A bathtub to shower conversion in Los Angeles removes the tub and builds a walk-in shower in its place, with the drain, the sloped pan, and the waterproofing planned before any tile goes down. It is the right move when the tub sits unused and the shower is the part of the room you use every day. Call for a free written estimate, and read our planning guide before you decide.
A Bathtub to shower conversion Los Angeles CA homeowners can actually use starts with the drain, not the tile. We pull the tub, move the valve, rebuild the pan and waterproof the walls before a single tile goes down. If you are tired of stepping over a 17-inch tub apron in a 5x8 bathroom, this is the fix. We serve Los Angeles and Culver City, and permit questions are answered before work begins.
A bathtub to shower conversion removes the tub, reconfigures the drain and valve, builds a sloped shower pan, and finishes the walls in tile or a solid surface. The work is plumbing plus waterproofing plus finish carpentry, which is why it is not a weekend job. We cut out the old tub, cap or reroute the ABS/PVC drain pipe, set a new shower valve, install cement backer board over a waterproof membrane, and float a pan with the correct 1/4-inch-per-foot slope to the drain.
Most Los Angeles homes were built between 1920 and 1970, so we open walls and find galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains, or a previous remodel that skipped the pan liner. In a 5x8 hall bath, converting the tub to a 36x60 shower gains usable floor and removes the trip hazard. If you have been searching for a Bathtub to shower conversion near me Los Angeles, the real question is whether your subfloor and framing can carry a curbless or low-curb pan. We answer that in the first visit.
Our standard conversion covers everything from demolition to the final caulk line inside the shower alcove. You pick the tile, glass and fixtures; we handle the plumbing, waterproofing, setting and trim. Anything outside the alcove, like a new vanity, floor tile in the rest of the room, or moving a toilet, is priced separately so you can see exactly what you are buying.
We cut the tub out in sections to protect the door frame and flooring, then haul it and the old valve trim away. We protect the path from the bathroom to the truck with drop cloths and hardboard. Debris leaves with the demo crew.
The ABS/PVC drain is rerouted to the new pan center, the shower valve is set at 42 to 48 inches, and the supply lines are pressure-tested. If we find galvanized pipe or a failing shutoff, we quote the repair before touching it.
We build a pre-sloped pan, set the liner, and flood-test it, holding the test for the required period, typically 24 hours under applicable California plumbing code requirements. Walls get cement backer board and a bonded waterproof membrane with banding at every corner, seam and penetration. You get photos of each stage before tile covers it.
We set wall tile with a laser level and wet saw, then the floor with a notched trowel and grout float. Grout cures 24 hours before glass. Frameless glass is measured on site after tile so the panels fit the actual opening, not the drawing.
We install the shower head, valve trim, niche shelves and any grab bars, then run silicone caulk at every change of plane. We run the shower and check below for moisture, then walk the job with you and note any punch items.
The drain, the sloped pan, and the waterproofing planned before any tile goes down.
You get photos of each stage before tile covers it.
Frameless glass is measured on site after tile so the panels fit the actual opening.
Every job starts with a free written estimate after we see the bathroom.
We measure the alcove, check the drain location and size, and confirm whether the valve sits on the plumbing wall or the back wall. We open the access panel and agree the plan for the pan and the drain before anything is priced.
You pick tile, grout, glass, and fixtures, and the written scope lists the pan, the membrane, and the drain work. Permit questions are confirmed before work begins, so the plan is settled on paper first.
Protection and demolition come first. We cut the tub out in sections, haul it away, and expose the drain and valve, then reroute the drain to the new pan center, set the valve, and pressure-test the supply lines.
We build a pre-sloped pan, set the liner, and flood-test it. Walls get cement backer board and a waterproof membrane with banding at every corner, seam, and penetration, and tile is set with a laser level before grout cures.
Frameless glass is measured on site after tile so the panels fit the actual opening. We install the shower head, valve trim, niche shelving, and any grab bars, run silicone caulk at every change of plane, and walk the job with you.
Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians — so the job is done accurately the first time.
Cutting the tub out in sections and opening the wall without cracking surrounding tile or framing. Controlled cuts protect the door frame and the floor you are keeping.
Setting the first course of wall tile and holding grout lines straight across a 60-inch wall. It also confirms the pan perimeter is level before we set the drain height.
Cutting porcelain tile, natural stone and glass mosaic cleanly, including the L-cuts around the valve and niche. A chipped edge on a wet-area cut shows through grout.
