Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Miramar: What It Costs and How Long It Takes
A tub-to-shower conversion in Miramar typically runs $3,500-$10,000 and takes 5 to 10 working days from demolition to final inspection. Most homeowners in the 33023 corridor call us at (844) 665-0162 because they’re tired of climbing over a tub they never use, or because an aging fiberglass enclosure has cracked at the seams. We handle the full scope: demolition, plumbing reconfiguration if needed, waterproofing, tile or surround installation, glass enclosure, and Broward County permit coordination.
This job is narrower than a full Bathroom Remodeling in Miramar, but it still touches structure, plumbing, and finishes. In older Miramar homes, we regularly find galvanized supply lines or ungrounded outlets that need addressing before the new shower goes in. Here’s how we break it down.
How We Handle a Tub-to-Shower Conversion, Start to Finish
We work in five stages. Each has a clear handoff, and you’ll know what decision is yours before we start the next one.
Stage 1: Demo and discovery (1 day). We remove the tub, surround, and adjacent drywall down to studs. This is where we find what the walls are hiding: the condition of existing supply and drain lines, whether the subfloor has moisture damage, and if the framing is plumb enough for a modern glass enclosure. In Miramar’s 1950s-1970s CBS homes, we often find terrazzo floors that extend under the tub, which simplifies cleanup but can complicate drain relocation. You’ll decide here whether to relocate the drain center or keep it where it is.
Stage 2: Plumbing and rough-in (1-2 days). If you’re keeping the drain in place, this moves fast. If we’re moving it to center it for a wider shower pan or switching from tub-spout to overhead-only supply, we open the slab or wall framing. In Miramar’s flat coastal plain with its high water table, any slab penetration gets extra attention to compaction and seal. You’ll confirm your valve height and whether you want a handheld wand on a separate slide bar.
Stage 3: Pan, waterproofing, and wall prep (1-2 days). We install either a prefabricated acrylic or fiberglass pan or a mud-set tile pan with waterproof membrane. The choice you made in Stage 1 determines our approach here. For tile pans, we flood-test the liner for 24 hours before setting a single tile. This is non-negotiable in South Florida’s humidity, where trapped moisture breeds mold behind walls.
Stage 4: Wall finish and fixture set (2-3 days). Tile, solid-surface panels, or a hybrid system goes up. Grout cure time adds a day if we’re using cementitious grout; epoxy grouts let us move faster but cost more. We set the valve trim, showerhead, and any body sprays. You’ll do a walkthrough to confirm grout color match and caulk line crispness before we call for inspection.
Stage 5: Glass, final inspection, and cleanup (1-2 days). The glass enclosure gets templated after tile is set, so there’s typically a 1-week lead while we wait for fabrication. We coordinate Broward County’s final plumbing inspection, which in Miramar currently runs 2-3 business days out. Once we pass, we seal all joints, clean, and turn it over.
The Choices You’ll Actually Make for Your Shower
Every tub-to-shower conversion involves trade-offs between cost, maintenance, and how the space feels. These are the decisions that move your number:
- Shower pan: prefab vs. mud-set tile. Prefab acrylic or fiberglass pans run $400-$1,200 installed and carry 10-30 year manufacturer warranties. They’re fast, watertight, and forgiving of slightly out-of-level floors. Mud-set tile pans with a bonded waterproof membrane cost $1,500-$3,500 more but let you choose any tile size and create a true curbless entry if accessibility matters. In Miramar’s older homes with settled slabs, prefab pans often fit better without extensive floor prep.
- Wall surround: acrylic panels, solid surface, or tile. Acrylic systems like Kohler’s Choreograph line install in a day, never need grout, and cost $1,200-$2,500. Solid surface (cultured marble or quartz composite) hits $2,500-$4,500 with seamless corners and integrated shelving. Full tile with cement board and waterproof membrane runs $3,000-$7,000 depending on tile selection and pattern complexity. We see Miramar homeowners split evenly: the low-maintenance crowd picks acrylic, the resale-focused crowd picks tile.
- Glass enclosure: framed, semi-frameless, or frameless. Framed sliding doors start around $600. Semi-frameless pivot doors run $900-$1,400. True frameless with 3/8″ tempered glass and minimal hardware hits $1,800-$3,200. The frameless look demands perfectly plumb walls, which we don’t always find in 1960s Miramar block construction. We’ll tell you straight if your walls need re-framing to support it.
- Valve and fixtures: pressure-balance vs. thermostatic. Pressure-balance valves (standard, $150-$400) protect against scalding when someone flushes a toilet. Thermostatic valves ($400-$900) hold temperature within 1-2 degrees regardless of demand. For households with young children or elderly residents, thermostatic is worth the upgrade. We stock Moen and Kohler trim in common finishes; special-order finishes add 2-3 weeks.
