Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Orange County

You want to convert your old tub to a walk-in shower, but you don’t know how much it will cost. Many companies don’t publish their pricing information. So you’re stuck wondering if a conversion would cost more than a standard remodel.

Shugarman's Bath has completed more than 6,500 tub and shower remodels in San Diego and Orange County, including tub-to-shower conversions. A conversion and a standard remodel involve the same type of work, so they cost about the same to install. With our experience, we can explain what affects your conversion cost.

This article covers what drives that price up or down, along with the local factors in Orange County that could change your total cost.

Table of Contents:

• How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Orange County?
• What Affects the Cost of a Tub-to-Shower Conversion?
• What Local Orange County Factors Could Raise Your Conversion Cost?
• What Hidden Costs Should You Watch for in Your Contract?
• How Can You Make Your Tub-to-Shower Conversion More Affordable?

How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Orange County?

A tub-to-shower conversion in Orange County usually costs between $12,500 and $22,000 or more.

Whether you’re doing a bathtub remodel, shower remodel, or a conversion, the costs are about the same to install. Cost differences usually come from the size of your tub and shower space and the features you add.

What Affects the Cost of a Tub-to-Shower Conversion?

Here’s what impacts the price of a tub-to-shower conversion:

• The size of your tub and shower area, especially if it’s wider than 35 inches.
• If your drain needs to move. This costs more on a slab foundation. Any shower base wider than 36 inches will need a center drain.
• The finish on your fixtures and faucets. Chrome usually costs less than matte black or brushed nickel.
• Whether you choose a glass door or a shower curtain. A glass door or glass enclosure costs more.
• If your contractor charges extra for damage found behind your shower walls once demolition starts.

Any reputable contractor should be able to walk you through what affects your cost when you ask. Get the answers you need before signing anything.

To protect yourself from cost increases, download our buyer’s guide so you know what to ask and what answers to look for.

What Local Orange County Factors Could Raise Your Conversion Cost?

Cities like Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, Garden Grove, Westminster, and Buena Park have many homes built between 1920 and 1970. These homes often have cast iron or galvanized pipes behind the tub and shower walls. These pipes can corrode within 50 years. Replacing corroded pipes adds labor and material costs to your project.

Shugarman's Bath will swap out your cast iron P-trap at no added cost, as long as it can connect to your existing cast iron line. While we replace damaged or leaking plumbing in the tub and shower area, we don’t repair cast iron outside of the tub and shower area.

A separate bathtub and enclosed shower became a popular layout across the United States when homes were built in the 1990s. We call this a “Cali combo.” We’ve seen many homes with this setup in southern Orange County cities like Tustin, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Laguna Niguel. If you plan to convert your Cali combo into a large walk-in shower, it will require more custom materials compared to a standard tub-to-shower conversion.

What Hidden Costs Should You Watch for in Your Contract?

Most contractors will charge more for a conversion when they find damage behind the walls. This means they will add a change order to your project cost if they find damage such as mold, rotted wood, termite damage, old plumbing, or other “unforeseen conditions.” Contract language like "unforeseen conditions" or "as needed" can give a contractor room to charge for almost anything once your old tub is out.

A guarantee that locks in your price can protect you from these types of surprises. Shugarman's Bath backs every remodel with the Never Any Extras Guarantee, which covers damaged wall studs, subfloor damage, plumbing leaks inside the tub and shower area, termite-damaged framing, and mold removal within the space.

How Can You Make Your Tub-to-Shower Conversion More Affordable?

Most reputable contractors will offer financing to make your tub-to-shower conversion more affordable. Monthly payments can run as low as $140, depending on your loan amount and plan.

Options range from short-term plans with no interest if paid off within 12 to 24 months, to longer terms up to 180 months with a fixed interest rate and smaller monthly payments.

Your Next Step Toward a Tub-to-Shower Conversion

Knowing the price of a tub-to-shower conversion shouldn't come as a surprise. Homeowners across Orange County can get very different quotes for the same type of conversion. Now you know what a fair range looks like and what's driving your number up or down.

Now that you understand what a tub-to-shower conversion costs in Orange County, read our article on low-maintenance shower options to see what materials would work best for your remodel.

If you still have questions about tub-to-shower conversions or what your project might cost, contact Shugarman's Bath to talk with one of our experts.

The opinions expressed in the referenced materials are those of the authors only, not necessarily of Shugarman’s Bath. While these referenced materials are useful in answering generalized questions, each bathroom is unique. For a particular question about your tub or shower remodeling project, contact your Shugarman’s Bath consultant.