Our Coello crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Franklin County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
You might feel completely exhausted every time you look at that outdated, high-walled tub taking up precious real estate in your washroom. Thankfully, swapping that bulky iron beast for a sleek, walk-in showering area instantly transforms your daily routine from a chore into a spa-like escape. This smart renovation fixes your bathroom layout while boosting safety and style without requiring a total home remodel.
If you want to make this upgrade happen smoothly, our local team stands ready to help you plan the perfect layout. By requesting a free project estimate today, you can easily take the first step toward a gorgeous bathroom that actually fits your busy lifestyle. We bring our tools and experience straight to your doorstep to make your renovation dreams a reality.
Let us help you wave goodbye to those high step-overs and hello to effortless entry. Our crew specializes in tearing out old basins and replacing them with modern, low-profile bases that make your space feel twice as large. Your home deserves an upgrade that combines everyday convenience with a touch of simple luxury.
First of all, think about how much water you actually waste when filling up a giant basin compared to taking a quick, refreshing rinse. Modern wall-mounted heads use much less water while delivering fantastic pressure, which keeps your utility bills from skyrocketing. On top of that, cleaning a flat wall surround is a total breeze compared to scrubbing grimy porcelain on your hands and knees.
To help you compare the two options, we built a handy table showing the differences:
| Feature | Old Basin Setup | Modern Walk-In Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Step-In Height | High wall (usually 15-20 inches) | Low-profile threshold (under 3 inches) |
| Floor Space | Cramped and narrow | Open and spacious feel |
| Cleaning Effort | Heavy scrubbing required | Quick wipe down on smooth walls |
| Water Usage | High volume required to fill | Efficient flow with modern fixtures |
This layout change also makes your home much safer for everyone, especially if you plan to stay in your house as you get older. Removing that tall barrier prevents slips and trips, giving you total peace of mind every single morning. Because safety matters just as much as style, this swap is one of the smartest investments you can make.
Additionally, we customize every single project to match your unique tastes and specific daily needs. Whether you want built-in seating, handy grab bars, or recessed niches for your shampoo, we install it all with precision. You get a space that looks like a high-end retreat while functioning perfectly for your family.
When you contact us, we schedule a convenient time to visit your property and look at your existing plumbing layout. Since every home has its own quirks, we carefully measure your space to ensure your new system fits perfectly without any structural surprises. We discuss your style goals and help you select the ideal materials for your budget.
Our friendly technician will explain exactly what needs to happen to move your drains and secure your new base. This upfront planning prevents costly delays and ensures a worry-free experience from start to finish. Plus, we provide a detailed, written quote completely free of charge so you know exactly what to expect.
Once you approve the plan, our team arrives on time and carefully protects your floors before we start any heavy lifting. We carefully extract your old cast iron or acrylic basin, taking great care not to damage your surrounding drywall or flooring. After that, we inspect the subfloor underneath to fix any hidden water damage before installing the new plumbing lines.
We believe that a solid foundation is the secret to a long-lasting remodel that will stand the test of time. By reinforcing the floor joists and updating old copper or PEX pipes, we guarantee your new system stays leak-free for decades. You can relax knowing we handle all the dirty work with absolute care and respect for your property.
Next, we set your chosen low-threshold base and lock it into place with heavy-duty mortar for ultimate stability. Then, we install gorgeous water-resistant wall panels or custom tile that completely block moisture from reaching your studs. Finally, we hook up your brand-new fixtures, seal every single seam with premium silicone, and clean up every speck of dust.
This rapid transformation usually takes just a couple of days, meaning minimal disruption to your household routine. Our goal is to leave you with a beautiful, functional washing space that you can start using almost immediately. We do not consider the job finished until you are completely thrilled with the final look.
Because every household is different, we offer a wide variety of finishes and materials to match your home's unique personality. For instance, you can choose heavy-duty acrylic walls that mimic the look of expensive marble without the painful maintenance requirements. Or, if you prefer a classic style, we can lay down gorgeous ceramic tile with stain-resistant grout lines.
We also make sure to install top-tier hardware that stands up to daily wear and tear without losing its shine. From matte black finishes to classic brushed nickel, your new fixtures will look amazing while delivering a great spray pattern. These little details add a ton of value and character to your bathroom, making it a joy to use.
Furthermore, we pay close attention to accessibility features that blend seamlessly into the overall design. We can install stylish, heavy-duty grab bars that look like high-end towel racks rather than hospital equipment. This clever design lets you enjoy maximum safety without sacrificing the cozy feel of your private sanctuary.
We love working right here in Franklin County, helping homeowners breathe new life into their older properties. With a local population of around 608 residents, our small-town community in the 62825 ZIP code area is filled with charming homes that often feature outdated bathroom layouts. We know how to navigate the regional plumbing styles common in these houses, ensuring a perfect fit every time.
Since the median household income in this cozy Illinois pocket is close to the state average, we make sure our services remain highly affordable and accessible. We believe that everyone deserves a safe, beautiful washroom without having to break the bank. Our honest pricing and transparent quotes reflect our commitment to supporting our local neighbors.
By choosing a local contractor, you get fast service, reliable communication, and a team that truly cares about the community. We live and work nearby, so our reputation is on the line with every single project we complete. You can count on us to show up on time, work hard, and deliver beautiful results that make you proud.
Why spend another day struggling to step over a high tub wall when you could have an open, beautiful walk-in setup? Our team is ready to help you design a space that brings convenience, safety, and a refreshing new look to your daily routine. We handle everything from the initial tear-out to the final cleanup so you do not have to lift a finger.
Contact us right away to schedule your free, no-obligation home consultation and get a detailed price estimate. We will walk you through all your options, show you samples, and help you find the perfect solution for your budget. Let us help you transform your bathroom into a modern space that you will absolutely love using every day.
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 Coello 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 Franklin 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.
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