Turn That Unused Tub
Into a Walk-In Shower
You’ll Actually Use.
Most East Valley homeowners with two or more bathrooms have at least one bathtub they haven’t used in years. TJC Remodeling removes the tub, waterproofs the pan, and builds a beautiful custom walk-in shower in its place — typically completed in 5–8 business days.
Free Estimate — Tub-to-Shower
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Why East Valley Homeowners Remove Their Tubs
Bathtubs made sense when they were designed — but for the majority of today’s East Valley homeowners, a large soaking tub in the master bath sits unused while a cramped shower barely fits one person. The math on a conversion is simple: reclaim the square footage, gain a shower you’ll actually use every day, and increase the visual appeal of your bathroom at the same time.
The Tub Gets Used a Few Times a Year — at Best
Studies consistently show that fewer than 15% of homeowners use their bathtub regularly after the age of 45. If you’re showering every day and soaking once a season, a conversion makes obvious sense.
The Shower Is Too Small
Many East Valley homes from the 1980s and 1990s have a 36″ shower stall next to a full garden tub. Removing the tub and converting the space creates a walk-in shower you can actually move around in.
Aging in Place & Accessibility
Stepping over a tub threshold becomes genuinely dangerous with age. A curbless or low-threshold walk-in shower eliminates the hazard, adds grab bars, and makes the bathroom safe and usable long-term.
Home Resale Value
A well-executed tub-to-shower conversion in the master bath typically recoups 70–80% of its cost at resale — especially in markets like Gilbert and Mesa where buyers expect a quality master shower.
Everything Included in Every TJC Conversion
A tub-to-shower conversion isn’t just removing a tub and tiling the floor. Here’s the complete scope of what TJC handles — start to finish, one crew, one contract.
Demo & Haul-Away
Tub removed, surrounding tile demo’d, debris hauled off-site same day
Waterproofing
Cement board, vapor barrier, and waterproof membrane installed before any tile
Pan & Drain
Custom-sloped shower pan or prefab base installed with new drain assembly
Tile Installation
Floor, walls, niche, and bench tiled to your selections with precision grout lines
Glass & Fixtures
Frameless or semi-frameless glass installed, fixtures set, final cleanup done
Full Demolition & Haul-Away
We remove the tub, all surrounding tile, cement board, and any damaged substrate. Everything leaves your home on our truck — no dumpster in your driveway, no debris pile in your garage.
Commercial-Grade Waterproofing
The most critical step in any shower build — and the one most often skipped by cheaper contractors. TJC uses a multi-layer waterproofing system: cement board, vapor barrier, and a full membrane system on all wet surfaces before any tile is applied.
Shower Pan & Drain
The shower floor is built with a precisely sloped mortar bed or prefab pan, ensuring proper drainage and zero standing water. We install the drain assembly, p-trap, and connect to your existing plumbing drain.
Custom Tile Work
Floor tile, wall tile, a built-in niche or two, and a bench if desired — all installed with consistent grout lines, proper spacers, and the right tile adhesive for each surface. Your tile selection, your design.
Frameless Glass Enclosure
A frameless or semi-frameless glass door and panel installed by our own crew — not outsourced to a glass sub we don’t know. Tempered safety glass, custom-fit to your opening, with brushed nickel, matte black, or chrome hardware.
Fixtures & Finishing
Showerhead, hand wand, valve trim, and any additional fixtures set and tested. We patch and paint any drywall disturbed during demo, re-install the vanity light if needed, and leave the bathroom clean and ready to use.
Choose the Walk-In Shower Style That Fits Your Home
Every tub-to-shower conversion is built in the existing tub footprint — no structural changes required. Here are the shower configurations TJC builds most often in the East Valley.
Large Walk-In Tile Shower
Floor-to-ceiling tile on all walls, custom floor pattern, frameless glass door and fixed panel. The most popular conversion style in East Valley master baths.
- Floor-to-ceiling wall tile
- Frameless glass enclosure
- Built-in niches & bench optional
- Linear or center drain
Curbless / Zero-Threshold
No curb, no step — the floor transitions seamlessly from bathroom to shower. Essential for aging-in-place and ADA accessibility. Stylish for any age.
