Our Kiana crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Northwest Arctic Borough within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Maybe you are tired of climbing over that high, slippery ledge just to take a quick rinse every morning. Getting rid of that bulky, unused basin and replacing it with a sleek walk-in stall makes your daily routine so much safer and faster. This smart upgrade instantly opens up your bathroom layout, giving you more physical space to move around without bumping your elbows.
If you want this hassle-free change, our local team is ready to visit your home and give you a free estimate. We understand the unique challenges of living in the Northwest Arctic Borough, where hauling heavy materials requires real local grit. Our crew handles all the heavy lifting so you can enjoy a beautiful, modern washing area without lifting a finger.
Imagine stepping onto a low-profile threshold instead of balancing on one foot on a wet, curved surface. This simple modification helps seniors stay independent in their homes while giving younger folks a stylish, fast way to clean up. Let us look at how this practical project transforms your home life.
First of all, nobody actually has time for long, soaking baths anymore in our busy lives. Replacing that old basin with an open-access stall saves precious minutes every single morning. This means you get to sleep in a bit longer because your routine becomes incredibly efficient.
On top of that, those deep basins are notorious for collecting stubborn soap scum in hard-to-reach corners. Switching to flat wall panels and a simple floor pan makes scrubbing a thing of the past. You will spend far less time on your knees with a scrub brush, which is a massive win for your back.
To give you a better idea of what you gain, let us compare the two setups side by side:
| Feature | Old High-Wall Basin | New Walk-In Stall |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Height | 14 to 18 inches to step over | 3 inches or less for easy access |
| Cleaning Effort | High, lots of deep bending | Low, quick wipe down |
| Floor Space | Feels cramped and crowded | Feels open and spacious |
| Safety Level | High slip hazard | Excellent grip and stability |
This comparison shows how much daily frustration you can eliminate with one smart renovation. Our friendly installers love helping neighbors make this transition smooth and affordable. We bring all the necessary tools and expertise directly to your door, keeping the process simple from start to finish.
When you decide to make the switch, you get to choose from some amazing features that match your style. For instance, solid acrylic walls offer a seamless look that mimics expensive tile without the annoying grout lines to clean. This keeps your washroom looking bright and fresh for years to come.
Besides the walls, you can add built-in benches or sturdy grab bars for extra support and relaxation. These additions turn a basic washing area into a secure, comfortable sanctuary where you do not have to worry about losing your balance. Safety meets modern style in the best way possible.
We also install high-quality sliding glass doors or simple curtain rods depending on your personal taste. Glass doors keep the warmth trapped inside while making a tiny room feel twice as big as it actually is. Our team helps you weigh these options during your free home assessment.
Selecting a durable base is the foundation of the entire project because it prevents water from leaking into your subfloor. A slip-resistant texture on the floor pan gives your feet extra traction when soapy water starts pooling. This keeps everyone in the family safe from nasty slips and falls.
We ensure the drain aligns perfectly with your existing plumbing layout to avoid costly rerouting fees. This careful planning keeps the project within your budget while ensuring rapid water drainage during heavy use. You get a reliable setup that works flawlessly every single time.
Another benefit of this swap is the ability to add recessed shelving right into the wall panels. This lets you store all your shampoos, soaps, and razors at eye level instead of balancing them on a slippery corner. Your washing area stays organized and clutter-free naturally.
We place these niches exactly where you want them so they are easy to reach for every family member. This level of customization is something you simply cannot get with a standard, pre-made setup. We take pride in tailoring every detail to your daily habits.
Because we live and work in Alaska, we know how to respect your home and keep the cold air outside during construction. Our process starts with a friendly visit to measure your space and discuss what you want. This initial consultation costs you absolutely nothing and comes with zero pressure.
Once you approve the plan, we carefully remove your old cast iron or steel tub without damaging the surrounding drywall. We inspect the wood underneath for any hidden rot or mold to ensure your home stays structurally sound. This honest approach prevents nasty surprises down the road.
