Tub to Shower Conversion Services in San Francisco, Palo Alto & San Mateo
JK Plumbing provides tub to shower conversion services across San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Mateo, and the SF Peninsula — for homeowners tired of stepping over a high tub wall, for aging-in-place upgrades, for older bathrooms where the cast-iron tub is rusted through, and for primary baths where the tub never gets used. Walk-in showers, curbless designs, custom tile, acrylic kits, and frameless glass enclosures. Permitted, code-compliant, and finished by licensed master plumbers since 2007. Free in-home estimate. CA License #1080266.
By Alik, Owner & Master Plumber · Last updated June 2026
Rated 5 stars on Google · 19+ Years in Business
A licensed plumber answers, not a call center.
Signs It's Time for a Tub to Shower Conversion (Not Just a Refinish)
A refinished tub buys you a few more years. A tub remodel kit covers cosmetic damage. A full tub to shower conversion is what you need when the tub itself no longer fits how you actually use the bathroom — or when the structure underneath has finally given up. Look for these patterns:
- Stepping over the tub wall has become a hazard. A standard tub wall is 14–17 inches tall. For anyone with balance, knee, or hip issues, that’s a daily fall risk. A walk-in or curbless shower removes the threshold entirely.
- Nobody in the house has taken a bath in over a year. The tub is now a place to store shampoo bottles and rinse the dog. You’re using it as an oversized shower base with a curtain. Converting it gives you back the space and the experience.
- The tub surface is past refinishing. Cast-iron tubs in older San Francisco and Peninsula homes develop chips down to the metal, rust spotting, and porcelain wear no amount of reglazing will fix permanently. At that point you’re spending refinish money every two to three years instead of converting once.
- The tub-shower combo leaks behind the wall. Water staining on the wall below the bathroom, soft drywall around the tub flange, or a tile field that won’t stay grouted usually means the membrane behind the surround failed. A conversion lets us open the wall, fix what’s actually wrong, and rebuild correctly.
- You’re remodeling for resale in a market that prefers showers. In San Francisco condo and Peninsula starter-home markets, a single dated tub-shower combo in the primary bath drags showings. A clean walk-in shower with frameless glass shows better and inspects cleaner.
- An aging-in-place or ADA upgrade is coming up. Whether it’s for a parent moving in, planning ahead, or a doctor’s recommendation after a fall, converting to a curbless shower with grab bars, a bench, and a hand shower is the most impactful single bathroom change you can make.
- You’re doing a full bathroom remodel and the bathtub doesn’t fit the plan. If the layout is changing anyway, removing the tub during demo costs almost nothing extra — and the new bathroom gets the shower the household actually wanted.
If you’re seeing one of these, call (415) 359-4588. We’ll ask what your bathroom looks like today and tell you honestly whether a tub to shower conversion is the right move, whether a refinish would carry you another few years, or whether the underlying issue is something bigger we should look at first.
Our Tub to Shower Conversion Services
Six ways we handle a bath conversion to shower, each for a different situation. Click any service below for full details.
Standard Bathtub to Shower Conversion
The straightforward job: pull the existing tub, cap or rework the supply lines, install a new shower base (acrylic or tile-ready), tie in the new drain, and finish the surround. Most pre-1980 tub footprints are 60" × 30–32", which converts cleanly into a same-footprint walk-in shower with no layout changes. Best fit when the bathroom layout works and you just want the tub gone.
Walk-In Shower Conversion (Curbless & Low-Threshold)
For homeowners who want the modern, open look — no curb to step over, linear drain, full glass panel. Curbless conversions require subfloor work (the shower floor has to slope to drain inside the framing, not on top of it), so they're a bigger job than a standard conversion. We handle the framing, waterproofing membrane, and tile or stone install end-to-end.
ADA & Aging-in-Place Conversion
For homes where mobility, safety, or doctor-recommended modifications are driving the project. We design around real ADA clearances — 36" minimum opening, reinforced backing for grab bars at code-compliant heights, a fold-down or built-in bench, anti-scald thermostatic valves, and a curbless or low-threshold entry. We work with occupational therapy recommendations when you have them.
Custom Tile Shower Conversion
When you want a tub into shower conversion that looks like it was designed, not assembled. Full tile surround on a Schluter or hot-mop pan, niches, accent bands, frameless glass, and any tile you bring us — porcelain, stone, handmade. Tile conversions take longer and cost more than acrylic, but they're the option you'll still like in fifteen years.
Acrylic & Prefab Kit Conversion
The fastest, cleanest path for converting a bathtub into a shower when you want it done in days, not weeks. Solid acrylic or composite shower base and walls in a single-piece or multi-panel system, no grout to maintain, sealed seams. Best fit for rentals, secondary bathrooms, and homeowners who want a clean modern look without the tile timeline.
Frameless Glass Enclosure Install
For finished shower bases that need the glass to match. We measure, order, and install heavy-glass frameless enclosures — fixed panels, hinged doors, sliders, or full walk-in returns. If you already have a shower base or you're working with another contractor on the build, we can come in and handle the glass install only.
How a Tub to Shower Conversion Call Works
You call, a real plumber answers
Call (415) 359-4588. A licensed plumber asks what the existing bathroom looks like, what kind of conversion you’re picturing (acrylic kit, tile, curbless, ADA), and whether you’ve already picked finishes or want us to walk you through options. If we’re not sure the conversion is the right answer — for example, if a quick refinish would carry you a few more years — we say so.
Free in-home assessment, written quote
We come out at no charge, measure the bathroom, check the supply lines, drain, framing, and subfloor, and walk through the conversion type that fits your space and budget. You get a written quote covering demo, plumbing, framing changes, waterproofing, finish materials, glass, and permitting — itemized — before any work is scheduled. We pull the permits ourselves and handle the inspection sign-offs.
Demo, build, finish, walk-through
We protect the floors and adjacent rooms, demo the tub and surround, address whatever the wall shows us (rotted framing, old galvanized supply, leaking drain), install the new shower base and surround, set glass, and clean the site at the end of every day. Acrylic kit conversions typically run 2–4 days on-site; standard tile conversions run 7–14 days depending on scope; curbless and full ADA builds run 2–3 weeks. You get a final walk-through before we ask for the last payment.
Popular Plumbing Brands We Sell and Service
How Our Tub to Shower Conversion Pricing Works
Tub to shower conversion cost varies more than almost any other plumbing job we quote — a same-footprint acrylic kit and a curbless tile build with all-new framing are not the same project, and quoting them the same is how homeowners end up with surprise change orders mid-job. Here’s the actual price structure.
Phone qualification first. We ask the existing tub size and material, what kind of conversion you have in mind, and whether the bathroom is on a slab or framed floor. From that, a licensed plumber can usually quote a working range over the phone.
Free in-home estimate before any work. We come out, measure, check what’s behind the wall and under the tub, and write the quote down. No charge for the visit, no obligation to move forward.
Four things drive the price on any tub to shower conversion:
- Conversion type — acrylic prefab kit, custom tile, curbless, or full ADA — each is a different scope of work, framing, and material cost
- What’s behind the wall — rotted studs, old galvanized supply, lead drain stack, or active leaks add real time; we identify these before demo when possible so the quote reflects them
- Layout changes — same-footprint conversions are the simplest; moving the drain, expanding the footprint, or going curbless on a framed floor means subfloor work
- Finish material — base-grade acrylic vs. mid-tier porcelain vs. natural stone vs. handmade tile is a wide cost spread, and we’ll show you where the dollars actually move the result
Permits and inspections are included in the quote. We pull them, we schedule them, and we handle the inspector — you don’t have to.
What you won’t pay for:
- A trip charge or estimate fee — the in-home assessment is free
- Demo charges added on after the quote — we look at the bathroom first and quote against what we’ll actually find
- Pressure to upgrade to tile when an acrylic kit fits the project better
- “Surprise” framing or plumbing work — if we can’t fully assess what’s behind the wall until demo, we tell you that upfront and quote a range with a clear ceiling
Call (415) 359-4588 with the existing tub size and the kind of shower you’re picturing, and a licensed plumber can give you a working range — no obligation.
Tub to Shower Conversion Across the Peninsula
We dispatch from Burlingame and run tub to shower conversion services across:
Primary service area: San Francisco · Palo Alto · San Mateo · Burlingame · Millbrae · Hillsborough · San Bruno · Belmont · San Carlos · Foster City · Redwood City · Daly City
Extended service area: Berkeley · Oakland · Fremont · San Jose
Looking for bathtub conversions to shower near you? See our city-specific pages: Palo Alto · San Mateo · Redwood City · Daly City (and all 17 service areas).
Tub to Shower Conversion FAQ
What is a tub to shower conversion, and how does it work?
