What Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost and Take in Plantation?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Plantation, FL typically runs $3,500-$10,000 and takes 5-10 business days from demolition to final inspection. Most jobs we handle in Plantation’s 1960s-era CBS homes involve removing a standard 60-inch alcove tub and converting the wet area to a curbed or curbless shower without relocating the drain, which keeps the timeline tight and the price at the lower end. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll walk your specific layout and give you a written estimate, usually within 48 hours.
How We Handle Tub-to-Shower Conversion, Start to Finish
We’ve done enough of these in Plantation’s older subdivisions to know where the surprises hide. Here’s the actual sequence, with what you need to decide at each point.
Day 1: Demo and Rough Assessment
We strip the tub, surround, and any tile backer down to studs and subfloor. In Plantation’s 50-60-year-old CBS homes, this is where we find the first unknown: galvanized supply lines, rotted subfloor from decades of splash-over, or a tub trap set too high for a modern low-threshold shower base. We photograph everything and call you before proceeding if the scope shifts. You’ll decide same-day whether to address what we find or proceed with the original plan.
Day 2-3: Plumbing and Structural Prep
If we’re keeping the drain in place, we adapt the existing P-trap and rough the new mixing valve and showerhead arm. If you’re going curbless or moving the drain, this is where we cut concrete slab, which adds 1-2 days and requires a Broward County plumbing inspection. You’ll confirm your valve type here: pressure-balanced (standard, $120-$250) or thermostatic (precise temperature control, $400-$800). We also frame any bench, niche, or half-wall you’ve spec’d.
Day 4-6: Waterproofing and Base Install
We install the shower pan, whether a pre-sloped foam base (faster, lighter, $300-$600) or a traditional mud-bed with liner (heavier, more durable, $600-$1,200). Then we apply liquid or sheet membrane to all wet-area surfaces. In Plantation’s humid climate, we spec anti-fracture membranes on slab floors to prevent grout cracking from seasonal slab movement. You’ll have already chosen your wall substrate: cement board with topical waterproofing, or a foam tile backer board system like Wedi or Schluter Kerdi, which runs $2-$4 more per square foot but installs faster and seals more reliably.
Day 7-8: Tile, Fixtures, and Glass Measure
Tile goes up, grout cures 24 hours, then we set fixtures. If you’ve ordered frameless glass, we template now for fabrication, typically 10-14 days. You’ll decide during design whether to wait for glass or use a tension-rod curtain temporarily, which many Plantation homeowners choose if this is their only functioning bathroom.
Day 9-10: Final Inspection and Completion
We pull the Broward County plumbing final, verify flood testing passed, and do our walkthrough with you. If your home sits in one of Plantation’s older HOA-governed subdivisions near Broward Boulevard or University Drive, we’ll have already submitted any required architectural change documentation before demo started.
The Choices That Shape Your Tub-to-Shower Conversion
- Shower base type: Acrylic or fiberglass pre-formed bases ($300-$800 installed) are watertight day one and work well for quick conversions. Tile-over-ready foam bases ($500-$1,100) let you run tile continuously for a custom look but require precise installation. Solid surface bases ($1,200-$2,500) from brands like Swanstone or Kohler Choreograph offer the cleanest aesthetic and easiest maintenance, priced accordingly.
- Wall surround material: Acrylic surrounds ($800-$2,000 total) install in a day and resist mold, but the seam patterns read “retrofit.” Large-format porcelain or ceramic tile ($1,500-$4,500 with labor) gives you design range; natural stone ($3,000-$7,000) demands more maintenance in South Florida’s hard water. For a middle path, porcelain slabs with minimal grout joints are increasingly popular in Plantation’s updated ranch homes.
- Curb vs. curbless entry: A 4-6 inch curb contains water reliably and costs nothing extra. Curbless requires slab cutting, linear drain installation, and precise slope engineering, adding $1,500-$3,500, but it’s the right call if you’re aging-in-place or simply prefer the visual flow.
- Fixture grade: Builder-grade chrome valves and showerheads ($150-$400 set) function fine. Mid-grade brushed nickel or matte black from Moen, Delta, or Kohler ($400-$900) offer better cartridges and finish durability. Thermostatic rough-ins with designer trim ($1,200-$2,800) from brands like Hansgrohe or Grohe deliver spa-level control but require deeper wall cavities that older Plantation block homes don’t always have without furring.
- Glass enclosure: Framed sliding door ($600-$1,400) is practical and watertight. Semi-frameless ($1,200-$2,200) splits the difference. Full frameless ($2,000-$4,500) needs heavier glass and precise walls, which we verify during rough framing.
What Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs in Plantation, FL
Most tub-to-shower conversions we quote in Plantation fall between $3,500 and $10,000. Here’s what pushes a job toward either pole.
| Cost Driver | Low-End Scenario | High-End Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Keep existing drain location | Yes | No, relocate or add linear drain |
| Shower base | Acrylic/fiberglass pre-formed | Custom mud-bed or solid surface |
| Wall finish | Acrylic surround or basic tile | Large-format porcelain, stone, or slab |
| Plumbing condition | Copper or modern PEX supply | Galvanized replacement, pressure balancing upgrade |
| Structural modifications | None | Bench, half-wall, or window relocation |
A $3,500 job is typically a direct swap: keep the drain, acrylic base, surround panels, basic pressure-balanced valve, and a curtain or framed door. At $10,000, you’re looking at curbless entry with linear drain, tile walls with niche and bench, thermostatic valve, frameless glass, and likely some plumbing or electrical relocation.
Our written estimates include demolition, disposal, all materials specified, labor, rough and final plumbing, and permit fees. What they don’t include: frameless glass (we template and coordinate installation, but glass shops bill directly), any required electrical panel upgrade if you add heated floors or steam, and finish painting outside the wet area. We flag these during our first walkthrough so there’s no surprise.
Call (844) 665-0162 for an exact quote on your specific bathroom. Estimates are free and typically scheduled within two business days.
What Plantation Homes Specifically Do to This Job
Plantation’s housing stock shapes every tub-to-shower conversion we bid here. The city was master-planned from the 1950s onward with its heaviest residential build-out in the 1960s-1970s, and the vast majority of single-family homes are single-story CBS construction now 50-60 years old. When we open walls in neighborhoods along Broward Boulevard or east of University Drive, we regularly find original galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drain lines with minimal slope, and electrical panels that predate modern GFCI requirements.
Here’s the critical local factor: Florida’s post-Hurricane Andrew building code overhaul means any permitted renovation that touches more than 50% of a bathroom’s finishes can trigger a mandatory whole-home compliance review. In practice, this means if your tub-to-shower conversion is part of a full Bathroom Remodeling in Plantation, the building department may require concurrent updates to your electrical panel, roof-to-wall connections, or impact-rated fenestration before they’ll issue a certificate of completion. We’ve navigated this repeatedly with Broward County’s building division, and we know which inspectors flag which items.
The shallow limestone aquifer beneath Plantation also matters. Any slab cutting for drain relocation happens above water table-sensitive ground, so we coordinate surface water management with county rules when the cut exceeds certain depths. And the original single-pane aluminum windows common in these homes often sit inside shower envelopes, which means we may need to spec moisture-rated vinyl or impact-rated replacements as part of the scope, something we catch during our initial moisture-intrusion assessment.
Homeowners in Plantation’s older subdivisions also face active HOA architectural review boards, many of which still require formal approval even for interior renovations visible from the street through windows. We handle the documentation as part of our pre-construction package.
Serving Plantation, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Plantation area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked - Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Plantation
Most conversions take 5-10 business days if we’re keeping the existing drain and using a pre-formed base. Jobs that require slab cutting, drain relocation, or custom tile work extend to 12-15 days, plus 10-14 days for frameless glass fabrication if ordered. We schedule Broward County inspections in advance to avoid delays. Call (844) 665-0162 to check current lead times.
Yes, if any plumbing is modified, which is nearly always the case. Broward County requires a plumbing permit for drain or supply changes, and a building permit if walls are moved or structural elements altered. We pull permits as part of our standard process and include the fees in our estimate. In Plantation’s older homes, the permit review sometimes surfaces additional code requirements, which we address before construction starts.
Often yes, if your existing tub drain is centered or close enough to center for a standard 60-inch shower base. The drain height is the limiting factor: tub drains sit higher than shower drains, so we sometimes need to lower the trap or use a specially designed shower base with a recessed drain area. During our free estimate, we camera the line and measure slope to confirm what’s possible without slab work.
Tub refinishing ($400-$700) or surround replacement ($1,200-$2,500) costs less upfront but doesn’t solve underlying plumbing or structural issues common in 1960s Plantation homes. A full tub-to-shower conversion ($3,500-$10,000) replaces everything back to studs, updates plumbing to current code, and typically adds resale value in this market. For homes you’ll stay in 5+ years, conversion is usually the better investment. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll assess your specific condition.
We warranty our workmanship for one year, which covers installation, waterproofing, and tile setting. Manufacturer warranties apply to fixtures, bases, and glass, typically 1-5 years for mechanical parts and lifetime for some cast-iron or acrylic bases. We register all manufacturer warranties in your name and provide documentation at completion. Any issues in year one, we return and fix at no charge.
Ready to Convert Your Tub to a Shower in Plantation?
Call (844) 665-0162 to schedule a free, on-site estimate for tub-to-shower conversion in Plantation. We’ll measure your space, check your existing plumbing and structure, and deliver a written quote with material options across multiple price tiers. Our Bathroom Remodeling crew serves Plantation and surrounding cities including Fort Lauderdale, Broadview Park, Lauderhill, and Lauderdale Lakes. Many homeowners pair bathroom updates with exterior work; if you’re also addressing roofing, we offer Metal Roofing in Plantation and Tile Roofing in Plantation as part of our full exterior envelope capability. Expect your estimate within 48 hours of our visit.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Plantation and South Florida homeowners since establishing our Fort Lauderdale base.