Tub-to-Shower Conversion St. Paul & Twin Cities Metro | Precision Tiling MN
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Tub-to-shower conversion, sized around the fixture you actually use.

Builders spent 2 decades installing garden tubs as the centerpiece of the primary bath, and homeowners spent those same decades stepping past them into a cramped shower. A conversion gives that square footage back to the fixture you stand in twice a day. Typically $18,000 to $28,000, built on certified waterproofing, and often finished ahead of our 3-week standard.

$18K–$28K TypicalCertified WaterproofingOften Under 3 WeeksFirm Written Price
Book a Design ConsultationWill This Hurt My Resale?
SVC. 04 / TUB-TO-SHOWER
Published Pricing · East Metro

How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost?

A tub-to-shower conversion in the Twin Cities metro costs $18,000 to $28,000 complete, covering tub removal, framing and drain work, certified waterproofing, tile, fixtures, and glass under one firm written number.

What the conversion includes

This is construction, done once and done correctly. We remove the tub and surround, reframe the opening, relocate the drain and valve where the design calls for it, and build the new shower on a certified Schluter or Wedi system with an engineered slope. The pan gets flood-tested before any tile goes on. Tile, fixtures, and frameless glass complete it, and one written workmanship warranty covers all of it.

What we usually find behind the tub

A platform tub that has sat unused for 15 years has almost always been leaking somewhere small the whole time, usually at the deck joint or where the surround meets the wall. Demolition is the first honest look anyone has had at that framing. When we find rot or a soft subfloor, we document it, price the correction in a written change order, and fix it before the new system goes in, because building a new shower over old damage wastes the entire investment.

SVC. 04.R / THE RESALE QUESTION
The Objection Worth Answering Honestly

Does removing a bathtub hurt resale value?

Removing the tub from a primary bathroom does not hurt resale as long as the home keeps at least one bathtub somewhere, usually in a hall or guest bath. Buyers in this market expect a large walk-in shower in the primary suite, and appraisers look for a tub in the house rather than in every bathroom.

This is the question that stops most people from calling, so here is the whole answer rather than the comfortable half of it.

01

Keep 1 tub in the house

The concern is real and it has a simple boundary. A home with no bathtub at all narrows its buyer pool, particularly with families who want somewhere to bathe a small child. Nearly every house we work in already keeps a tub in a hall or guest bath, which makes the primary conversion a clean decision. We check this before we recommend anything.

02

What buyers actually walk toward

A dated platform tub with a 5-foot fiberglass shower beside it reads as a bathroom that needs work, and buyers price that in. A large tile shower with frameless glass reads as a bathroom that is finished. In the primary suite, the shower is the fixture people photograph.

03

The part nobody puts on a spreadsheet

You use this room twice a day for as long as you own the house. A conversion that serves you for 12 years and returns a portion at closing beats a tub you keep for a resale event that may be a decade away. We tell clients plainly when we think staying put is the better call.

04

When we tell you to keep the tub

If the primary bath holds the only tub in the house and you are selling inside 2 years, we say so at the consultation. That answer costs us the job and it is the correct answer, and it is the reason the last client sent us to their neighbor.

SVC. 04.C / COMPARING THE OPTIONS
Two Different Products, Two Different Jobs

What about a 1-day tub-to-shower conversion?

A 1-day conversion installs an acrylic or PVC liner over the existing surround rather than replacing what is behind it. It is faster and less expensive, and it makes sense when the budget is tight, a mobility need is urgent, or the house is selling soon. A full conversion removes everything, corrects any hidden damage, and rebuilds on a certified waterproofing system.

Both are legitimate products. They answer different questions, and the honest comparison helps you more than a sales pitch would.

OPTION / 01

The 1-day liner conversion

Installed in 1 to 2 days

An acrylic or PVC surround gets fitted over the existing walls and a new base sets into the old footprint.

