Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling in Hobe Sound, FL
Walk-in showers & shower remodeling in Hobe Sound typically runs $4,500-$12,000 for a full walk-in installation, or $3,000-$8,500 for a shower replacement, with most projects wrapping in 7-14 days depending on permit timing and material lead times. If you’re weighing a walk-in shower against a tub-to-shower conversion or a full bathroom overhaul, call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll walk you through what your specific space allows.
How We Handle Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling from First Measurement to Final Caulk
We’ve learned that shower jobs go sideways when homeowners don’t know what’s coming next. Here’s the actual sequence we follow for walk-in showers & shower remodeling in Hobe Sound, with the decisions you’ll need to make at each point.
Stage 1: Site assessment and scope lock (Day 1)
We measure your existing enclosure, check the subfloor for slope and integrity, and verify whether your drain location can stay put or needs to move. This is where you decide: curbed or curbless? Doorless or with a pivot panel? We’ll also spot-check for the galvanized steel drains common in 1960s-80s Hobe Sound ranch homes, which often need replacement before tile goes down. You get a fixed-scope estimate before we leave. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Stage 2: Material selection and permit pull (Days 2-5)
You choose your pan system (acrylic, composite, or mud-set with waterproofing membrane), wall material (tile, solid surface, or engineered stone panels), fixtures, and glass. We submit to Martin County Building Department if the job involves plumbing relocation, electrical additions, or structural modification. Standard shower replacements with no plumbing moves often qualify for same-day permitting. Duration: 3-5 days, mostly waiting on your selections.
Stage 3: Demolition and rough-in (Days 6-8)
We strip to studs, expose supply lines and drain, and address what we find. In Hobe Sound’s older mainland stock, we regularly encounter cast-iron drains, unvented fixtures, or framing that’s been wet for years. If your home falls in a VE flood zone near the Intracoastal, we’ll also confirm the finished floor elevation meets current requirements. This is the point of no return for plumbing relocation decisions. Duration: 1-2 days.
Stage 4: Waterproofing and finish installation (Days 9-12)
Pan goes in first, then wall waterproofing (RedGard, Schluter Kerdi, or equivalent per your spec), then tile or panel installation with cure time between steps. Glass measurements happen here, but fabrication takes 7-10 days, so we order templating as soon as walls are plumb. Duration: 3-4 days plus cure time.
Stage 5: Glass, fixtures, and final inspection (Days 13-14)
Glass installs, fixtures get pressure-tested, and we run the shower through multiple cycles to check drainage slope and seal integrity. If Martin County required a permit, we schedule the inspector before you use the shower. Duration: 1 day, plus inspector availability.
The Options You’ll Actually Choose Between for Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling
Every choice below affects price, maintenance, and how the shower feels to use daily. We don’t push one over another; we explain the trade-off and let you decide.
- Curbed vs. curbless entry: Curbed keeps water contained with a 4-6 inch threshold, costs less, and works with standard drains. Curbless needs floor recessing or a ramped pan, adds $800-$2,000, but eliminates the trip hazard and reads as more spacious. In Hobe Sound’s retirement-age households, we’re seeing strong preference for curbless.
- Pan material: Acrylic or fiberglass pans run $400-$900 installed, last 10-15 years, and feel slightly hollow underfoot. Composite stone pans (Swanstone, Kohler Choreograph) hit $1,200-$2,500, feel solid, and resist staining. Mud-set with liner and tile is $2,000-$4,500, completely custom, and lasts decades if waterproofed correctly.
- Wall surround: Tile offers unlimited design range but needs grout maintenance; expect $8-$25 per square foot for material plus labor. Solid surface panels (Corian, Swanstone) run $1,500-$3,500 for a typical three-wall surround, have no grout lines, and clean with standard products. Large-format porcelain (24×48 or bigger) splits the difference, minimal grout, premium look, $12-$30 per square foot material.
- Fixtures and valve: Pressure-balance valves start around $150; thermostatic valves that hold exact temperature run $400-$800. For Hobe Sound’s hard water, we spec valves with replaceable cartridges rather than proprietary systems you’ll struggle to find parts for in ten years.
- Glass enclosure: Framed sliding doors are $600-$1,200, functional but dated. Frameless pivot or hinge doors run $1,200-$2,800, need thicker glass (3/8″ or 1/2″), and require precise wall prep. Doorless walk-in designs need 5-6 feet of depth to prevent splash, which may steal space from your vanity or toilet.
What Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling Costs in Hobe Sound, FL
| Project Type | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Shower replacement (same footprint, no plumbing moves) | $3,000-$5,500 |
| Walk-in shower installation (curbed, standard materials) | $4,500-$7,500 |
| Walk-in shower installation (curbless, premium finishes) | $7,500-$12,000 |
| Full shower relocation or structural modification | Add $2,000-$5,000 |
Five factors push your number up or down:
1. Existing condition. A 1970s ranch with a galvanized drain, rotted subfloor, and unvented plumbing can add $1,500-$3,000 before finish work starts. We see this regularly in the mainland 33455 stock.