- Zero-entry, no step to clear
- Linear drain for level floor
- Grab bar blocking included
- Anti-slip tile selection guidance
Spa-Style with Bench & Niche
Built-in bench, multiple niches, rainfall showerhead, and a secondary hand wand. Transforms the old tub footprint into a personal spa experience.
- Built-in tile bench
- Multiple shampoo niches
- Rainfall + hand wand fixtures
- Body sprays available
Standard Walk-In with Alcove
Three-wall tile surround, half-wall or full glass panel, standard drain. Clean, functional, and budget-friendly — a solid upgrade from a dated tub in any guest or hall bath.
- Three-wall tile surround
- Glass panel or sliding door
- Standard center drain
- Cost-effective scope
Corner Walk-In
When the tub occupies a corner space, a corner walk-in with two glass panels and two tiled walls maximizes the footprint and feels more open than a full alcove.
- Two-glass-panel configuration
- Two tiled walls
- Open corner entry option
- Ideal for narrower spaces
Freestanding Tub + Separate Shower
Remove the old drop-in or garden tub, install a freestanding soaking tub, and build a separate custom shower alongside it. The full spa suite transformation — for bathrooms with the square footage to do it right.
- Freestanding soaking tub
- Separate custom shower build
- Requires larger footprint
- Design consultation included
Before the Conversion. After the Conversion.
The Old Tub Situation
Large tub taking up most of the bathroom
A 5-foot garden tub leaves room for a 32–36″ shower stall at best.
Cramped shower with outdated fixtures
Original builder-grade fixtures, single showerhead, no room to move.
Dated tile that screams the 1990s
Pink, peach, or mauve tile that’s clean but impossible to update cosmetically.
High step-over creating a slip hazard
Tub walls require stepping over 14–18” — a real safety issue for any age.
Tub used a few times a year, shower daily
The footprint allocation makes no sense for how you actually live.
After the TJC Conversion
Large custom walk-in shower in the same footprint
The full tub space becomes a generous shower with room to move, built-in niches, and a bench if desired.
Frameless glass that opens up the room visually
Frameless glass enclosures make any bathroom feel significantly larger and more modern.
Fresh custom tile in any style you choose
Floor-to-ceiling large-format tile, natural stone, subway, mosaic — your design, your call.
Zero-threshold entry option eliminates the step
A curbless shower is safer, looks cleaner, and makes the floor feel continuous.
A shower you’ll use and love every single day
Rainfall head, hand wand, and the space to actually enjoy your morning routine.
Tub-to-Shower Conversions by TJC Remodeling
Why Waterproofing Makes or Breaks a Conversion
Shower leaks are the single most common — and most expensive — result of a poorly done tub-to-shower conversion. Water migrates through grout lines. It seeps past improperly sealed seams. It travels horizontally inside walls and floors for months before you see a single sign of damage on the surface. By the time a leak becomes visible, the subfloor, wall studs, and sometimes the ceiling below are already compromised.
TJC never skips or shortcuts the waterproofing stage. We use a complete multi-layer system on every conversion, and we flood-test the pan before a single tile is set.
Cement Board or Kerdi Board Substrate
Moisture-resistant substrate screwed to studs with proper gap at floor. Never standard drywall in wet areas.
Vapor Barrier at All Seams
Seams taped and sealed with waterproofing fabric embedded in thinset before membrane application.
Full Waterproof Membrane
Applied to the entire shower floor and at least 6″ up the walls. Corners and seams get an additional layer of fabric reinforcement.
Flood Test Before Tile
We plug the drain and fill the pan with water for 24 hours before any tile is set. Zero tolerance for leaks.
Silicone at All Movement Joints
Every inside corner and change of plane gets silicone caulk — never cement grout, which cracks as the structure moves.
⚠ The Risk of Skipping This Step
A shower rebuild caused by water damage behind the tiles — framing, subfloor, and mold remediation — typically costs $8,000–$25,000+. Proper waterproofing from the start costs a fraction of that and protects your home for decades.
Waterproofing Systems TJC Uses
What Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in the East Valley?
