Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Tub-to-Shower Conversion Bonita Springs FL
A tub-to-shower conversion Bonita Springs FL homeowners can actually use starts with proper waterproofing, not a pretty tile. We tear out the old tub, rebuild the pan, and set a walk-in shower that fits your bathroom and your daily routine. Whether you're in Pelican Marsh or off Imperial River, we handle permits, plumbing, and tile in one job.
Service overview
What Tub-to-Shower Conversion Bonita Springs FL Really Involves
A tub-to-shower conversion Bonita Springs FL project means removing the existing bathtub, capping or rerouting the drain, framing any new walls, and installing a code-compliant shower pan with a sloped waterproofing membrane under the tile. We pull the old tub, check the subfloor for water damage, replace any soft plywood, and set a new pan liner or a bonded membrane like Schluter Systems Kerdi. Then we tile, grout, seal, and hang a glass door or frameless enclosure.
Most of our Bonita Springs calls come from homeowners in 1980s and 1990s builds where the original tub is cracked, stained, or too tall to step over safely. Others want a tub to shower remodel near me Bonita Springs because a parent or grandparent can no longer climb in and out. If you're in Bonita Bay or Spanish Wells and your tub sits against an exterior wall, we also check for moisture intrusion before we close the walls back up.
Practical benefits
Why Homeowners Choose a Walk-In Shower
Converting a tub to a shower changes how the whole bathroom works. Here is what our Bonita Springs customers notice most after the dust settles.
Safer to Step Into
A typical tub wall sits 17 to 19 inches high. A curbless or low-curb shower drops that step to 2 to 4 inches, which cuts fall risk for older family members. We can also add blocking for future grab bars during the rough-in, so you don't have to open the wall again later.
More Usable Floor Space
Removing a 60-inch tub frees up roughly 12 to 15 square feet of floor. In smaller Bonita Springs bathrooms, that's the difference between a cramped layout and room for a bench, a niche, and a proper glass door that swings without hitting the vanity.
Easier to Clean
No more scrubbing around the tub apron or fighting hard water stains on a curved acrylic shell. Porcelain tile with epoxy grout wipes down in minutes, and a frameless glass enclosure lets you squeegee the whole panel in under a minute after each shower.
Built for Florida Humidity
Bonita Springs sits at high humidity most of the year, and steam trapped behind tile grows mold fast. We install cement backer board, a proper waterproofing membrane, and a correctly sized exhaust fan so the wall cavity stays dry between showers.
How service works
How Our Conversion Process Works
From the first walkthrough to the final caulk line, here is exactly what happens on a tub-to-shower conversion in Bonita Springs, Florida.
STEP 01
On-Site Measure
We come out, measure the alcove, check the drain location, and look at the framing behind the tub. You get a written scope and a fixed price the same day. Most estimates take 45 minutes, and we bring tile samples so you can pick a direction on the spot.
Tools and methods
Tools and Methods We Use
Wet Saw
Cuts porcelain and natural stone tile cleanly with a water-cooled diamond blade. Straight edges and precise corners, no chipping.
Laser Level
Sets the pan slope and keeps tile courses level across the whole wall. Critical on older Bonita Springs homes where framing isn't plumb.
Moisture Meter
Checks subfloor and framing for hidden water damage before we close walls. Catches problems that would otherwise show up as a leak a year later.
Oscillating Multi-Tool
Cuts drywall, backer board, and stubborn caulk lines without damaging adjacent surfaces. Cleaner demo, faster prep.
Notched Trowel
Spreads thinset at the correct depth for full tile coverage. Prevents hollow spots and tile popping loose over time.
Grout Float
Packs grout into joints evenly and wipes clean without pulling grout out of the lines. Consistent finish across the whole shower.
Shop Vacuum
Runs daily during demo and tile work to keep dust out of the rest of the house. We don't leave a jobsite dirty overnight.
ANSI A118.10 Waterproofing Standard
We install bonded waterproofing membranes to this standard, which covers load-bearing, bonded waterproof membranes for thin-set tile. It's the spec that keeps water out of the wall cavity, and it's what separates a shower that lasts 20 years from one that leaks in three.
