Our Old Forge crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Lackawanna County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Are you tired of tripping over that high wall every single morning while trying to get clean? Upgrading your bathroom layout in Lackawanna County is the smartest way to make your daily routine safer and much more enjoyable.
Most folks living in 18518 realize that a giant porcelain basin just collects dust after a few years. Removing that bulky unit creates a massive amount of physical room in a cramped bathroom footprint. You gain a feeling of airiness that makes the whole area feel like a high-end spa.
Beyond the extra square footage, you remove a major safety hazard for everyone in your household. Stepping over a wet, slippery edge every single day is a recipe for a bad fall. By switching to a level-entry system, you keep yourself steady and avoid those terrifying near-misses.
Starting this project begins with tearing out the old cast iron or acrylic monster taking up half your wall space. We carefully disconnect the plumbing and check for any hidden water damage behind those old tiles. This careful inspection saves you from future headaches involving rot or mold growing in your subfloor.
Once the old structure is gone, we install a waterproof membrane to ensure everything stays dry for decades. You then select a beautiful base, often made of durable composite or solid stone, that fits your exact space. These materials offer a sense of luxury without being too fussy to maintain or clean.
Getting rid of a tub gives you total control over the design of your wash area. You can pick fancy glass panels that make the room look huge and bright. This glass keeps water inside the basin while letting light fill the space from wall to wall.
Choosing custom tile work allows you to inject your personal style into the bathroom architecture. You might want a sleek, modern look with large porcelain tiles or something rustic with natural textures. Everything is tailored to your taste so you feel a sense of ease every time you walk inside.
Living in Old Forge means you understand the value of a solid home investment. Spending money on a bathroom update is one of the fastest ways to boost your property worth. People looking for homes nowadays usually prefer a clean, open space over an old-fashioned tub that never gets used.
With a median household income around $52,000, managing a home improvement budget is definitely a priority. We offer a free estimate so you know exactly what the costs are before any work begins. You can plan your finances better when you have a clear picture of the labor and material pricing.
| Feature | Primary Benefit for You | |
|---|---|---|
| Low barrier entry | Keeps you safe from painful slips | |
| Minimalist glass | Makes your room look twice as large | |
| Custom tile patterns | Adds real resale value to your home | |
| Quick installation | Saves you from weeks of living in a mess |
Adding built-in shelves or niches means you never have to deal with cluttered bottles on the floor again. You can keep your shampoo, soap, and razor right at eye level for ultimate convenience. These small touches add a level of sophistication that makes every morning feel just a little bit better.
Another smart addition is a grab bar that matches the rest of your hardware perfectly. You might not think you need one now, but it adds a layer of stability that is incredibly helpful. These fixtures come in many finishes like brushed nickel or matte black to match your faucet choices.
Working in a town with a population of 8,038 means we treat every client like a neighbor. You deserve a contractor who respects your property and cleans up every bit of dust after the shift. Reliable service is the foundation of every single job we undertake in this beautiful part of Pennsylvania.
When you decide to move forward, we schedule a visit to look at your existing plumbing layout. We verify that your pipes can handle the new drainage requirements for your updated setup. This step ensures that everything functions perfectly without any backups or slow draining issues later on.
Many homeowners try to tackle this as a weekend project only to get stuck halfway through. They often underestimate how heavy those old tubs are or how complex the waterproof sealing process is. You save yourself a mountain of stress by letting a professional handle the heavy lifting.
Another mistake is forgetting to consider the height of your shower head during the planning phase. If you are tall, you need a custom extension that allows you to stand comfortably without hunching over. We address these little details early so you are completely happy with the final result.
Selecting the right valve is essential for getting the water temperature just right every single time. Modern pressure-balancing valves prevent those nasty scalding surprises if someone runs the dishwasher downstairs. You get consistent water flow that stays exactly where you want it until you turn it off.
You also have the option to install a rainfall head for a truly relaxing experience. These heads distribute water evenly to cover your whole body while you scrub away the stress of the day. It turns a boring task into a moment of pure bliss and quiet reflection.
Now that you know how much a simple change can improve your daily life, why wait any longer? You can reach out to us today to schedule your free estimate for your project. We arrive at your house, look at the space, and give you an honest breakdown of the work.
There is no pressure to buy anything or sign any contracts on the spot. We believe that when you see the quality of our work and our fair pricing, you will be convinced. It is all about giving you the best experience possible in your own home.
Many people wonder how long the entire project takes from start to finish. Generally, we finish the core work within just a few days so your bathroom is not out of commission for long. We work efficiently because we know how important it is to have a functioning bathroom in your house.
Another common question relates to the mess that happens during the demolition phase. We use plastic sheeting and drop cloths to protect your floors and other furniture from any debris. You do not have to worry about a layer of dust settling on your bedroom carpet.
Remember that your home is your biggest investment and deserves the best care available. Making smart upgrades today prevents bigger problems down the road while making your life easier. You gain a sense of contentment every time you walk into a clean, modern, and safe wash area.
If you are ready to stop dealing with that high-walled tub, let us help you transform your space. You can request your free estimate right now and start planning the bathroom of your dreams. We look forward to helping you improve your home here in this great community.
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 Old Forge 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 Lackawanna County; the statewide picture lives on Pennsylvania; the wider region is the Northeast.
One three-day job stands between this bathroom and its best fixture.
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