  • Fast, with almost no disruption to the household
  • Meaningfully less expensive than a full rebuild
  • Right when a mobility need is urgent
  • Right when you are selling within a year or 2
  • Covers what is behind it rather than replacing it, so existing moisture damage stays where it is
  • Seams are sealed with caulk rather than built as a waterproofing system
  • The footprint, the bench, and the niche stay roughly as they were
OPTION / 02

The full tile conversion

$18,000 – $28,000

Everything comes out to the studs, gets inspected, and gets rebuilt on a certified system.

  • Any rot or soft subfloor gets found and corrected
  • Schluter or Wedi waterproofing, flood-tested before tile
  • The footprint changes to fit how you use the room
  • Bench, niche, and drain placed by design
  • Tile and frameless glass rather than an acrylic surface
  • 1-year written workmanship warranty
  • Takes 2 to 3 weeks and costs more

We build the second one. If the first one fits your situation better, we will tell you that at the consultation.

SVC. 04.P / A CLIENT’S WORDS
★★★★★

“Multiple jobs with backsplash, tub surround, and bathroom and they were truly amazing people to work with. Super recommend and very friendly.”

Holly S. · Mar 2021
SVC. 04.G / THE WORK
Tub-to-Shower · Frameless EnclosurePROJ / A
Converted Shower · Bench + NichePROJ / B
SVC. 04.A / AT A GLANCE

The conversion, summarized

Investment
$18,000–$28,000 complete, firm in writing for the scoped work.
Timeline
Often shorter than our 3-week standard because the scope stays contained to one wet area. Dates scheduled before demo.
The build
Tub removal, framing and drain work, Schluter or Wedi waterproofing, flood test, tile, fixtures, and glass under one warranty.
Who builds it
Shawn leads the build and sets the tile alongside his crew. Licensed plumbing and electrical contractors handle their own trades.
Best fit
Homes built 1985–2010 with platform garden tubs, dated surrounds, and a second tub elsewhere in the house.
2026 Cost GuideWalk-In ShowersCurbless ShowersPrimary Bath Remodels
Bring us the tub you never use, and we will bring you a plan and a number.
Book a Design ConsultationOR CALL / TEXT (855) 799-9606
SVC. 04.Q / QUESTIONS
Answered Straight

Conversion questions, answered straight.

How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost?
A tub-to-shower conversion in the Twin Cities metro costs $18,000 to $28,000 complete, covering tub removal, framing and drain work, certified waterproofing, tile, fixtures, and glass under one firm written number.
Does removing a bathtub hurt resale value?
Removing the tub from a primary bathroom does not hurt resale as long as the home keeps at least one bathtub somewhere, usually in a hall or guest bath. Buyers in this market expect a large walk-in shower in the primary suite, and appraisers look for a tub in the house rather than in every bathroom. The full answer is above, including when we tell clients to keep the tub.
What about a 1-day tub-to-shower conversion?
A 1-day conversion installs an acrylic or PVC liner over the existing surround rather than replacing what is behind it. It is faster and less expensive, and it makes sense when the budget is tight, a mobility need is urgent, or the house is selling soon. A full conversion removes everything, corrects any hidden damage, and rebuilds on a certified waterproofing system. We build the second one and will tell you honestly when the first fits you better.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
Conversions often finish ahead of our 3-week build standard because the scope is contained to one wet area. Your scheduled dates come in writing before demolition begins.
Can the new shower use the existing plumbing location?
Often yes, and keeping the drain and valve close to their current locations keeps the number down. When the design calls for a move, we price it plainly in the proposal before you sign.
Do you install the glass too?
Yes. We template frameless or semi-frameless glass after the tile is set so every panel fits the finished walls exactly, and the glass is included in your written number.
BOOK / THE DESIGN CONSULTATION
In Your Home · About An Hour · No Cost

Start with an hour in your own bathroom.

Shawn measures the tub you never use and tells you what the shower costs to build in its place. He checks whether the house keeps a tub elsewhere, walks your selections, and gives you the number before he leaves your driveway.

STEP 01

Tap the button and tell us about your project in a quick 2-minute form.

STEP 02

Pick your consultation time right on the calendar, on the spot.

STEP 03

Your confirmation arrives instantly, and we show up ready to measure.

Book a Design Consultation OR CALL / TEXT (855) 799-9606

We answer Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM CST, and Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

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