Combing thinset mortar to the correct depth for the tile size and pressing grout fully into the joints. Proper coverage is what stops hollow spots and cracked tile.
Reworking the drain and supply connections and clearing the branch line while the wall is open. A slow drain found during demo is cheaper to clear now than after tile.
Running silicone caulk at every change of plane, around the valve trim and along the glass channel. Silicone, not grout, belongs at those joints because they move.
Most calls start with one of these. Each one gets worse with time, and each one is cheaper to fix while the walls are open than after the tile is set.
Ask a pro →We tear out the failed pan, inspect and replace any rotted subfloor, then rebuild with a pre-slope, liner and flood test. The bonded membrane ties into the walls so water has nowhere to travel. You get photos of the pan before tile.
We remove the failed tile, check the backer board and framing, and rebuild the waterproofing before resetting. We use epoxy grout in wet areas and a flexible sealant at changes of plane so the joints move instead of cracking.
While the wall is open, we replace the failing section with PEX or copper, swap the valve, and clear the shower riser. That restores pressure and gives you a valve with modern pressure-balancing and temperature limit stops.
We confirm what the job needs and quote a written scope after the walkthrough. If we find hidden damage, you see the photo and the price before we proceed. No surprise line items at the end.
| the size of the alcove |
| whether the drain has to move |
| the pan and waterproofing work |
| the tile and glass you choose |
| what we find behind the walls and under the tub |
A conversion on the existing drain position is a different job from one that reroutes the drain and rebuilds the pan, and the written estimate shows which one yours is.
Every job starts with a free written estimate after we see the bathroom, and our planning guide walks through the five checks first.
See shower remodeling for the shower itself, bathroom remodeling for the full room, and the areas we serve across Los Angeles.
Call with your ZIP code and we will confirm coverage before booking an estimate.
The cost depends on the size of the alcove, whether the drain has to move, the pan and waterproofing work, the tile and glass you choose, and what we find behind the walls. That is why every conversion starts with a free written estimate after we see the bathroom: you get the scope and the price in writing before any work begins. When you compare quotes, compare the scope line by line: one quote may price a finish as fixed while another holds it as an allowance that can change later.
Whether a permit is needed depends on the scope of the work and the city your home is in (in the City of Los Angeles, that is the Department of Building and Safety; other cities have their own building departments, and unincorporated areas go through Los Angeles County) Work that moves plumbing, electrical, or structure is the kind that usually needs one, while a like-for-like swap often does not. We confirm what your bathtub to shower conversion job needs before work begins, so there are no surprises. If you own a condo, your homeowners association's approval is separate from a city permit, so bring your HOA's rules to the free written estimate.
Keep the tub if it is used, in workable shape, and easy to step in and out of. Convert it if the tub sits empty and the shower is the part of the room you use every day. If the home has only one bathroom, think about who uses the tub before you decide, and ask us to walk through both options on the estimate call.
How long a tub-to-shower conversion takes depends on the scope, the size of the room, and the selections you make. Your written estimate sets out the schedule before work begins, so you know the plan before demolition starts, and the scope you approve is the scope we build to.
The drain position, the sloped pan, and the waterproof membrane behind the tile decide whether the new shower holds up, so those are planned first. We check the drain location, build the pan to slope to the drain, and waterproof the wet zone before tile goes down. You get photos of each stage before it is covered. For a curbless entry, the subfloor, framing, and drain position are checked first, because the pan must slope to the drain with no curb to hold water back.
Bathroom RemodelingFull bathroom remodeling, from demo and rough plumbing to tile, fixtures, and waterproofing.
Explore
Complete Bathroom RemodelingA full gut rebuild: new layout, moved plumbing, and new finishes throughout, planned on paper before demolition.
Explore
Master Bathroom RemodelingA primary bathroom rebuild: layout, shower, tub, double vanity, and lighting planned together.
Explore
Shower RemodelingWalk-in showers, shower replacement, and enclosures, rebuilt from a sloped, flood-tested pan.
ExploreWe walk the bathroom, check the drain and valve, and hand you a written estimate after the walkthrough. Licensed and insured work, with waterproofing you can see in photos before the tile goes on. Call us and we will schedule the walkthrough.
Book a walkthrough +1 619-960-0868 →Call +1 619-960-0868 or send us a message and we will get back to you. Estimate requests are accepted anytime. Free estimates are scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tell us what is going on with your bathroom and we will bring the right crew.