The tub-to-shower conversion is the single most requested change we build. The story is almost always the same: the tub has not been filled in years, it is hard to step over, it is hard to clean, and the space it occupies would make a far better shower. Converting that underused tub into a walk-in custom tile shower is one of the highest-impact remodels you can do — it changes how the bathroom works every single day. Alpine Development Groups LLC performs tub-to-shower conversions across Austell, Cobb County, and Metro Atlanta.
Why Homeowners Convert Tubs to Showers
Why do homeowners convert? The reasons stack up. Accessibility comes first for many — a high tub wall is a fall risk, and a low-curb or curbless shower is simply safer to enter. Then there is the unused-tub reality: if nobody soaks, the tub is sixty inches of wasted footprint. Cleaning is another honest motivator; a tiled walk-in with a handheld sprayer is far easier to keep up than a tub surround with caulk lines. And there is the look of it — a glass-enclosed tile shower makes the whole bathroom feel larger and more current.
Aging in place deserves its own note, because many of our conversion clients are planning ahead rather than reacting. A curbless shower with a bench, a handheld on a slide bar, and blocking for future grab bars means the bathroom works for decades without another remodel. These features cost little during construction and read as luxury design, not medical equipment. Planning ahead is simply good design.
What a Tub to Shower Conversion Involves
What does the conversion actually involve? We remove the existing tub and surround down to the framing and subfloor. That is the moment of truth — and the reason conversions should be done by a specialist — because we finally see the condition of everything the tub was hiding. Then we adjust the plumbing: the tub drain becomes a shower drain, the valve is replaced with a modern pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve, and supply lines are brought up to standard. Framing is adjusted for the new shower footprint, which is often larger than the old tub. Then the full waterproofing system goes in — backer, sealed seams, sloped pan tied to the drain — followed by tile, fixtures, and glass.
The drain is the technical heart of a conversion. A tub drain and a shower drain are not the same assembly, and the location often needs to move for the new layout to work. In homes built on a concrete slab — common across Metro Atlanta — moving a drain means cutting concrete, which is straightforward work but real work. In homes with a crawlspace or basement, access is easier. Either way, we handle it. The pan gets built with the correct slope to the new drain location and flood-tested before tile, because a conversion shower that does not drain perfectly is a failure.
Walk-In and Curbless Shower Options
What we find under the old tub is the variable in every conversion. It is common to find some degree of water damage or rot in the subfloor around the old tub flange, or a drain assembly past its prime. We plan for this honestly: the quote includes a contingency conversation up front, and we show you what we find before we fix it. Discovering rot is actually one of the best arguments for converting — that damage was growing silently behind the tub, and now it gets corrected.
Design options for the new shower start with the entry. A curbless shower — floor tile flowing straight in with a linear drain — is the cleanest, most accessible, and most striking option, and it makes the bathroom feel significantly larger. A low curb, just a few inches, is the practical middle ground that still contains water with certainty. Both get frameless or semi-frameless glass, tile to the ceiling, a recessed niche for bottles, and usually a bench or corner seat. The footprint freed by the tub often allows a shower twice as generous as the old tub alcove.
Plumbing, Drain, and Waterproofing Considerations
Tile and finish selections follow the same principles as our custom showers. Mosaic on the floor for slope and grip. Large-format porcelain or natural stone on the walls. Epoxy grout on the floor for stain resistance. A niche trimmed and waterproofed like the jewelry box it is. Fixtures from established manufacturers with parts that will exist in a decade — rain head, handheld, or both, matched to your home's water pressure and heater capacity.
The resale question comes up in nearly every consultation, so let us address it directly. Conventional wisdom says keep at least one tub in the house, and for homes marketed to young families that is still reasonable advice. But the market has shifted — in most Metro Atlanta neighborhoods, a well-built walk-in tile shower in the hall bath reads as an upgrade, not a loss, especially when the master retains a tub or when the home never had a soaking culture to begin with. If keeping a tub matters for your resale plans, we will tell you. If it does not, we will tell you that too.
Tile, Glass, and Fixture Selections
Timelines for a conversion are friendly. Most tub-to-shower conversions take one to two weeks from demolition to final walkthrough. The schedule depends on tile complexity, whether the drain is relocating, and glass lead time — we measure for glass after tile is set so it fits exactly. If the conversion is part of a larger bathroom remodel, it folds into that schedule.
What affects the cost? Whether the drain moves and how far. The condition of the subfloor and framing once the tub is out. Tile selection — porcelain versus natural stone is the biggest material swing. Glass type — frameless costs more than semi-frameless and looks it. And the fixture package. After a free in-home consultation with real measurements, you get a detailed line-item quote, so the number reflects your bathroom, not an average.
Timelines, Costs, and What to Expect
A note on who should do this work: a tub-to-shower conversion is a waterproofing project wearing a remodeling costume. The tile is what you see; the pan, the membrane, the drain assembly, and the niche waterproofing are what determine whether the shower lasts twenty years or fails in five. This is precisely the work we do every day. Hire the company whose core craft is wet areas, and the conversion is straightforward. Hire otherwise, and it is a gamble.
We perform conversions all over our service area — Austell, Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Mableton, Powder Springs, Acworth, Vinings, and across Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Forsyth, and Clayton counties. The houses vary — 1960s ranches on slabs, 80s two-stories over crawlspaces, townhomes with stacked plumbing — and we have converted tubs in all of them. Local and accountable: the company that built your shower pan is twenty minutes away if you ever need us.
Tub to Shower Conversions Across Metro Atlanta
Maintenance is straightforward once the conversion is done. Squeegee the glass after showering, use a pH-neutral cleaner on the tile, and leave epoxy-grouted floors alone — they do not need sealing. Natural stone gets resealed on a schedule we will spell out for you. A well-built conversion shower asks very little of you and gives back every day, which is exactly the trade you want from a remodel.
If your tub is gathering dust while your shower situation is not working, let us talk about the conversion. Request your free in-home consultation. We will measure, show you what the space could become, and give you an honest quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a tub to shower conversion take?
Most tub-to-shower conversions take one to two weeks from demolition to final walkthrough. That includes removing the tub, adjusting the plumbing and drain, installing the full waterproofing system, setting tile, and installing fixtures and glass. Relocating the drain or repairing subfloor damage found under the old tub can add time. We will give you a firm schedule after the free in-home consultation.
Is it expensive to convert a tub to a walk-in shower?
It costs more than a simple fixture swap and less than most people fear. The main cost drivers are whether the drain needs to move, the condition of the subfloor once the tub is removed, your tile selection, and the glass and fixture package. Because every bathroom is different, the honest answer is a detailed line-item quote after we measure your space — which is exactly what our free in-home consultation provides.
Will removing my tub hurt my home's resale value?
In most Metro Atlanta neighborhoods, a well-built walk-in tile shower reads as an upgrade, not a loss — especially if the home has another tub or was never a soaking-tub household. Conventional wisdom about keeping one tub still applies for homes marketed to young families. We will give you our straight opinion for your specific home and neighborhood during the consultation, because the right answer depends on your house, not a rule of thumb.
Can you convert my tub to a curbless shower in a home on a concrete slab?
Often yes, with careful planning. A true curbless entry on a slab requires enough depth below the finished floor for the drain assembly and the sloped pan, which means evaluating your specific slab during the consultation. When a fully curbless build is not practical, a low-profile curb — just a couple of inches — delivers nearly the same look and accessibility. We will tell you honestly which option your home supports before any work begins.