Finally, we install the new system, seal every joint with industrial-grade silicone, and clean up every speck of dust before we leave. You can start using your gorgeous new wash space in just a couple of days. We make the entire experience stress-free and exciting for you.
Living in a small town with 262 residents means we treat every customer like our close neighbor because you actually are. We know that shipping materials to our remote zip code of 99749 requires careful coordination and experience. Our team manages these logistics perfectly so your project does not face annoying delays.
With a local median household income of $45,938, we understand the importance of making every dollar count toward lasting home value. We offer affordable options that look high-end without draining your hard-earned savings. Investing in your home should bring joy, not financial stress.
Whether you live in a cozy cabin or a larger family home, we treat your property with the utmost respect. We are proud to serve this beautiful region and help our community members upgrade their daily lives. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we stand behind our craftsmanship.
Now is the perfect time to stop struggling with an outdated, unsafe bathroom setup. You deserve a modern, easy-access wash area that fits your lifestyle and keeps you safe. Our team is excited to help you design a space that you will absolutely love using every single day.
Contact us right now to schedule your free, no-obligation home estimate. We will answer all your questions, show you material samples, and provide a clear plan that fits your budget. Let us transform your bathroom into a bright, open, and secure space today!
Count the baths your household actually ran last year. In most homes we visit, the honest number is somewhere between zero and three, and yet every single morning somebody swings a leg over fifteen inches of porcelain rim to stand up and shower inside a fixture built for lying down. The tub charges rent daily and works a few evenings a year.
Nothing dramatic follows from that. Nobody is in danger because a bathtub exists, and if long soaks are part of your week, keep the tub and enjoy it with our blessing. The case for the conversion is plainer: when the tub has become a shower tray with high sides, you are paying, in caution and in cleaning, for a feature you retired years ago.
The swap itself is smaller than most people picture. The supply lines, the drain and the alcove walls are already exactly where a shower wants them, which is why this is a job measured in days. We are not building a new bathroom; we are letting the one you have stop pretending it still gives baths.
The same alcove, photographed the way the week actually unfolds. Weather never delays this one; it all happens indoors.
Floors along the hallway get covered, the water goes off for a few hours, and the bathtub is cut free and carried out, tile flange and all. With the alcove stripped, the plumber moves the drain to where the new pan wants it and sets the new valve at shower height. By supper the room is bare, clean and ready.
The base arrives first: an acrylic pan set dead level on a mortar bed, or a sloped, waterproofed floor when the plan says curbless. Then the walls close in, either grout-free panels bonded in a single afternoon or backer board ready for tile. Everything from here on is watertight before it is pretty.
The glass panel or door is drilled, hung and plumbed straight, the trim goes on, and the silicone lines are drawn last. Silicone wants a day to cure, so the first shower usually happens the following morning, which is exactly how we schedule the walkthrough.
Both are real showers in the same alcove. The difference is the entry, and what has to happen under it.
| What you weigh | Low curb | Curbless |
|---|---|---|
| What stands at the entry | A tidy threshold about 3 to 4 inches tall | Nothing. The bathroom floor rolls straight into the shower |
| Cost, installed | The friendlier bracket, most jobs land here | Roughly a third to a half more, the floor is rebuilt |
| What the crew rebuilds | The alcove only; the bathroom floor stays shut | Part of the bathroom floor, sloped and waterproofed |
| Water containment | The curb and glass do the holding | The slope and a linear drain do the holding |
| Suits best | Straight swaps on a budget and upstairs bathrooms | Wheels, walkers, and anyone planning to stay put for decades |
Undecided is a fine answer on the form. The site visit settles it with a tape measure, not a sales pitch.
Removal
Cut free, hauled out and off to recycling, with floors and doorways shielded on the way. The loudest hour of the conversion, and it wraps before most jobs have begun.
