Our Chicago crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Cook County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Upgrading your standard home washing basin into a sleek walk in stall makes daily life way easier and safer for everyone. You get rid of that high ledge immediately while boosting your house value right here in the Windiest City of Cook County.
First off, climbing over a high porcelain wall every single morning gets old real fast and can actually be pretty dangerous when floors are wet. Honestly, nobody likes chancing a massive slip just to wash off after a hard day of work. Swapping that outdated beast for a low threshold base fixes the hazard completely, giving you total peace of mind every time you step inside.
Besides safety, think about how much extra space you suddenly feel like you have in a small bathroom. Those old heavy tubs take up a ton of room and make the whole area feel cramped and gloomy. Once you pull that thing out, the entire room opens up and looks way brighter.
Consequently, cleaning becomes a total breeze instead of a backbreaking weekend chore. You won't have to hunch over on your knees scrubbing nasty soap scum out of hard corners anymore. Modern acrylic walls resist grime and keep your space looking fresh with just a quick wipe down.
Naturally, you want your new setup to match your personal style while staying super functional for your routine. You can choose shiny chrome fixtures, warm brushed brass knobs, or dark matte black handles to pop against clean white walls. Adding a built in bench gives you a nice spot to sit and relax while the warm water hits your back.
Furthermore, slip resistant textured flooring helps keep your feet firmly planted even when things get super soapy. We can also add recessed caddies to hold all your shampoos so nothing sits on the floor. These small tweaks make your morning routine feel like a high end getaway.
Surprisingly, changing out your old fixture doesn't mean your home has to be a dusty construction zone for weeks on end. Most straightforward modernizations get wrapped up in just a couple of days when handled by experienced crews. That means very little disruption to your daily life and family routines.
To help you see how fast this happens, check out this simple project timeline below.
| Phase | What Happens | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prep & Teardown | Protecting floors, removing old porcelain walls, checking plumbing pipes underneath. | Day 1 Morning |
| 2. Base & Plumbing | Setting the low base pan, aligning drains, running fresh supply lines properly. | Day 1 Afternoon |
| 3. Walls & Glass | Installing waterproof wall panels, mounting grab bars, putting up custom glass doors. | Day 2 |
Therefore, you spend less time worrying about mess and more time enjoying your incredible setup. The whole process is fast, efficient, and hassle free from start to finish.
Living in a huge bustling metropolis with over two million seven hundred thousand residents means dealing with unique building styles. Many historic multi family buildings and classic bungalows feature heavy iron plumbing lines hidden behind thick plaster walls. Knowing how to navigate these local structural quirks keeps your project moving without expensive surprise delays.
Additionally, local climate swings play a massive role in how we design your splash zone. Frozen winters mean cold exterior walls that need proper heavy duty insulation behind the new waterproof backer boards. Without good backing, cool drafts will sneak into your warm stall while you try to wash up.
Meanwhile, considering the local median household income of around fifty five thousand dollars, getting solid value for every hard earned buck matters. Upgrading your property smartly adds instant resale appeal without draining your savings account. It really is one of the smartest upgrades a homeowner can make in areas like 60601 or 60602.
Initially, an expert tech comes right to your door to measure your current layout and check out your plumbing setup. They inspect your subfloors for any hidden water damage or mold issues before planning anything else. This ensures there are zero ugly surprises once the actual work kicks off.
Next, you sit down with style samples to pick out your exact wall colors, tile patterns, and modern trim finishes. You see real physical swatches right in your own lighting, so you know exactly how it will look. You get a firm price right then and there with zero high pressure sales tactics or hidden surprise fees later.
First of all, let us look at grab bars, which are not just for elderly folks anymore. Modern safety bars look super stylish like sleek designer towel racks, but they easily support heavy weight if you lose your balance. They add fantastic security without making your bathroom look like a cold medical room...
Also, zero barrier entry options make walking right into your stall totally effortless. If someone in your house uses a walker or just struggles with high steps, a roll in style floor pan eliminates barriers completely. It keeps everyone independent and safe right in their own home.
Obviously, stopping water leaks from ruining your home is the absolute most important part of any wet area overhaul. Cheap slapdash installs let moisture creep behind walls, causing hidden wood rot and dangerous mold growth. We install thick heavy duty vinyl membranes behind all wall panels to keep every single drop of water going straight down the drain.
On top of that, top tier silicone sealants are applied along every seam to guarantee a tight seal. These modern materials resist yellowing and cracking over time, so you never have to worry about water damage. Your home stays completely safe and dry behind the scenes for years down the line.
Now, picking between frameless glass doors or a classic curtain rod comes down to your budget and personal style preferences. Heavy tempered glass doors make small rooms feel double the size because sightlines remain wide open. They also keep water sealed inside the pan much better than floating fabric curtains ever could.
However, curved curtain rods give you extra elbow room inside the stall without spending extra money. They allow for easy fabric swaps whenever you want to change up your room colors. Both choices work great, but glass definitely offers that high end luxury look that buyers love.
Naturally, swapping out your heavy basin gives you the perfect chance to upgrade those old rusty pipes hidden in the wall. Modern pressure balancing valves prevent scary sudden bursts of freezing or scalding water when someone flushes a toilet downstairs. This feature keeps kids and seniors totally safe from accidental burns during their daily routines.
Additionally, adding a versatile handheld spray nozzle makes washing hair and rinsing down stall walls super easy. You can direct water right where you need it without twisting your body in awkward ways. It turns a quick rinse into a super relaxing spa like experience every single time.
Granted, home upgrades cost money, but replacing an outdated tub setup is surprisingly affordable when planned right. Flexible monthly payment options help fit the remodel smoothly into your household budget without stress. You get to enjoy your modern accessible space now while paying it off comfortably over time.
Furthermore, energy efficient showerheads reduce your monthly water bills significantly over the long run. By using less hot water per minute, your water heater works less, saving you cash on utility bills every single month. It is an upgrade that literally starts paying you back from day one.
First, clear out all your personal items like towels, soaps, and rugs from the room before crews arrive. Move any fragile wall decor from adjacent hallways so nothing vibrates off the hooks during demo work. Laying down protective plastic sheets keeps dust from spreading into your living room or kitchen area.
Next, make sure contractors have a clear path from your front door all the way to the work area. Parking space in driveway areas or near front stairs helps workers haul heavy materials in and out fast. Taking these tiny prep steps keeps the whole process smooth and stress free for your family.
So, stop fighting that tall slippery tub wall every single morning and make your life way easier. Upgrading to a sleek modern stall brings immediate safety, beautiful style, and great home value into your everyday routine. Our local team comes right out to your house in 60603 or 60604 to give you an honest zero pressure quote completely free of charge. Reach out today to start planning your dream bathing space upgrade!
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 Chicago 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 Cook County; the statewide picture lives on Illinois; the wider region is the Midwest; background reading sits on Wikipedia.
One three-day job stands between this bathroom and its best fixture.
Get my free quote