Tub-to-Shower Conversions in Pompano Beach, FL

Tub-to-shower conversions are the most common bathroom request we get from condo owners and from homeowners planning to stay put. The standard five-foot alcove tub in many Pompano Beach bathrooms has a side wall you have to step over, which is a step many people would rather not take on a wet surface every day. Converting that space to a walk-in shower keeps the footprint, avoids most layout changes and usually costs a fraction of a full remodel.

Is your bathroom a good candidate?

Almost any alcove tub can become a shower. The questions are about the drain and the floor. A tub drain sits near one end and is set for a tub, not a shower pan, so it is usually moved and resized for a shower. In a slab-on-grade house that means opening the concrete around the drain. In a condo, the drain connects to building plumbing, and the association may want to see the plan. If you are the only bathroom with a tub in the home, think about resale and whether anyone in the household bathes young children.

Prefab or tiled

A prefab acrylic or fiberglass base and wall system goes in quickly and has no grout to clean. A tiled shower takes longer but gives you any size, any tile, a built-in niche and a bench, and a curbless entry if the floor allows. Both need a sound drain connection and a properly installed base; a tiled shower also needs a waterproofing membrane and a flood test before tile. We price both options at the estimate when either would work.

Getting the threshold low

The height of the curb is often the reason for the conversion. A low curb of a couple of inches works with most standard bases. A curbless, roll-in entry requires recessing the shower floor so water still drains to the shower and not across the bathroom, which is straightforward in some houses and difficult over a condo slab. We check the floor before promising either.

Adding safety while the walls are open

With the tub out and the walls open, it costs little to add solid blocking behind the tile so grab bars can be anchored anywhere later. A handheld shower on a slide bar, a fold-down or built-in bench, and a thermostatic or pressure-balancing valve that limits temperature swings are worth considering at the same time.

Glass, curtains and splash

A shower without a tub wall needs a plan for water. A frameless glass door or fixed panel keeps water in and makes a small room feel larger. A curtain on a curved rod is the low-cost option and works well for wheelchair or walker access. We size the glass after the walls are tiled so the fit is exact.

Permits for a conversion

Moving a drain and replacing a valve are plumbing work, which falls under Pompano Beach's permit requirements for bathroom alterations. Inspections usually include plumbing rough and final. We list the permit and inspection steps in the estimate.