Our Eagle Nest crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in McKinley County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Maybe you are tired of climbing over that high porcelain wall every single morning just to wash off. That old basin takes up way too much space in your small bathroom and you probably cannot remember the last time you actually took a bath. Swapping that bulky clunker for a sleek walk-in stall changes your daily routine instantly. This smart upgrade makes your bathroom feel twice as big while giving you a safer and faster way to get ready.
If you live in our beautiful mountain community around the 87718 ZIP code area, you know how nice it is to have a home that fits your lifestyle. Our high-altitude retreat in the stunning Moreno Valley of Colfax County is a peaceful place but our older homes often have outdated fixtures. Upgrading your bathing area is not just about looks. This practical change helps you save water and prevents slips on chilly mornings.
Fortunately you do not have to tackle this messy plumbing job alone. We are ready to drive out to your property and give you a completely free estimate for the whole project. You can find out exactly what it takes to transform your space without spending a single dime upfront. Let us look at why this specific home improvement makes so much sense for your property.
First of all, safety becomes a major issue as we get older or when we are recovering from weekend ski trips. Stepping over a slippery edge that is two feet high can feel like climbing a mountain. By choosing a low-profile entry pan instead, you drastically reduce the risk of nasty falls. This simple change gives you peace of mind and keeps you independent in your own home for years to come.
On top of that, cleaning a huge fiberglass basin is absolute torture on your back and knees. Grimy soap scum loves to build up in those deep corners where you cannot reach easily. Our modern acrylic walls resist mold and wipe clean with just a damp cloth. Which means you will spend your weekends enjoying the outdoors instead of scrubbing grout on your hands and knees.
To help you compare the two options, we put together this quick comparison table based on what local homeowners tell us:
| Feature | Old Deep Basin | New Walk-In Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Step-In Height | 14 to 20 inches | 3 to 5 inches |
| Water Usage | Very high (30-50 gallons) | Low (15-25 gallons) |
| Floor Space Feeling | Cramped and bulky | Open and airy |
| Maintenance Needs | Constant scrubbing | Easy spray and wipe |
This comparison shows how much daily effort you save. Making the switch is a practical decision that pays off every single day. You get a space that looks like a high-end spa while enjoying incredible convenience.
When you start planning this project, you will find a ton of cool options to customize your new setup. You can choose heavy duty glass doors that slide smoothly or opt for a simple curtain rod if you want a wider opening. Many folks around here prefer textured slip-resistant floors for added safety. We also install built-in benches and corner shelves to keep your shampoos organized.
Since our local median household income is around $31,875, we understand that every dollar you invest in your home must count. We focus on durable materials that do not crack or fade over time so you get the best value. Our team helps you select stylish fixtures that match your budget without sacrificing quality. This ensures your project looks beautiful and lasts for decades.
If you want to maximize your storage, we can add recessed niches directly into the wall panels. This prevents clutter and keeps your soaps within arm's reach. We also offer sturdy grab bars that blend in with the hardware instead of looking like a hospital room. This lets you design a space that feels cozy and matches your personal style perfectly.
First we carefully protect your floors and walls before we bring out the heavy tools. Removing a heavy cast iron or steel basin requires patience and muscle to avoid damaging your existing drywall. We haul away the old junk so you do not have to worry about trips to the local landfill. This leaves us with a clean slate to inspect your subfloor and structural framing.
Next we modify your plumbing because a standard shower drain is twice as large as a tub drain. This prevents water from pooling around your feet while you wash. We also inspect the old mixing valves and copper pipes to ensure everything is leak-free. This extra step saves you from costly water damage hidden behind your new walls later on.
Finally we secure the new acrylic pan and seal the waterproof wall panels in place. We use high-grade silicone sealant to make sure not a single drop of water gets behind the system. After we hang the glass doors and test the pressure, your stunning new space is ready for action. This whole process usually takes just a few days from start to finish.
Living in this gorgeous corner of New Mexico means dealing with unique high-country plumbing challenges. Our cold winters can freeze poorly insulated pipes if they are not installed correctly. We know how to prepare your bathroom for freezing temperatures so you never have to worry about burst lines. Our crew takes pride in serving our small local population of 263 residents with honest craftsmanship.
Because we are a local business, we treat you like a neighbor instead of just another invoice number. We show up on time, clean up our mess, and answer all your questions with a smile. Our goal is to make this home improvement project as stress-free as possible for your family. We love helping folks update their properties to match the cozy lifestyle of our mountain valley.
Now is the perfect time to upgrade your home and make your daily routine much easier. Do not wait until a slip or a leak forces you to make a hasty decision. Contact us today to request your free quote and let us help you design the perfect bathing space for your needs.
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 Eagle Nest 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 McKinley County; the statewide picture lives on New Mexico; the wider region is the West; background reading sits on Wikipedia.
One three-day job stands between this bathroom and its best fixture.
Get my free quote