Tub removal and disposal
Cast iron cut in place where it will not fit through the door, hauled out and recycled.
Usually finished in nine days
Tub-to-shower conversion
Trading a tub nobody uses for a shower everyone does, in the same footprint, without moving a single wall.
01
What this actually involves
This is the most requested job in our shop, and for good reason. A standard 60 inch alcove tub leaves exactly enough room for a generous shower, and because the drain and supply lines are already where we need them, the work stays contained.
We keep the footprint, replace the pan, waterproof the alcove properly, tile the three walls, and finish with a fixed glass panel. Nine working days is typical. Twelve if we find a soft subfloor, which we do about a third of the time in older Asheville houses.
If your household still wants a tub somewhere, we will say so. Resale guidance in Buncombe County still favours at least one tub in the house, and we would rather convert the hall bath than the only tub you own.
- No walls move, so no permit surprises
- Fixed price quoted after one visit
- Clear glass panel rather than a sliding track
- Old cast iron removed and recycled, not left in the yard
- Sample budget
- $9,800 - $18,500 (sample range)
- Time on site
- 9 - 12 days on site
- Best for
- Alcove tubs that get used twice a year
Figures are illustrative. Your written proposal is a fixed price for a measured room.
02
What is included
Everything below is in the base scope. Nothing here is an upgrade line we take out to make a number look better.
Subfloor inspection
We open the floor around the old tub apron and report anything soft before we rebuild.
New shower pan
Sloped, membrane-bonded pan sized to the existing alcove.
Three-wall tile
Tile to 7 feet or full ceiling height, with a recessed niche.
Fixed glass panel
Single low-iron panel with a clear-shield coating, no track to scrub.
Valve replacement
New pressure-balanced valve, trim and shower arm at a height that suits the household.
03
How the work runs
Five stages, in order, with the same crew on site from the first day to the last.
Measure and quote
One visit, a fixed price and a nine-day window.
Tub out
Tub removed, alcove stripped, subfloor checked.
Pan and membrane
Pan set, waterproofing bonded, flood test overnight.
Tile and grout
Walls and floor tiled, niche trimmed.
Glass and trim
Panel installed, valve trimmed out, silicone and clean-up.
04
What moves the price
Four things that change the number
These are the decisions we talk through at the measuring visit, because each one moves the figure more than the tile you pick.
Cast iron or acrylic
A cast iron tub has to be broken up in the room. Add half a day and extra protection for the hallway.
Tile height
Stopping at 7 feet is standard. Going to the ceiling adds about 12 percent to material and one working day.
Niche count
One niche is included. A second niche or a bench adds framing and waterproofing detail.
Valve depth
If the existing valve sits too deep for modern trim we open the back wall, which is straightforward from a closet and fussy from a finished hallway.
Next step
Ready to talk about tub-to-shower conversion?
Send a photograph and rough dimensions. We reply the same working day with an honest range, before anyone books a visit.
Free measured survey · Fixed written proposal · Bathrooms only
05
Questions about this work
Only if it leaves the house with no tub at all. Buyers with small children look for one. If you have two bathrooms, converting the one nobody uses is a sensible move.
In most alcoves, yes. The tub drain sits close to where a shower drain needs to be, so we adapt rather than reroute.
The conversion price covers the shower. Replacing the bathroom floor is a common add-on and only adds two days if we are already on site.
A 30 to 36 inch fixed panel keeps water in for most showers and is far easier to clean. We only recommend a door for narrow alcoves with a high-flow head.
