Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Palm Beach, FL - What It Costs and How Long It Takes
A tub-to-shower conversion in Palm Beach typically runs $3,500-$10,000 and takes 5 to 10 business days from demolition to final inspection, assuming standard plumbing stays in place. Most homeowners call us at (844) 665-0162 when they’re tired of stepping over a tub they never use, or when the original 1920s-1940s cast-iron fixture has finally cracked past repair. This job removes the existing tub and surround, reworks the wet-area waterproofing to current Florida Building Code standards, and installs a walk-in shower with new fixtures, drainage, and finishes.
How We Handle a Tub-to-Shower Conversion From Start to Finish
We’ve refined this into five clear stages so you know exactly where your project stands and what decision sits in front of you.
Stage 1: On-site measurement and scope lock (Day 1)
We visit your home, photograph the existing tub and wet wall, and verify whether your plumbing stack can stay put or needs relocation. You’ll decide right then between keeping the tub footprint (faster, cheaper) or expanding the shower envelope into adjacent space. We also flag any electrical that must move, such as switching a tub-side outlet to GFCI placement per current code. This visit produces a fixed-price proposal, not an estimate that drifts.
Stage 2: Material and fixture selection (Days 2-5, overlapping with permit prep)
While our team prepares permit drawings for the Town of Palm Beach, you choose your shower base, wall system, fixtures, and glass. We bring samples to your home or meet at our Fort Lauderdale office. Decisions made here lock your price. Change orders after Stage 2 delay the job and add cost.
Stage 3: Demolition and rough-prep (Days 6-7)
We remove the tub, surround, and any water-damaged subfloor or studs. In Palm Beach’s older Mediterranean Revival homes, we often find original cast-iron tubs weighing 300+ pounds that require disassembly in place. We inspect the slab for moisture intrusion, common in barrier-island homes where salt air has corroded flashing over decades. If we find compromised structure, we stop and photograph before proceeding.
Stage 4: Plumbing, waterproofing, and tile or wall-panel installation (Days 8-12)
Licensed plumbers relocate or extend supply and drain lines as needed. Our crew installs a bonded waterproofing membrane (liquid-applied or sheet, depending on your wall system choice) and conducts a flood test before any finish material covers it. Tile work or solid-surface panel installation follows. This is where the timeline stretches if you’ve selected intricate mosaic patterns or natural stone requiring sealing.
Stage 5: Fixture set, glass installation, and final inspection (Days 13-15)
We install your chosen valve, showerhead, and trim, hang the glass enclosure, and seal all joints. The Town of Palm Beach building department inspects for code compliance, particularly pan-liner integrity and GFCI protection. We do a final walkthrough with you, demonstrate valve operation, and leave written care instructions. You’re showering that evening.
The Choices You’ll Make for Your New Shower
Every tub-to-shower conversion forces real trade-offs between cost, durability, and daily experience. Here’s what Palm Beach homeowners actually weigh:
- Shower base: acrylic pan versus tiled mud bed. An acrylic or fiberglass-reinforced pan runs $400-$900 installed and carries a 10-year warranty, but the step-over height and molded look read “replacement,” not “renovation.” A custom sloped mud bed with your tile of choice adds $1,200-$2,500 and eliminates the visual break at the floor, though it requires annual grout sealing if you choose porous stone.
- Wall surround: solid surface versus tile. Solid-surface panels in gloss or matte finishes install in a day, never need grout, and cost $1,500-$3,500 for a typical 60-inch opening. Tile, whether ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone, runs $2,500-$6,000 with labor and demands more cleaning attention. In Palm Beach’s salt-air environment, we see faster grout degradation in homes without consistent exhaust fan use.
- Fixtures: standard versus thermostatic valve. A pressure-balance valve from Moen or Kohler costs $150-$400 and prevents scalding from pressure fluctuations. A thermostatic valve, which holds exact temperature regardless of water use elsewhere in the house, runs $600-$1,200. For homes with original 1920s plumbing and variable pressure, the upgrade pays off in comfort.
- Glass enclosure: framed, semi-frameless, or frameless. Framed sliders start around $800. Semi-frameless hinged doors hit $1,200-$2,000. True frameless with 3/8-inch tempered glass and minimal hardware climbs to $2,500-$4,500 but opens the room visually, a priority in smaller Mizner-era guest baths.
- Niche, bench, and storage. A tiled shampoo niche adds $300-$600. A fold-down teak or solid-surface bench runs $400-$1,100. These aren’t afterthoughts; waterproofing must be designed around them before tile goes up.
What Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs in Palm Beach, FL
$3,500-$10,000 covers the full range we see in Palm Beach, from a straightforward acrylic-swap in a 1960s ranch to a full reconfiguration with natural stone, frameless glass, and relocated plumbing in a landmarked estate.
| Cost Driver | Low-End Impact | High-End Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing stays in place | Baseline | - |
| Plumbing relocated 2+ feet | - | +$800-$2,500 |
| Wall surround: acrylic panels | Baseline | - |
| Wall surround: natural stone tile | - | +$2,000-$4,500 |
| Standard pressure-balance valve | Baseline | - |
| Thermostatic valve with diverter | - | +$500-$1,000 |
| Framed glass door | Baseline | - |
| Frameless glass, 3/8″ tempered | - | +$1,500-$3,000 |
| No structural repair needed | Baseline | - |
| Subfloor or stud replacement | - | +$600-$2,000 |
Our written estimates include demolition, disposal, all plumbing and electrical to code, waterproofing, installation of your selected materials, fixtures, glass, and final inspection coordination. What typically sits outside: permit fees (Town of Palm Beach sets these), any ARCOM review costs for exterior window or vent modifications, and your choice of premium fixtures above our Allowance grade.
Call (844) 665-0162 for an exact quote on your specific bathroom. Estimates are free and include a printed scope with line-item allowances.
What Palm Beach Homes Specifically Add to This Job
Palm Beach isn’t like remodeling in West Palm Beach or Riviera Beach. The Town operates its own Architectural Commission, ARCOM, with a fixed monthly meeting schedule and a requirement for fully rendered elevations with material samples. Miss the submittal deadline by one day, and your project waits another month. We’ve seen out-of-town contractors underestimate this overhead repeatedly, then eat the delay costs or push them to the homeowner as change orders.
The housing stock itself complicates tub-to-shower conversion. Those Addison Mizner estates along Worth Avenue and Cocoanut Row were built with poured concrete slabs and cast-stone detailing that doesn’t forgive rough demolition. Original bathrooms often feature pecky-cypress ceilings, terrazzo floors, and plaster walls that crack if vibration isn’t controlled. We bring specialist subcontractors for authentic material repair when exposure reveals hidden damage.
Salt air from the Atlantic and Intracoastal accelerates corrosion of steel tub supports, copper drain lines, and aluminum window frames adjacent to the bath. We inspect for this during demolition and specify marine-grade fasteners and non-corroding drain materials when we find deterioration. The Town’s building department also enforces post-2002 Florida Building Code wind and moisture standards rigorously, so any exterior vent or window modification in the bathroom triggers impact-rated product requirements.
Homeowners here often pair interior wet-area updates with exterior envelope work. If you’re already coordinating trades, many clients schedule Metal Roofing in Palm Beach or Tile Roofing in Palm Beach through our same team to avoid the contractor-juggling headache. Our Palm Beach crew handles both scopes under one project manager.
Serving Palm Beach, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach
Most conversions finish in 5 to 10 business days if plumbing stays in place and no ARCOM review is required. Jobs with plumbing relocation, natural stone tile, or exterior vent modifications that trigger ARCOM can stretch to 4 to 6 weeks. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll flag your specific timeline factors during the site visit.
Yes. The Town of Palm Beach requires a building permit for any wet-area plumbing modification, and the job must pass inspection for pan-liner integrity and GFCI protection. If your bathroom has an exterior window or vent being altered, ARCOM review adds a separate approval layer before the permit can issue. We handle both submittals as part of our standard process.
Often yes, if your existing tub drain and valve location work for a shower base of your chosen depth. Keeping the 2-inch drain in place and the valve height at standard 48 inches saves $800-$2,500 and several days. We verify this on our first site visit before pricing the job.
Refinishing a cast-iron tub costs $400-$700 but leaves you with a tub you don’t want. A basic tub-to-shower conversion starts at $3,500 and gives you a walk-in shower you’ll actually use. If the tub is cracked, leaking, or surrounded by failing tile, conversion is the better investment. Call (844) 665-0162 for a free comparison estimate.
We warranty our workmanship for one year, and the materials you select carry their own manufacturer warranties, typically 10 years for acrylic bases, lifetime for Kohler cast fixtures, and 5 years for most glass hardware. We register all warranties in your name and leave documentation in a waterproof binder we install in your new vanity.
Get Your Free On-Site Estimate for Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Palm Beach
We’ll visit your home, measure the existing space, check your plumbing configuration, and deliver a fixed-price proposal with material allowances you can adjust. No deposit required to schedule. Call (844) 665-0162 or mention if you’re considering this as part of a full Bathroom Remodeling in Palm Beach - our Bathroom Remodeling crew coordinates every phase under one contract.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Palm Beach since our founding.