Cost depends primarily on the shower size, tile selection, and glass configuration. Here’s a realistic breakdown for the Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler market in 2025.
| Project Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Standard Alcove Conversion Tub demo, basic tile, glass door, center drain | $4,500 – $8,000 |
| Walk-In with Frameless Glass Custom tile, frameless panel + door, niche | $7,000 – $14,000 |
| Large Walk-In — Mid-Range Tile Floor-to-ceiling tile, frameless glass, bench | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Curbless / Barrier-Free Conversion Zero-threshold, linear drain, grab bars | $8,000 – $18,000 |
| Luxury Spa Conversion Natural stone, rainfall + body sprays, bench, niche | $18,000 – $35,000+ |
| Add-On: Built-In Bench Tile-topped bench added to any conversion | $800 – $1,800 |
| Add-On: Niche(s) Recessed shampoo niche — per niche | $200 – $500 ea. |
* Pricing reflects East Valley market rates for 2025. All pricing confirmed in a written flat-rate proposal before work begins. No surprises.
What Affects Your Conversion Cost
Real Reviews from Real East Valley Clients
5.0 stars across 60 verified Google reviews. Tub-to-shower conversions are our single most reviewed project type.
“We recently had a 1979 sunken tub transformed to a floor-level shower in our master bath. The team was neat, clean, and did a couple extra requests while on-site. The price was right and Corey & the team were great. We love our new bathroom.”
“TJC did an excellent job updating our master bath shower. I appreciated the time Jake took to explain everything. They were always on time, worked neat & clean, and the results were excellent. Highly recommend TJC Remodeling.”
“Hiring TJC to renovate both my master and guest bathrooms was a win. Open communication throughout, daily progress photos and emails while I was away. On-schedule delivery. Worth your time to consider TJC for your next remodeling project.”
Tub-to-Shower Conversion Questions Answered
Everything East Valley homeowners ask before scheduling their conversion estimate.
Most tub-to-shower conversions complete in 5–8 business days from demo start. A standard conversion with porcelain tile runs about 5–6 days. A larger spa-style conversion with natural stone runs closer to 7–10 days. Timelines are confirmed in your written proposal. The bathroom is typically inaccessible during the build but your other bathrooms remain fully functional.
In the East Valley, a standard tub-to-shower conversion runs $5,000–$12,000 for a quality result with porcelain tile and frameless glass. Luxury conversions with natural stone and premium fixtures run $15,000–$35,000+. We always provide a flat-rate written proposal so you know the exact cost before committing.
Most standard conversions — removing the tub and building a shower in the same footprint using the existing drain and plumbing connections — do not require a permit in Gilbert, Mesa, or Chandler. If plumbing is relocated or structural changes are made, a permit may be required. TJC will advise you specifically during the estimate and handles all permit applications when needed.
Not in most East Valley markets — and often the opposite. A well-executed master bath conversion to a large walk-in shower typically returns 70–80% of its cost at resale. Buyers in Gilbert and Mesa increasingly expect a quality shower in the master. The one exception: if you’re converting the only bathtub in the home, it can affect value for families with young children who specifically want a tub. Keeping a tub in the secondary bath addresses this.
Yes — curbless conversions are one of TJC’s most requested project configurations. We build a properly sloped shower floor with a linear drain that channels water away without a curb at the entry. This requires precise slope work during the pan build — exactly why it should be done by an experienced crew, not a handyman.
For a standard conversion, we connect the new shower valve and fixtures to the existing rough-in plumbing — typically capping the tub spout and rerouting to the shower valve. If the tub and shower shared a single valve (common in older homes), we replace the valve with a proper shower-only setup. All plumbing work is done by TJC as part of the conversion scope — no separate plumber required.
Yes — some clients purchase their own tile or fixtures from a tile showroom or supplier. We work with customer-supplied materials, but we need to verify that materials are appropriate for the application before ordering. Customer-supplied materials should be delivered to the job site before the start date. We can also source everything for you through our suppliers, often at competitive pricing.
Ready to Remove That Tub
and Build Something Better?
Free in-home estimate • Flat-rate written proposal • No pressure • Serving Gilbert, Mesa & the East Valley