Our South Lansing crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Tompkins County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Are you tired of climbing over those high porcelain walls just to get clean every morning? Upgrading your dated wash area into a modern walk-in space creates a sense of serenity and makes daily routines so much easier for everyone.
Getting rid of that bulky basin is the smartest move you can make for your house. This simple change opens up the floor plan and gives you a much more spacious feel without needing a massive remodel.
Most people find that the traditional soaking spot just sits there collecting dust and taking up precious square footage. Replacing it with a sleek, low-profile entry point improves your accessibility and helps you stay independent in your own home for years to come.
Because you gain so much extra room, your bathroom will immediately feel more open and airy. You will love how much easier it is to scrub the floors when there is no giant metal box blocking your path to the corners.
Thinking about the transformation process might seem overwhelming at first, but it is actually quite straightforward when you know the steps. We pull out the old hardware, check the subfloor for any hidden rot, and install a brand new waterproof base that fits your existing footprint perfectly.
This entire sequence happens fast so you are not stuck without a place to wash for weeks on end. Plus, you get to choose exactly where the new fixtures go, which lets you customize your flow to match your personal habits.
Living in Tompkins County means you want high-quality work that stands up to our changing seasons. With around eleven thousand people calling this area home, property values rely heavily on having modern, functional amenities that attract buyers.
The median household income here supports smart upgrades that pay for themselves through increased home desirability. Whether you are in one of the specific local zip codes or just outside the main grid, updating your wet area adds serious value.
| Benefit | Feature |
|---|---|
| Better accessibility | Low threshold entry |
| Modern visual style | Frameless glass panels |
| Faster maintenance | Non-porous wall materials |
Selecting the right finish is the most exciting part of the process because you get to define the look. You might go for large-format tiles that make the room look huge or maybe a solid surface wall panel that eliminates grout lines entirely.
Fewer grout lines mean you spend way less time scrubbing on your hands and knees. This is a massive win for your free time because you deserve to enjoy your weekend instead of maintaining your house.
Maybe you worry that losing the basin will hurt your resale potential later on. Actually, most modern buyers prioritize a large, accessible wash area over a tub they never use, so you are actually making your house more attractive to the next person.
On top of that, you can always add features like built-in benches or custom shelving to make the experience feel luxurious. These touches provide a sense of luxury that turns a quick rinse into a relaxing event.
Quality matters more than anything when dealing with water in your house. We focus on proper drainage and sealing so that you never have to worry about leaks damaging your floorboards or joists.
Professional installation means everything is leveled correctly so the water flows exactly where it needs to go. This attention to detail gives you peace of mind that your project will last for a long time.
Replacing an old unit often uncovers issues you did not know existed, like leaky pipes or outdated plumbing connections. Fixing those things now prevents a much bigger headache down the road when things might break behind your walls.
Furthermore, a well-planned transition uses your existing water lines to keep costs down. This efficiency lets you put your budget toward premium fixtures or nicer tile work that really pops.
Taking the first step is as easy as reaching out for a professional opinion. We come to your house to look at the layout and give you a clear, no-nonsense estimate for the whole job.
There is no pressure to commit right away, but having the numbers in front of you helps with planning. We pride ourselves on being honest about what is possible within your budget and space.
Communication is key when we work in your personal space. We keep you updated on every phase so you know exactly when the materials arrive and when the finish work happens.
Having a clean job site is our priority because we know how stressful construction can be. We treat your property with respect and leave it better than we found it every single day.
Real estate trends show that bathrooms sell houses. By focusing on a clean, accessible layout, you position your residence as a modern place that is ready for anyone to move in and enjoy.
Your daily satisfaction is the most immediate reward though. Imagine walking into a bright, updated area every morning instead of staring at a dated, stained basin that feels like a relic from another era.
People often ask if the work takes a long time. Usually, we can wrap up the core parts of the project in just a few days of active work.
Another question involves the cost. Prices vary based on your choice of materials and the complexity of the plumbing, which is why we always provide a detailed look at the numbers before we start.
Being a part of this community means we know exactly what homeowners around here want and need. We understand the local building styles and the specific challenges of our regional construction standards.
You benefit from this local focus because we are always nearby if you have questions or need maintenance later. We want you to be happy with your new setup for years to come.
You have the power to change how your home functions today. Do not settle for an outdated layout that does not serve your needs or style.
Grab your chance to reclaim your floor space and improve your morning routine. Simply ask for your free estimate and we will help you make sense of all the options available for your specific home.
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 South Lansing 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 Tompkins County; the statewide picture lives on New York; the wider region is the Northeast; background reading sits on Wikipedia.
One three-day job stands between this bathroom and its best fixture.
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