Tub-to-shower
Tub-to-shower conversion for Miami homes and condos
If the tub in your bathroom mostly holds a shower curtain, it can become a proper shower in the same footprint: a lower threshold, better waterproofing and glass instead of a curtain.
- Same footprint, usually
- Low curb or curbless
- Common in condos
What actually changes
A typical Miami alcove tub is about five feet long and sits between three walls. Removing it exposes the wall and floor behind it, which in older bathrooms is where we often find the leaks that had been running for years around the tub spout and the overflow.
The conversion then rebuilds that alcove as a shower:
- Tub and surround removed, walls opened to studs or block
- Drain moved from the end of the tub to where the shower floor needs it
- Valve replaced or repositioned, with the tub spout capped
- Floor built up and sloped, or recessed for a curbless entry
- Full membrane, flood test, then tile
- Glass panel or door, plus niche, bench or grab-bar blocking if wanted
Designing the new shower
Threshold
A low curb works almost everywhere. A curbless entry needs floor depth; see walk-in shower options for how slab and condo floors affect that.
Glass
A single fixed panel is simplest and easiest to clean. A hinged door keeps more heat and steam in. Sliding frameless systems suit narrow bathrooms where a door can't swing.
Seating and safety
Converting a tub is the right moment to add blocking for future grab bars and a handheld shower, even if you don't need them yet. More in accessible bathrooms.
Condo conversions
Tub-to-shower is one of the most requested condo projects in Miami Beach, Brickell and Aventura towers. The work is contained to the alcove, but the building still controls work hours, water shutoffs and whether the slab can be cut. Plan for association approval before scheduling.
Cost drivers
- How far the drain moves, and whether that means cutting concrete
- Curb versus curbless floor
- Wall tile height and size
- Glass type and size
- What's found behind the old tub
Questions we hear about this
Should I keep at least one bathtub in the house?
If you have young children or plan to sell to families, having one tub somewhere in the home is worth considering. In a primary bathroom, or a condo owned by adults, most people are happy to lose it. It's a personal and market decision rather than a technical one.
Can the shower be bigger than the old tub?
Sometimes. The shower can borrow space from an adjacent linen closet or a wall recess. Whether that makes sense depends on what's in the wall (plumbing, structure) and, in a condo, what the association allows.
Does the drain need to move?
The tub drain sits at one end. A shower drain is usually centred or turned into a linear drain along the back wall, so some drain work is normal. In a slab or condo, the amount of concrete that needs cutting is one of the main cost variables.
Related services
Related guides
Swap the tub for a shower that works
Tell us about the bathroom and the building. We'll check the drain and floor and quote the conversion.
(305) 712-5953 Total Bathroom Remodeling Miami10800 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33161
Open daily, 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM