Our Saxman crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Ketchikan Gateway Borough within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Do you find yourself stepping over a high porcelain wall every single morning just to get clean? Well that heavy tub is probably driving you nuts when you want a quick and easy rinse.
Truth is many folks right here in our quiet Ketchikan Gateway Borough town face this exact same bathroom headache. Fortunately swapping that bulky basin for a sleek open stall changes everything about your morning routine.
Most older houses feature heavy cast iron tubs that take up way too much room. But removing that monster gives you back precious floor space in your bathroom.
Plus stepping right into a flat basin stops those scary slips and falls dead in their tracks. That means you get total peace of mind every single time you hop in for a wash.
First off you need to measure the footprint where your old soak tub currently sits. Then a local pro pulls out the old unit and checks for any hidden water damage behind the drywall.
Next comes the fun part of picking out new waterproof wall panels and a shiny glass door. This lets you customize the entire look to match your personal style without spending a fortune.
Living out here in our unique slice of the Last Frontier comes with its own building challenges. Back when median household income hovered around forty two thousand dollars folks learned to make smart home upgrades.
Naturally our tiny population of about three hundred sixty residents means everyone knows everyone else. That is why getting reliable contractors who actually show up matters so much for your peace of mind.
Rain hits our local zip codes constantly throughout the year and brings serious humidity indoors. Because of that relentless dampness you really need top notch waterproof seals around your new washing area.
Otherwise trapped moisture will cause mold blooms faster than you can blink an eye. Fortunately proper installation keeps your walls bone dry and protects your framing from rot.
Acrylic bases hold up great against heavy daily use and never crack under normal pressure. Meanwhile solid surface surrounds make scrubbing away soap scum an absolute breeze on busy weekends.
On top of that tempered glass doors add a gorgeous modern vibe to even the smallest spaces. This means your morning routine feels much more luxurious while staying completely practical for everyday life.
Workers usually arrive bright and early to lay down protective drop cloths all over your hallway. Then they shut off the main water valve to prevent any accidental indoor swimming pools.
Demolition gets loud fast as crews smash up the old porcelain or fiberglass enclosure. Yet that messy step is totally necessary to prep the subfloor for your brand new shower base.
Old drain pipes rarely line up perfectly with modern low profile shower pans. Because of this minor detail technicians often need to reroute the plumbing underneath the floorboards.
Doing this correctly prevents slow drains and nasty backups later on down the road. Naturally skilled hands make quick work of these tricky behind the scenes adjustments.
Once the base sits level and secure the wall panels go up using heavy duty waterproof adhesive. After that silicone caulk seals every single seam to keep water locked safely inside the basin.
Finally the hardware gets bolted on tightly and tested for proper hot and cold pressure. This means you can enjoy your very first steaming hot rinse the exact same evening.
Remodeling projects always require a thoughtful look at your checking account balance before getting started. Yet upgrading an outdated bathroom usually brings a massive return on investment when selling a home.
Instead of guessing costs you can easily request a completely free estimate from local specialists today. This gives you exact numbers upfront so you never face nasty surprises halfway through the project.
Standard acrylic units cost way less than custom tile work while still looking super sharp. Furthermore choosing pre made wall surrounds cuts down labor hours significantly on your final invoice.
By keeping things simple you save a ton of cash without sacrificing any quality or durability. That is definitely a win for anyone watching their wallet in our tight knit community.
Future buyers love walking into a modernized bathroom that features zero tripping hazards. Consequently your property stands out from the competition the second it hits the local real estate market.
Even if you plan on staying put for decades the daily convenience alone pays for itself instantly. You really cannot put a price tag on a safer and happier morning ritual.
Keeping your new walk in stall sparkling clean requires just a tiny bit of regular effort. Instead of harsh chemical bleach use a mild dish soap and a soft sponge weekly.
Wiping down the glass walls with a squeegee after every single use stops water spots from forming. This lets you spend less time scrubbing and way more time relaxing in your pristine space.
If your setup uses tiled walls you must inspect the grout lines every few months for tiny cracks. Catching those small gaps early stops moisture from sneaking behind your expensive decorative tiles.
On the other hand seamless acrylic panels need almost zero maintenance beyond a quick wipe down. That makes them the ultimate choice for busy homeowners who hate spending weekends doing deep chores.
Metal handles and shower heads collect mineral buildup over time if your local water runs a bit hard. Soaking those parts in vinegar overnight melts away crusty deposits like magic and restores full water pressure.
Always dry off metal fixtures with a towel after cleaning to keep them shining like brand new. Little habits like these ensure your bathroom upgrade looks incredible for many years to come.
| Feature | Old Soak Tub | Modern Walk In Stall |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Level | High risk of tripping | Zero threshold flat entry |
| Cleaning Effort | Hard to reach deep corners | Quick wipe down surfaces |
| Floor Space | Takes up massive room | Opens up cramped bathrooms |
| Water Usage | Fills a huge basin daily | Efficient quick rinse flow |
Looking at that comparison makes the choice pretty obvious for anyone craving a safer home environment. Ditching that giant porcelain wall removes daily frustrations and physical strain from your life.
Instead of struggling with high steps you glide effortlessly into your pristine washing area every single morning. That simple adjustment transforms an annoying chore into a genuinely pleasant part of your day.
You have read all about the amazing benefits and the straightforward installation process involved here. Now comes the exciting moment where you turn those bathroom upgrade dreams into actual reality.
Do not wait another month stressing over that annoying and outdated soaking tub in your hallway. Reach out right now to claim your free quote and start planning your stunning bathroom transformation.
Before the contractor arrives make sure you clear all personal items off the vanity and counters. Jot down any specific design ideas or dream features you saw online and want to include.
Ask plenty of questions about timeline expectations and material warranties during your initial consultation meeting. Being prepared helps the project run smoothly from start to finish without any hiccups.
Upgrading your home environment always feels daunting at the very beginning of the journey. Yet working with seasoned professionals makes the entire experience surprisingly smooth and totally stress free.
Take charge of your daily routine and treat yourself to the safe and gorgeous washing space you deserve. Drop us a line today to get your free estimate and kick off your home improvement project.
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 Saxman 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 Ketchikan Gateway 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.
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