Tub-to-Shower Conversions in Tacoma, WA

Tub-to-Shower Conversions in Tacoma's Older Homes

I have pulled out more cast iron tubs in Tacoma than I can count. Homes in the North End, Stadium District, Proctor, and Lincoln neighborhoods were built in the 1920s through 1950s, and most of them came with heavy cast iron tubs that nobody uses anymore. These tubs weigh 300 to 400 pounds. Getting one out of a second-floor bathroom in a craftsman bungalow is a real job, sometimes involving cutting it apart with a reciprocating saw right in the bathroom because it will not fit through the doorway in one piece. But once that tub is gone, I open up 12 to 15 square feet of usable floor space in bathrooms that desperately need it.

The conversion process in Tacoma homes involves more than swapping a tub for a shower pan. I replace the galvanized drain and supply lines with PEX and ABS, because in homes this old the original plumbing is corroded and unreliable. I install a custom-formed shower pan with a Schluter Kerdi or liquid-applied waterproof membrane, then tile the walls floor to ceiling. Most of my Tacoma clients choose large-format porcelain tile in a subway or stacked pattern, and I finish with a frameless glass panel or full enclosure. A straightforward tub-to-shower conversion in Tacoma runs $13,000 to $26,000 depending on tile selection and glass options. Projects that require plumbing replacement or structural repairs to rotted subfloor run higher, sometimes up to $32,000 or more. I typically finish these in 7 to 12 days. My tub-to-shower conversion page covers the full process, and my bathroom remodeling page explains how this fits into a larger bathroom upgrade.

The City of Tacoma requires a plumbing permit for any tub-to-shower conversion that involves relocating drain lines or supply piping. I pull the permit and schedule inspections through Tacoma Planning and Development Services. For homes in historic districts, I follow the additional review requirements. One thing I always check in Tacoma homes is the subfloor condition under the old tub. Water damage and rot under cast iron tubs is common in homes that are 70 to 100 years old, and I will not install a new shower over a soft or damaged subfloor. I repair the structure first.

If you have a tub in your Tacoma home that nobody uses, let me show you what a walk-in shower can do for that space. Call me at (253) 392-9266 or request a free estimate. I will look at the existing plumbing, check the subfloor, and give you a fixed-price number. Visit my Tacoma service area page for everything I offer in the city.