi-frameless glass, shower trim and head, grout sealing, caulk, and cleanup. Ready to use the day we hand it over.
A walk-in shower we built recently
Large-format gray porcelain on the walls, hexagon tile on the floor, a built-in corner bench, recessed niche and a frameless glass enclosure. Photographed on site.
More finished projects in the portfolio.
Design choices that change the result
A conversion is a small project with a few big decisions. These are the ones we go through at the estimate.
Curb or curbless
A low tiled curb is standard and easiest to build. Curbless entries suit aging-in-place and wheelchair access, and need the floor recessed or sloped, which we confirm on site.
Tile size and layout
Large-format porcelain on the walls means fewer grout lines to clean. Small mosaic on the floor gives grip. Herringbone, stacked and subway layouts change the look without changing the cost much.
Glass
A fixed frameless panel is the cleanest look. A hinged door contains water better in narrow bathrooms. Both come in clear, frosted or low-iron glass.
Bench, niche and grab bars
A built-in bench, one or two recessed niches, and blocking behind the wall for future grab bars are inexpensive to add during construction and expensive to add later.
How the conversion goes
Most tub-to-shower conversions take five to eight working days. The 24-hour flood test is a fixed day in the middle that we never skip.
In-home estimate
We measure the tub alcove, check the drain location and the wall condition, and talk through curb, tile and glass options.
Written proposal
A fixed price with the scope listed, the payment schedule and the dates. Tile and glass selections are confirmed before ordering.
Demolition and rough plumbing
Tub and surround out, drain and valve adjusted, framing repaired, cement board installed.
Pan, waterproofing, flood test
The pan is built and the membrane applied. Water sits in the pan for 24 hours. If the level drops, we fix it before going further.
Tile, glass and handover
Tile is set and grouted, glass is measured and installed, trim goes on, and we walk it with you before the final payment.
Why homeowners trust Earlimon with shower conversions
A shower conversion fails in one place: water getting behind the tile. Everything about how we build is organized around not letting that happen.
- Flood test on every pan. Twenty-four hours with the pan full, every time. If it does not hold, we rebuild it at our cost.
- Membrane, not just cement board. Cement board alone is not waterproof. A continuous membrane on walls and pan is part of every conversion we do.
- Written contract, fixed price. The proposal lists the scope and the price. Changes are priced in writing before they happen.
- A week, not a month. The conversion is planned day by day so the bathroom is back in service fast.
- Built for the person using it. Curbless entries, benches and grab-bar blocking are planned in when the bathroom is for a parent or for aging in place.
Questions homeowners ask
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Houston?
A tiled walk-in shower in a standard tub alcove with a built pan, waterproofing, porcelain tile and a glass panel usually costs between five and nine thousand dollars. Curbless entries, natural stone and full-height glass enclosures add to that. The free estimate gives you a fixed written price.
How long does the conversion take?
Five to eight working days for a typical alcove, including the 24-hour flood test. The bathroom is out of service during that time, and we confirm the dates in writing before demolition.
Will removing the tub hurt my home value?
Homes usually keep at least one tub. If yours has a tub in another bathroom, converting the master or hall tub to a walk-in shower is what most buyers now expect. If it is the only tub in the house, we talk that through at the estimate.
Can you make the shower curbless for a wheelchair or walker?
Yes. A curbless shower needs the floor recessed or the slope built into the pan, and often a linear drain. We check the subfloor at the estimate to confirm it is possible in your bathroom.
What is the 24-hour flood test?
After the shower pan is waterproofed, the drain is plugged and the pan is filled with water for a full day. If the water level holds, the pan is watertight and tile can go on. If it drops, the membrane is repaired first. It is the single most important step in a shower build.
Do you serve areas outside Houston?
Yes. The Woodlands, Conroe, Spring, Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita, and the Lake Livingston area including Livingston, Onalaska, Coldspring, Oakhurst, Huntsville, Willis, Cleveland, New Caney, Porter, Shepherd and Point Blank.
Ready to replace the tub?
Send a photo of the tub area and the width of the alcove, or book the free in-home estimate. You get a written proposal with a fixed price and the dates.
Tell us about your shower
Share the room, the scope and what matters most to you. You will hear back the same business day.