Flood Testing
Before any tile goes down, we fill the pan and let it sit for 24 hours to confirm the liner or membrane holds. If there's a pinhole or a bad seam, we find it now, not after the ceiling below is stained.
Pre-Sloped Pan Construction
Every pan is built with a slope toward the drain, typically a quarter inch per foot. Standing water is the number one cause of mold and grout failure in Florida showers. Slope is non-negotiable.
Cement Backer Board Over Greenboard
We never use greenboard in a wet area. Cement backer board doesn't break down when it gets damp, and it gives thinset a proper surface to bond to. Greenboard behind tile fails in Florida humidity within a few years.
Where this service fits
When a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Makes Sense
An aging parent can no longer step over a 19-inch tub wall safely.
We build a low-curb or curbless shower with blocking installed for future grab bars, a built-in bench, and a handheld showerhead on a slide bar. Non-slip tile on the pan floor. A shower they can use independently, with the safety features already in the wall when they're needed.
A hall bathroom tub that nobody uses is eating 15 square feet of floor space.
We remove the tub and install a walk-in shower with a glass panel, freeing the floor for a larger vanity or extra storage. Plumbing stays in roughly the same location to control cost. A bathroom that actually gets used daily, with more storage and better flow.
A primary bath in Bonita National with a garden tub and a separate small shower.
We remove the garden tub and expand the shower into that footprint, creating a large walk-in with a bench, niche, and frameless glass. The old shower area becomes a linen closet or extended vanity. One great shower instead of two mediocre fixtures, and more usable storage.
A rental property near Coconut Point where tenants keep complaining about a stained tub.
We convert to a porcelain-tiled shower with epoxy grout and a semi-frameless door. Durable finishes that hold up to turnover cleaning and don't stain. Lower maintenance between tenants and fewer repair calls over the life of the unit.
Local execution
How Tub-to-Shower Conversion Runs in Bonita Springs
Bonita Springs has a specific set of conditions that shape every conversion we run. The humidity sits high most of the year, so ventilation and waterproofing matter more here than in drier markets. Many homes were built in the 1980s and 1990s with garden tubs and small separate showers, and those layouts are prime candidates for a bathtub to shower conversion Bonita Springs, Florida project. We also work in a lot of 55-plus communities where step-in showers are the priority, not a design trend. Lee County permitting is straightforward but requires a plumbing permit for drain and valve changes, and we pull it every time. If you're in The Brooks or Pelican Marsh and your home has original copper supply lines, we check them during demo and replace any section showing corrosion. A tub to shower conversion in The Brooks Bonita Springs FL typically runs 7 to 10 working days, same as anywhere else in the city, but older homes sometimes add a day or two for subfloor repair.
Pelican Landing
Mostly 1980s and 1990s builds with garden tubs. Step-in showers are the most requested upgrade, and many homes here have original copper lines worth inspecting during demo.
Bonita Bay
Larger primary baths with separate tub and shower layouts. We often expand the shower into the tub footprint and convert the old shower stall into storage.
Spanish Wells
Established neighborhood with a mix of original and updated baths. We see a lot of cracked tub finishes and mildew behind old surrounds here.
The Brooks
Gated community with newer construction. Conversions here usually focus on upgrading builder-grade tile and adding frameless glass.
Bonita National
Newer homes where the primary bath has a garden tub. Removing it opens up space for a larger walk-in shower with a bench and niche.
Year-round high humidity and steam buildup
Trapped moisture grows mold behind tile fast. We install correctly sized exhaust fans and build waterproofing to ANSI A118.10 so the wall cavity stays dry.
Hard water from local supply
Mineral deposits etch glass and stain grout. We use epoxy grout and recommend a hydrophobic coating on frameless glass to slow the buildup.
Older homes with original plumbing
Copper and galvanized lines in 1980s builds can be corroded. We inspect during demo and replace any failing section before closing the wall.
Lee County permitting requirements
Plumbing and building permits are required for drain and valve changes. We pull them, schedule inspections, and pass them before final walkthrough.