2. Plumbing relocation. Moving the drain or supplies more than a few feet means opening the slab or joist bay, which adds labor and often triggers permit requirements.
3. Material grade. The spread between an acrylic surround with a basic valve and a mud-set tile shower with thermostatic controls and frameless glass can be $6,000 or more.
4. Permit scope. Martin County requires permits for plumbing and electrical changes; if you’re in a Jupiter Island corridor property with additional wind-load or flood-zone scrutiny, inspections may add days but not necessarily dollars.
5. Access and protection. Homes with tight hallways, original terrazzo floors you want preserved, or delicate adjacent finishes need more labor for protection and material handling.
A written estimate from us includes demolition, disposal, pan and wall materials, fixtures, glass, labor, and permit fees if applicable. It does not include bathroom vanity work, toilet replacement, or tile outside the wet area unless specified.
What Hobe Sound Homes Specifically Do to This Job
Hobe Sound sits entirely within Martin County, which has spent decades legally defending its slow-growth policies against the development pressure rolling up from Palm Beach County. That matters for your shower remodel because the same regulatory muscle that limits beachfront density also shapes how permits move through Martin County Building Department. Coastal Construction Control Line setbacks don’t directly affect interior work, but if your home is on the barrier island corridor near Jupiter Island, any project that touches the building envelope, including exhaust fan venting or exterior wall waterproofing, may trigger additional review.
The housing stock tells its own story. On the mainland side in 33455, we’re often working in mid-century Florida ranch homes built from the 1960s through the 1980s. These typically have 32×60 inch fiberglass tub-shower combos, galvanized or cast-iron drains, and framing that predates modern moisture barriers. The shower remodels here are usually full gut jobs: strip to studs, replace drain line, sister any compromised joists, and build back with current waterproofing standards. The barrier island properties demand a different conversation entirely, impact-rated windows and doors are often part of the same project scope, and homeowners there frequently pair interior work with exterior envelope upgrades. If you’re considering Roof Replacement & Installation in Hobe Sound or Metal Roofing in Hobe Sound, it often makes sense to sequence that before or alongside your shower remodel to minimize disruption.
Salt-air corrosion is real here. Homes within a mile of the Atlantic or the Intracoastal see faster degradation of metal connectors, fasteners, and even chrome-plated fixtures. We spec brushed nickel or matte black finishes with PVD coating for coastal durability, and we use stainless or polymer drains rather than plated brass.
Finally, Martin County’s environmental buffer rules tied to gopher tortoise habitat and the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge boundary on the north end of town don’t typically affect interior bathroom work. But contractors who aren’t familiar with the county’s Development Review Committee process sometimes get surprised by stop-work orders on seemingly routine jobs. We know the difference between a pure interior remodel and one that triggers environmental review, and we scope accordingly.
Serving Hobe Sound, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Hobe Sound 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 - Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling in Hobe Sound
Most walk-in showers & shower remodeling projects in Hobe Sound take 7-14 days from demolition to final use, with permit approval and glass lead time often being the longest variables. If you’re in a hurry, we can expedite material selection and use in-stock pan and surround options to compress the schedule. Call (844) 665-0162 to check current availability.
You need a Martin County permit if the job involves plumbing relocation, new electrical circuits, or structural modification like removing a load-bearing wall. A direct replacement with no supply or drain changes often qualifies for a simpler permit or exemption. We handle the application and inspection scheduling as part of our project management.
Yes, if your current drain and supply locations work for your desired layout, we can install a walk-in shower without relocating pipes, which saves $1,500-$3,000 and avoids opening the slab. The constraint is usually the drain position; curbless designs especially need specific slope geometry that may or may not align with your existing location. We’ll tell you definitively during the site assessment.
Repairing surface damage like cracked tile or failed grout runs $800-$2,500, but if the pan is leaking or the drain is corroded, you’re often throwing good money at a failing system. A full replacement with modern waterproofing typically costs $4,500-$7,500 and eliminates the underlying problems. For Hobe Sound’s older homes, we generally recommend replacement if the existing shower is over 25 years old.
Our workmanship warranty covers installation labor and waterproofing integrity, while manufacturer warranties apply to pans, fixtures, and glass. We document both at project closeout so you know who to call for what. Specific terms vary by material choices; we’ll detail this in your written estimate.
Get a Free On-Site Estimate for Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling in Hobe Sound
We’ll come to your home in Hobe Sound, measure your space, check your existing plumbing and structure, and give you a fixed-scope estimate with material options across multiple price tiers. No pressure, no deposit required to get the number. Call (844) 665-0162 or request a time through our site. If your project is part of a full Bathroom Remodeling in Hobe Sound, our Bathroom Remodeling crew coordinates every phase so you’re not juggling separate trades. We cover Hobe Sound and the surrounding Martin County area from our South Florida base.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Hobe Sound and South Florida homeowners.