- Grab bars, niches, and bench seating. These aren’t afterthoughts. Blocking for grab bars must be installed during rough-in. A tiled niche adds $400-$800 but eliminates corroding corner caddies. A fold-down bench runs $300-$600. If you’re planning to age in place, we spec these now rather than retrofitting later through tile.
What Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs in Miramar, FL
| Project Scope | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Basic conversion: prefab pan, acrylic surround, reuse existing plumbing | $3,500-$5,500 |
| Mid-range: mud-set pan, tile walls, relocated drain, semi-frameless glass | $6,000-$8,500 |
| High-end: curbless entry, full tile, frameless glass, thermostatic valve, bench + niche | $8,500-$10,000+ |
Five variables push you up or down this range. Plumbing location: keeping the drain and valve where they are saves $800-$2,000. Moving either through slab or block wall adds labor and material. Wall condition: if we open up and find termite damage, ungrounded wiring, or galvanized supply lines at end of life, remediation comes first. Material grade: a $3/sf ceramic tile versus a $18/sf porcelain plank with mosaic accent changes the wall budget by $2,000-$4,000 alone. Structural surprises: in Miramar’s pre-Andrew housing stock, we sometimes find non-compliant framing or previous unpermitted work that Broward County flags during inspection, requiring correction before we close walls. Glass complexity: a simple inline door versus a return panel with notching for a knee wall can double the enclosure cost.
Our written estimate includes demolition, disposal, all materials, labor, permit fees, and final inspection coordination. It does not include bathroom flooring extension (if you want tile beyond the shower footprint), vanity replacement, or exhaust fan upgrades, though our Bathroom Remodeling crew can quote those in parallel if you’re expanding scope.
What Miramar Homes Specifically Do to This Job
Miramar’s 33023 ZIP sits on the original mid-century city core, dense blocks of 1950s-1970s concrete block stucco homes built before Hurricane Andrew rewrote Florida’s building code. When we pull a permit for a tub-to-shower conversion in these neighborhoods, Broward County’s inspectors don’t just look at our plumbing and waterproofing. They check whether the work triggers broader structural compliance, especially if we’re opening walls that intersect with the roofline or if previous owners added unpermitted screen enclosures or carport conversions in the 1980s.
We’ve had jobs on Sherman Circle and nearby streets where a straightforward bathroom remodel escalated because the county required hurricane strapping remediation at the roof-to-wall connection before they’d sign off on any interior permit. Not every tub conversion triggers this, but enough do that we budget 10-15% contingency on pre-Andrew homes and warn homeowners upfront. The flat coastal plain doesn’t help: Miramar’s water table sits inches below grade during wet season, so any slab work needs proper compaction and drainage planning to prevent future settling.
Homeowners in Miramar’s older corridors often pair interior updates with exterior hardening. If you’re already planning a Metal Roofing in Miramar or Tile Roofing in Miramar project, coordinating permits and inspections through one contractor saves months of back-and-forth with Broward County. Our Miramar team handles both scopes under one permit strategy.
Serving Miramar, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Miramar 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 Miramar
Most conversions take 5 to 10 working days, plus a 1-week glass fabrication lead time. If Broward County requires structural remediation on an older home, add 3-5 days. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll assess your specific timeline during a free on-site estimate.
Yes. Any plumbing modification in Broward County requires a permit, and tub-to-shower conversion always involves at least drain and valve work. We pull the permit, coordinate inspections, and handle corrections. The permit fee is included in our estimate.
Often, yes. If your existing drain location works with your chosen shower pan size and the valve height is acceptable, we keep everything in place and save you $800-$2,000. During our first visit, we measure and tell you whether your layout allows this.
The lowest-cost path is a prefabricated acrylic pan and surround, reusing existing drain and valve locations, with a framed glass door or curtain rod. This typically lands at $3,500-$4,500 in Miramar. It sacrifices some customization and long-term resale appeal compared to tile, but it’s watertight and functional. For an exact quote on your bathroom, call (844) 665-0162.
We warranty our workmanship for one year. Material warranties vary by product: acrylic pans often carry 10-30 years, tile installations rely on our waterproofing and installation guarantee, and glass enclosures typically have 3-5 year hardware coverage. We register all manufacturer warranties in your name before we close out the job.
Ready to Lose the Tub? Let’s Talk Through Your Miramar Bathroom
Call (844) 665-0162 to schedule a free on-site estimate for your tub-to-shower conversion in Miramar. Raymond Estevez or a senior project lead will walk your bathroom, confirm what’s feasible with your existing plumbing and structure, and email a detailed written estimate within 48 hours. No pressure, no generic pitch - just the specifics of your job, your timeline, and your options.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Miramar since our South Florida launch.