Plumbing
Tub drains sit at one end; showers drain where the pan says. We move what needs moving and swap the old valve for a pressure-balanced one.
The base
A level acrylic pan for most swaps, a mortar-built sloped floor for curbless plans. Either way it is tested with water before anything covers it.
The walls
Grout-free panels go up in an afternoon and wipe clean forever. Tile takes longer, costs more, and looks like whatever you can imagine.
The glass
A fixed panel keeps things open and easy to clean; a hinged door closes the warmth in. Both are tempered, both are set dead straight.
The finish
Shelving, the hand shower, clean caulk lines and a walkthrough. We leave the cure time in writing so the first shower is not a gamble.
| The job | Usual range | Inside the number |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tub-to-shower conversion | $3,100 - $5,600 | Tub out, low curb pan, wall panels, new valve, glass panel. |
| Curbless conversion | $4,900 - $8,800 | The floor is rebuilt flush and sloped to a linear drain. |
| Glass: fixed panel or hinged door | $450 - $1,400 | A single panel sits at the low end, a framed door at the top. |
| Walls: PVC panels or tile | $1,100 - $3,900 | Panels finish in a day; tile adds days and takes any look you want. |
| Tear-out only | $450 - $950 | The tub gone and the alcove left clean for another trade. |
| Small job minimum | around $2,400 | Even the simplest swap books a licensed plumber and a full crew. |
Wall condition, drain position and the glass you choose move every line. The visit pins the figure down, and the figure then holds.
A bathtub drains at one end through its own trap; most showers want the drain nearer the middle, or along one edge when the plan is curbless. Sometimes the existing trap is close enough to reuse and sometimes it has to travel a foot or two, which means opening a strip of floor. We can usually tell which from the basement or the crawl space during the visit, and the paperwork you sign already names which one you are getting.
Houses older than the seventies like to add a surprise: galvanized supply lines rusted nearly shut, a cast iron trap that crumbles at a touch, or framing that got damp decades ago and kept it quiet. None of it is rare and none of it is ruinous, but it is your call, not ours. When something like that turns up, work pauses, you get photographs and a price for the fix, and nothing is billed until you have said yes to it. A conversion should never be the job where the invoice writes itself.
QIs losing the only bathtub a resale mistake?
AAgents around Kiana repeat one rule: a family house shows better with a tub somewhere in it. If this is your only tub and small children are in your plans, we put that on the table during the visit and you decide with open eyes. If another bathroom keeps its tub, or the buyers you expect are shower people, the argument evaporates.
QHow long do we go without washing?
AThe toilet and sink stay usable every evening, and the water is only off for stretches on day one. The shower itself is ready once the silicone cures, so figure on missing roughly three days of showers at home. Plenty of clients time the job before a weekend away.
QDoes all the old tile come off the walls?
AOn the alcove walls, yes, because the new waterproofing needs to start from the studs, not from forty-year-old grout. Tile outside the alcove stays put, and we cut a clean line where the two meet.
QCan the new shower use the tub drain?
AThe pipe itself is nearly always reusable; the position is the question. A low curb pan can often sit its drain within reach of the old trap. Curbless floors want a relocated or linear drain, and that difference is priced before demo, never discovered after.
QDo we need a permit for the swap?
AA like-for-like fixture swap usually rides on a simple plumbing permit, and moving the drain can add an inspection. We file whatever your jurisdiction wants and fold the cost into the written price.
QWhat if there is rot behind the tub?
AIt happens, mostly around the old tile flange. You get photographs the hour we find it, a firm price for the repair, and the choice to proceed or pause. The framing fix is usually a morning, not a remodel.
The map carries the geography; the link lists underneath spell out every town our crews can reach from this one.
For the bigger map: county seat pages start at Northwest Arctic Borough; the statewide picture lives on Alaska; the wider region is the West; background reading sits on Wikipedia.
One three-day job stands between this bathroom and its best fixture.
Get my free quote