Bathtub to Shower Stall Conversion

Tools

• Converting a shower requires demolition and rebuilding tools. For the demolition, you’ll need safety gear including a mask, work gloves and eye protection. You’ll also need a crowbar for removing the tile. You should also have a jigsaw on hand for removal of any rotted wood. For the rebuilding, you’ll need fresh waterproof sheathing, a good level, shims and all the standard plumbing tools.

Types of Shower Stalls

• Once the bathtub is removed, you’ll have your choice of shower stalls. For a beginner DIY’er, it's best to use a prefab, fiberglass shower stall. This stall comes with pre-assembled walls that fit together perfectly. Alternatively, advanced builders can make their shower from scratch using cement board, sheathing and tile to form the walls and a shower pan for the bottom.

Cost

• On average, a bathroom remodel costs between $8,000 and $10,000, as of 2011. The supplies and time for doing the job yourself will be equivalent to the cost you'd pay a professional, as this is a time consuming job. The most important thing to remember when doing this job yourself is the waterproofing. If you don't properly waterproof the shower, then you’ll be paying a professional to fix the rotted boards behind the shower later on.

Alternative

• You don’t have to spend the big bucks to get a shower stall feel. In fact, for less than $800, you can install your own sliding glass shower door. The door’s track installs on top of the bathtub’s rim and provides a waterproof barrier for the shower. While this may not be an entire trade-out, you'd at least be getting rid of the mildewy shower curtain.