Tub-to-shower conversions in Charlotte
A tub-to-shower conversion removes an existing bathtub and builds a tiled shower in the same footprint, usually with a low curb or curbless entry, new waterproofing, a niche and a glass panel. Because the plumbing stays roughly where it was, it is the most contained way to modernise a bathroom. MDO Contracting does tub-to-shower conversions across Charlotte, NC.
Most alcove tubs in Charlotte houses get used as showers anyway. Converting one is the job that changes how a bathroom feels every day without touching the rest of the room.
What the job involves
- Tub and surround removed, walls opened only as far as the shower needs
- Drain and valve moved or reused, checked while the wall is open
- Pan, curb or curbless entry, and wall waterproofing built to hold water
- Tile on the floor, walls and niche, set to line
- Glass panel or door, fixtures, trim and grab bars where wanted
How the work runs
- 01
Measure and decide
Curb or curbless, niche position, where the glass lands. Decided in the room, against the joists and the door swing.
- 02
Remove the tub
Tub, surround and anything hiding behind it come out. Floors and the hallway stay protected.
- 03
Rough in and waterproof
Drain, valve and blocking for grab bars go in, then the pan and walls get waterproofed and checked before tile.
- 04
Tile, glass, fixtures
Tile, grout, then glass, fixtures and trim. A walkthrough closes it out.
Tub-to-shower conversions questions
- Can the shower go where the tub was without moving plumbing?
- Usually yes. The drain often moves a little to sit where a shower drain belongs, but the supply and the valve normally stay in the same wall.
- Curbless or a low curb?
- Curbless needs the subfloor recessed or the floor built up so the shower can slope to the drain. Whether that is possible depends on the framing under the bathroom, which gets checked at the consultation.
- Will removing the tub hurt resale?
- Buyers generally want at least one tub in the house. If this is the only one, that is worth weighing. If there is another bathroom with a tub, a good walk-in shower is usually the more wanted feature.
- Do I need a glass door?
- A fixed panel is enough for most alcove conversions and is easier to keep clean. A door makes sense when the opening is wide or the shower faces the toilet.
- Can grab bars be added later?
- Yes, and it is far better to put solid blocking in the wall now, while it is open, so a bar can be mounted anywhere later without guessing at studs.
Tub-to-shower conversions across the Charlotte area
MDO Contracting works Charlotte and roughly 50 miles out from it.