Shower to tub conversion
Shower to Tub Conversion
Put a bathtub back where a shower is now, a freestanding soaker to unwind in or a family tub for the kids, set on a floor built to carry it and sealed to last. We handle the design, the permit, and the build under one contract.
The promise
A shower to tub conversion carried by the floor and sealed to last
Adding a tub is as much a structural job as a plumbing one. You get the right tub for the room, a floor verified for the filled weight, a surround sealed where tubs really leak, a fixed number before demo, and one licensed team from the first walkthrough to the final punch list.
Why choose us
Why choose us for your shower to tub conversion
01
The right tub for the room
A deep freestanding soaker for a primary and a practical tub-and-shower combo for a family bath are two different projects. We match the tub, and the plumbing behind it, to how the room is actually used.
02
The floor is proven before the tub goes in
A filled tub concentrates real weight in one place. Whether the framing is older dimensional lumber or newer engineered joists, we verify it carries the load and reinforce it before the tub is ever set.
03
Sealed where tubs actually leak
Tubs fail at the deck seam, the valve, the overflow, and the drain far more than the tile field. We waterproof the surround and detail each of those connections so nothing works its way into the subfloor.
04
Permits and inspections handled
When the drain or supply moves, or the floor is reframed for the weight, the job needs a permit from your local building department. We prepare the submittal, pull the permit, and manage the inspections.
Why convert
Why homeowners convert a shower to a tub
Adding a tub back to a home comes down to a few clear reasons.
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A tub for the kids
Bathing young children needs a tub, and a shower-only bathroom does not cut it. Adding one back makes daily life work for a growing family.
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Resale and buyer expectations
Many buyers, especially families, want at least one bathtub in a home. If a past remodel left yours with none, putting one back protects the sale.
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A real soak
A freestanding or deep soaking tub turns a bathroom into somewhere to unwind, not just wash. For a lot of homeowners that is the whole point.
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Balance in the house
An all-shower home can feel one-note. A well-placed tub, in a primary or a secondary bath, rounds out how the house lives.
Quality
What a quality shower to tub conversion looks like
A tub done right is a structural detail as much as a finish one, and most of it happens before the tile.
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Framing verified for the load
Before anything else, we confirm the floor can carry a filled tub, and sister, add, or reinforce joists where it cannot. A heavy tub on undersized framing is a slow-motion failure.
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A waterproofed, sealed surround
The wall and deck around a tub get wet for decades. We waterproof the surround and seal every joint so water never reaches the framing behind it.
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Correct filler and rough-in
A floor-mount filler, a wall filler, or a deck-mount set each rough in differently. We place the supply and drain to match the exact tub before it arrives.
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The tub set dead level and supported
A tub that rocks or drains slowly was set wrong. We level, bed, and fully support the tub so it sits solid and drains clean.
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Access planned in advance
A cast iron or stone tub is heavy and awkward to move. We plan the path in, and any protection or removal needed, before delivery day.
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The right detail for the tub type
An alcove tub, a drop-in, and a freestanding piece each get a different surround, apron, or deck. We build the detail the tub is designed for, not a generic box.
Types
Types of shower to tub conversion
Three common paths, from a simple combo to a freestanding feature. Which fits depends on your bathroom and how you want to use it.
Type 01
Tub and shower combo
An alcove tub with a shower above it.
- Alcove tub and shower valve
- New surround and tile
- Often reuses the drain
Type 02
Freestanding soaker
A statement tub set as a feature.
- Freestanding or slipper tub
- Floor or wall-mounted filler
- Framing checked for the load
Type 03
Convert and reconfigure
Move the plumbing and rework the room.
- Drain and supply relocated
- Layout and storage redone
- Full tile and finishes
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of a shower to tub conversion
Rather than a headline price, here is what actually moves the number.
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The tub you choose
A standard alcove tub, a cast iron soaker, and a stone freestanding piece sit at very different weights and price points, and the tub often drives the rest of the job.
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Whether the floor needs reinforcing
If the framing cannot carry a filled tub, sistering or adding joists adds labor. We find that out before it becomes a surprise.
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Whether the plumbing moves
Reusing the existing drain is the cheapest path; relocating the drain and supply to a new tub position costs more.
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Filler type
A deck or wall filler is simpler than a floor-mount filler, which needs its own supply run up through the floor.
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Surround and tile selections
A tiled surround, a full wall of tile, or a freestanding tub in an open tiled area each carry different material and labor.
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Hidden conditions
Opening a wall or floor can reveal old plumbing or damage worth addressing while it is accessible. A good estimate leaves room for it.
Permits and code
Shower to tub conversion permits and code in Washington
Whether a conversion needs a permit comes down to whether the plumbing or the framing changes. Either way, we build to code and handle the paperwork.
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When a permit is required
Setting a tub on the existing drain can be minor, but relocating the drain or supply, adding a circuit, or reframing the floor for the load needs a permit. Your local building department decides, and we confirm it before demo.
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Structural review for heavy tubs
Where a filled soaker calls for reinforced framing, that structural work is part of the permit. We build it to code so it is signed off, not just hidden.
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Inspections, handled for you
Permitted work is inspected at set stages. We schedule and meet the inspector so the job keeps moving and passes cleanly.
By city
Shower to tub conversion by city
Local permit offices, housing stock, and floor framing differ by city. Pick yours for the specifics.
FAQ
Shower to tub conversion FAQs
Do I need a permit to convert a shower to a tub?
Sometimes. Dropping a tub onto the existing drain can be minor, but moving the drain or supply, adding a circuit, or reframing the floor for the weight needs a permit from your local building department. We confirm what applies and pull anything required.
How much does a shower to tub conversion cost?
It depends on the tub, whether the floor needs reinforcing, and whether the plumbing moves. Rather than a single figure, we price the conversion against your actual bathroom and lock the number before demo. Ask for a free written estimate.
Will my floor support a soaking tub?
Often, but we verify rather than assume. A filled soaker, especially cast iron or stone, is heavy, and not every floor was framed for one. We check the structure and reinforce it where needed before setting the tub.
Can you install a freestanding soaking tub?
Yes. We handle the floor-mount or wall filler, the drain and overflow, and the clearances, and we confirm the floor can carry a filled tub first. Freestanding tubs are one of the most requested versions of this conversion.
Is adding a tub worth it for resale?
Usually, if it leaves the home with at least one tub. Buyers with young families expect one, so a house with none can lose them. If another bath already has a tub, it is more about how you want to use the room.
Which areas do you serve?
We convert showers to tubs across Bellevue, Sammamish, and Issaquah, plus Seattle, Kent, Kirkland, and the surrounding Eastside and King County area. Pick your city above for local detail.
Ready when you are
Get a free shower to tub conversion estimate
Tell us about your bathroom and we will call within one business day, walk the space, and put a written estimate together with no pressure to sign.