Problems we solve
Problems a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Near Me Bonita Springs Fixes
Most conversions start with a problem, not a design idea. Here are the issues we solve most often in Bonita Springs bathrooms.
Cracked or chipped tub finish that snags towels
We remove the tub entirely and install a new shower pan with a fresh waterproofed base. No patching, no peeling. The new pan is set on a pre-sloped bed and flood-tested before tile. Small cracks trap water and grow mold underneath. Once the acrylic or fiberglass shell fails, refinishing only buys a couple of years before it peels again.
Mold and mildew growth behind the surround
We open the wall, treat any affected framing, replace the drywall with cement backer board, and install a proper waterproofing membrane. A correctly sized exhaust fan keeps the room dry going forward. Florida humidity plus a leaky surround equals black mold inside the wall cavity. It spreads to drywall and framing, and it comes back every time you clean it.
Subfloor water damage under the tub
We check the subfloor with a moisture meter during demo, replace any soft sections with pressure-treated lumber where needed, and seal the new pan properly so the problem doesn't return. Soft plywood under a tub means the drain has been seeping for years. Left alone, it spreads to joists and can cost thousands in structural repair.
Hard water stains on shower glass and tile
We install epoxy grout, which resists staining far better than cement grout, and recommend a squeegee routine plus a glass coating. Frameless glass with a hydrophobic treatment stays clearer longer. Bonita Springs water leaves mineral deposits that etch glass and dull tile over time. Once etched, glass can't be polished back to clear.
A practical standard for every visit.
Clear planningPrepared arrivalsCareful workLocal follow-through
Experience in the details
Local Experience You Can Check
Our crews work on Bonita Springs bathrooms every week, from Bonita National to Barefoot Beach. We hold a Florida Certified Building Contractor license and carry EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm credentials, which matters on pre-1978 homes where old paint and mastic can be disturbed during demo. We follow the Florida Building Code and the ICC Residential Building Code on every rough-in, and we build waterproofing to the ANSI A118.10 standard. That's not marketing language, it's what keeps a shower from leaking into the ceiling below.
- Florida Certified Building Contractor license held by the qualifying owner
- EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm for pre-1978 Bonita Springs homes
- Waterproofing installed to ANSI A118.10 membrane standard
- Permits pulled through Lee County on every conversion
- Workers covered under OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety training
Where we work
One local team. A lot of ground covered.
Downtown Bonita SpringsBonita Springs City CenterBonita BayPelican LandingPelican MarshSpanish WellsImperial RiverBonita NationalVanderbilt BeachBarefoot BeachBonita BeachCoconut Point
Check my address Most tub-to-shower conversions in Bonita Springs run $6,500 to $14,000 in 2026, depending on tile choice, glass, and whether we find subfloor damage. A basic acrylic pan and porcelain tile job sits at the low end. Frameless glass, natural stone, and custom niches push toward the top. We give you a fixed written price after the on-site measure.
Plan on 7 to 10 working days from demo to final walkthrough. Demo takes one day, rough-in and waterproofing take two to three, tile takes two to three, and glass install plus cure time fills the rest. If we find hidden water damage or need to reroute a drain, add two to three days. We give you a schedule before we start.
Yes. Lee County requires a plumbing permit for the drain and valve changes, and most conversions also need a building permit. We pull both for you and schedule the inspections. Skipping the permit can cause problems at resale and may void your homeowner's insurance if a leak develops later.
It does, especially in 55-plus communities like Pelican Landing and Bonita Bay where step-in showers are a selling point. A clean, permitted conversion with quality tile and glass typically returns 60 to 70 percent of the cost at resale. Buyers in this market specifically look for walk-in showers over tubs in the primary bath.
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Get Your Tub-to-Shower Conversion Bonita Springs FL Quote
One call gets you a same-week on-site measure, tile samples in hand, and a fixed written price. We're licensed, insured, and we pull the permits. Call now and let's get your bathroom working for you again.
Start with the basics
Get Your Free Bathroom Estimate
Call us at 512 325 0295 or send a message and we will get back to you the same business day. We answer the phone Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 6:00, and we book most estimates within the week. Tell us what is going on with your bathroom and we will tell you what it takes to fix it.