A tub to shower conversion replaces an existing bathtub (or tub-shower combo) with a dedicated walk-in shower. The tub and surround come out, the supply and drain lines are reworked for a shower fixture, a new shower base is installed (either an acrylic pan or a tile-ready mortar bed), the walls are framed and waterproofed, and the surround is finished in acrylic, tile, or stone. Glass goes in last. The net result: no tub wall to step over, more usable space, and a bathroom that matches how the household actually showers.
How much does a tub to shower conversion cost?
Tub to shower conversion cost is driven by conversion type, what’s behind the wall, and finish materials. Acrylic prefab kit conversions are the lower end of the range. Custom tile conversions sit in the middle. Curbless walk-in showers and full ADA builds — which require subfloor work, framing changes, and reinforced backing — are the upper end. We quote in writing after a free in-home visit, so the number you see covers the actual project, not a national average. Call (415) 359-4588 for a working range over the phone.
How long does a tub to shower conversion take?
Acrylic prefab kit conversions: 2–4 days on-site. Standard custom tile conversions: 7–14 days. Curbless walk-in or full ADA conversions with subfloor work: 2–3 weeks. Timeline includes demo, plumbing, framing, waterproofing, tile or panel install, glass measurement and install (glass typically arrives 1–2 weeks after templating), and inspection. We schedule the inspection so it doesn’t hold up your finish day.
Do you pull the permits, or do I have to?
We pull them. Tub to shower conversion in San Francisco, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County requires plumbing permits, and depending on scope, building permits as well. We file, schedule the inspector, and walk them through the rough-in and final. The permit cost is included in your quote.
Will a tub to shower conversion hurt my resale value?
In most San Francisco and Peninsula markets, no — and in a lot of cases it helps. The old advice was “keep at least one tub in the house for families with young kids.” In SF and Peninsula condos, primary-bath conversions are now a positive signal. In single-family homes with multiple bathrooms, the primary bath converts to a walk-in shower with no resale downside as long as another bathroom in the house still has a tub. If your home has only one bathroom, we’ll discuss whether converting is the right call before we quote it.
Tile vs. acrylic — which should I pick?
Acrylic if you want it done fast, you don’t want grout to maintain, and you want a clean modern look at a lower cost. Tile if you want a result that’s customized to your space, more design flexibility (niches, benches, accent bands, custom layouts), and a finish that looks better and ages better than acrylic. Tile costs more upfront, takes longer to install, and needs occasional regrouting. We install both and won’t push you toward the more expensive option if the cheaper one fits the project.
Can you do a curbless or ADA conversion in an upstairs bathroom?
Yes, in most cases. A curbless shower requires the shower floor to slope to a drain inside the framing, which means we either drop the joist bay (when access from below is possible) or build up the rest of the bathroom floor. Both are doable in framed floors — slab floors are harder. We’ll look at your specific framing during the in-home visit and tell you whether curbless is realistic for your space or whether a low-threshold conversion (a 2-inch curb instead of zero) is the better fit.
Can I do a tub to shower conversion myself?
The demo, you can. Reworking the supply lines, drain, framing, and waterproofing — and getting it permitted and inspected — is where most DIY conversions go wrong. The most expensive bathroom remodels we get called into are second-attempt jobs where the original DIY conversion leaked into the floor or wall, and now we’re removing rot before we can install the shower correctly. For a one-time tub to shower conversion, a licensed plumber is cheaper than the DIY plus the risk of an unpermitted installation showing up on a future home inspection.
Do you work with my designer, GC, or architect?
Yes. If you’re doing a full bathroom remodel and the tub to shower conversion is one piece of it, we coordinate with your designer or general contractor on fixture selections, schedule, and rough-in timing. If you only need the conversion itself — no designer involved — we walk you through the choices ourselves.
Do you offer same-day or fast-turnaround tub to shower conversion?
Tub to shower conversions are scheduled projects, not same-day work — demo, plumbing, framing, and finish can’t be rushed without compromising the result. We typically schedule conversions 2–4 weeks out depending on permit timing and material lead times. If you need an emergency tub or shower repair in the meantime, call (415) 359-4588 and we’ll get a plumber out.
What People says about JK Plumbing
Ready to Replace That Tub? Free In-Home Estimate.
Tub to shower conversion across San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Mateo, and the Peninsula. Walk-in, curbless, ADA, tile, acrylic, and frameless glass — permitted, code-compliant, and finished by licensed master plumbers. Free in-home estimate, written quote, no pressure.