What Does Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost and Involve in Lantana?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Lantana typically runs $3,500-$10,000 and takes 4-7 working days from demolition to final inspection. Most homeowners in Lantana call us when they’re tired of climbing over a tub wall they haven’t used for years, or when the original 1960s fiberglass unit has cracked past repair. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll walk through your bathroom, confirm whether your plumbing stays put or moves, and give you a written estimate with line-item pricing before you decide.
How We Handle Tub-to-Shower Conversion from First Visit to Final Walkthrough
We’ve done enough of these in Palm Beach County to know where the surprises hide. Here’s the actual sequence, with the decisions you’ll need to make at each stage.
Stage 1: Site evaluation and scope lock (Day 1, 1-2 hours on site)
We measure everything, photograph the existing drain location, and test water pressure. The big question for you: keep the drain where it is, or relocate it? Keeping it saves $800-$1,500 and a day of work. Moving it opens up layout options but requires breaking concrete, which in Lantana’s older CBS slab construction means we cut carefully and patch with matching PSI concrete. We also pull the FEMA flood map and Palm Beach County property appraiser records right here - more on why that matters in the local section below.
Stage 2: Demolition and rough inspection (Days 2-3)
The tub, surround, and valve come out. We expose the wall framing and subfloor. This is when we discover the real condition of what’s hidden: galvanized drain lines, termite-damaged studs, or the occasional asbestos-containing mastic under old vinyl flooring. If we find it, we stop, photograph, and price the fix before continuing. No hidden charges later. You’ll decide at this point whether to upgrade the valve to a pressure-balanced or thermostatic model - we recommend thermostatic for Lantana’s hard water, which eats cheap cartridges.
Stage 3: Plumbing rough-in and waterproofing (Days 4-5)
New drain, supply lines, and shower valve go in. Then we install the waterproofing system - either a liquid-applied membrane (faster, good for odd shapes) or a sheet membrane like Schluter-Kerdi (more forgiving for first-time tile setters, which most homeowners aren’t). You’ll choose your wall substrate here: cement board with RedGard, or a foam-core waterproof board. The foam costs more upfront but installs faster and insulates better, which matters in Lantana’s block construction where exterior walls can sweat.
Stage 4: Tile, fixture, and glass installation (Days 6-8, depending on material)
Walls set, floor tile laid, grout cured. Then the shower door or curtain rod, trim kit, and any niches or benches. Your material choices from Stage 1 determine this timeline - a solid surface wall panel system (like Swanstone or Kohler Choreograph) goes up in hours; custom tile with intricate patterns adds days. We do a mid-installation walkthrough so you see the layout before grout locks it in.
Stage 5: Final inspection and punch list (Day 9 or 10)
Palm Beach County inspects the plumbing and, if we moved walls or electrical, the structural work. We schedule this; you don’t call anyone. After green tag, we caulk, seal, and walk through with you. The whole job, start to finish, typically spans two weeks on the calendar accounting for inspection scheduling.
The Material and Layout Choices That Actually Matter
Most homeowners think the biggest decision is tile color. It’s not. These five choices move the price, the timeline, and how the shower feels to use every morning:
- Shower base type: A prefabricated acrylic or fiberglass pan ($400-$900 installed) is watertight day one and works well for standard sizes. A custom tiled pan with linear drain ($1,800-$3,500) looks seamless with the floor tile and allows curbless entry, but demands precise slope calculation and longer cure times. For Lantana’s 55+ homeowners planning aging-in-place, curbless is worth the premium.
- Wall surround system: Solid surface panels (Swanstone, Kohler Choreograph, or similar) install fast, have no grout to maintain, and cost $1,200-$2,500 for a typical 60″ wide space. Full tile walls run $2,000-$5,000 depending on tile grade and pattern complexity. In Lantana’s salt air, we avoid metal trim strips that aren’t marine-grade stainless - we’ve seen chrome flaking in under three years.
- Valve and fixture grade: A basic pressure-balance valve with trim ($180-$350) stops scalding but drifts with pressure changes. Thermostatic valves ($450-$900) hold temperature within 1-2 degrees and last longer in hard water. For fixtures, Moen and Delta’s mid-tier lines carry lifetime warranties and have local parts availability; boutique European brands look beautiful but can leave you waiting weeks for a cartridge.
- Glass enclosure vs. curtain: A framed sliding door ($600-$1,200) is functional and replaceable. Frameless glass ($1,500-$3,500) opens the room visually but needs precise wall plumbness - something we verify in Stage 1, because 1960s block walls are rarely perfect. A tension rod and curtain costs $40 and works fine; we don’t judge, but we do note that curtains trap humidity against drywall ceilings.
- Niche, bench, and storage: A tiled shampoo niche ($300-$600) beats corner caddies that rust. A fold-down teak bench ($400-$800) adds accessibility without eating floor space. These are easier to include during rough-in than to add later.
What Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs in Lantana, FL
For a standard 60″ x 30″ tub replacement with plumbing in place, expect $3,500-$5,500. Jobs that relocate drains, upgrade to curbless entry, or use premium materials run $6,500-$10,000. Here’s what pushes you toward either end:
| Cost Driver | Low-End Scenario | High-End Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing location | Drain and valve stay put | Drain moved 2+ feet, concrete cut |
| Wall system | Prefabricated surround | Full tile, natural stone, or glass tile |
| Base type | Acrylic pan | Custom mud pan with linear drain |
| Fixture grade | Builder-grade chrome | Thermostatic valve, brushed nickel or matte black |
| Structural surprises | Clean demo, sound framing | Rot repair, asbestos abatement, electrical upgrade |
Our written estimates include demolition, disposal, all materials, labor, permits, and inspections. What typically isn’t included: bathroom flooring extension (if the tub footprint differs from the shower base), exhaust fan upgrades, or painting beyond the immediate work area. We flag these before you sign, not after.
If you’re weighing this as part of a full Bathroom Remodeling in Lantana, bundling the tub-to-shower conversion with vanity replacement and flooring often reduces per-project overhead costs.
Why Lantana’s Location and Housing Stock Change This Job
Lantana sits low on the Intracoastal Waterway, and that geography writes rules for every renovation we do here. A large share of homes in ZIP 33462 fall within FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas - AE zones, specifically. Palm Beach County enforces a “substantial improvement” threshold: if your renovation plus any work from the past five years exceeds 50% of the structure’s assessed value, the project triggers full flood-elevation compliance. For a tub-to-shower conversion alone, you’re almost certainly safe. But if this bathroom work is part of a larger Bathroom Remodeling push that also includes kitchen updates, roofing, or an addition, that cumulative number matters enormously.
We’ve seen it happen: a homeowner near Hypoluxo Island signs a contract for what they think is a $25,000 kitchen-and-bath refresh, only to learn that combined with a roof replacement from two years prior, they’ve crossed the 50% line. The permit converts to new-construction flood compliance, and elevating a slab-built CBS home runs well into five figures. We pull the FEMA map and county appraiser data before we write the first estimate. It’s not extra service; it’s basic due diligence in Lantana.
The housing stock itself shapes our approach. Most bathrooms we work on sit in 1950s-1970s concrete block homes with original galvanized drains, 100-amp electrical panels, and jalousie windows that predate impact requirements. The block walls are solid but rarely plumb, which affects glass door fit. Salt air from the Intracoastal corrodes exposed fasteners, so we spec hot-dipped galvanized or stainless hardware even on interior work - the humidity here travels through block walls. And Palm Beach County’s post-Andrew wind code means any substantial wall modification requires verified roof-to-wall connections, adding inspection steps that inland contractors sometimes miss.
Homeowners in Lantana often pair interior updates with exterior hardening. If you’re already planning a Metal Roofing in Lantana upgrade or Tile Roofing in Lantana project, coordinating permits and inspections through one contractor - our crew handles both - keeps the compliance picture clean and avoids the 50% accumulation surprise.
Serving Lantana, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Lantana 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 Lantana
Most conversions take 4-7 working days of active construction, plus 3-5 calendar days for Palm Beach County inspections. The full span from contract to walkthrough is typically two weeks. Call (844) 665-0162 to check current inspection scheduling - it varies seasonally.
Yes. Palm Beach County requires a plumbing permit for drain and valve work, and a building permit if you move walls, change the footprint, or modify electrical. We pull all permits and schedule inspections as part of our scope. The permit cost is included in our estimate.
Often, yes. If your existing drain center falls within 2 inches of where the shower base needs it, we can use an offset drain pan and keep everything in place. This saves roughly $800-$1,500 and eliminates concrete cutting. We confirm this during our first site visit.
The most economical path is a direct swap: keep the drain and valve location, use a prefabricated acrylic shower base and surround, and reuse existing lighting. This typically lands near $3,500. The trade-off is less customization and a more utilitarian look. For a written quote on your specific bathroom, call (844) 665-0162 - estimates are free.
We warranty our workmanship for one year. Manufacturer warranties vary by product: acrylic bases typically carry 10-30 years, tile installations rely on our waterproofing guarantee, and fixtures range from lifetime (Moen, Delta mid-tier and above) to 5 years (imported boutique lines). We document all warranty terms in your final packet.
Get Your Tub-to-Shower Conversion Estimate in Lantana
We’ll come to your home in Lantana, measure your existing space, check your drain location and wall condition, and give you a written estimate with line-item pricing. No deposit to schedule, no pressure to decide on the spot. Call (844) 665-0162 or fill out our contact form. Raymond Estevez or a senior member of our team will handle your consultation directly.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Lantana and South Florida homeowners.