Our Empire crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Washoe County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Hey there! Today we talk about transforming your tired bathroom setup into a sleek walk-in shower oasis right here in Empire, Nevada. This tiny town in Washoe County houses about 145 people where the median household income hits roughly $75,129 with ZIP codes like 89405. Therefore, upgrading your home space makes total sense for modern living.
Maybe you hate climbing over a high porcelain wall just to wash up. Now you can easily swap that bulky old tub for an open, gorgeous glass wash zone. This brilliant upgrade lets you enjoy maximum convenience every single morning without straining your back.
Most older houses feature heavy cast iron or fiberglass tubs that take up way too much floor space. Consequently, your bathroom feels cramped and outdated instead of feeling like a relaxing personal spa. Swapping that rusty basin gives you back precious square footage while modernizing your whole house.
Furthermore, slippery tub floors create serious hazards for anyone who uses them daily. By shifting to a low-profile basin with textured tiles, you protect your loved ones from nasty falls. This smart adjustment grants you total peace of mind regarding household safety.
Think about how much time you waste scrubbing soap scum off curved walls. With modern solid surface surrounds, cleaning takes mere minutes instead of a whole weekend. This practical benefit saves your knees and elbows from endless scrubbing sessions.
Selecting the right layout depends entirely on your personal taste and daily routine. You can pick frameless glass doors that make your tiny Nevada bathroom look twice as big. This design choice brings incredible brightness and a touch of upscale luxury to your morning routine.
Alternatively, you might prefer a curbless entry that offers seamless wheel access and zero barriers. Such continuous flooring options let you walk right in without lifting your feet high. This feature brings unmatched ease for aging family members living under your roof.
Here is a quick look at popular layout choices:
| Style Option | Main Feature | Best Benefit For You |
|---|---|---|
| Frameless Glass | Clear panels without heavy metal framing | Makes small rooms look bigger and brighter |
| Curbless Entry | Flush floor transition | Prevents tripping and helps mobility |
| Alcove Shower | Built into a three-wall pocket | Maximizes tight bathroom layouts efficiently |
Naturally, picking the best option requires measuring your exact space carefully. Local pros handle these measurements so you never make costly mistakes. This guarantees your new wash enclosure fits like a glove.
Tear-out day sounds messy, but professional contractors keep the chaos totally contained. First, workers cover your hallway floors with protective plastic sheeting to catch stray drywall dust. This careful step keeps your home clean while old materials come down.
Next comes the heavy lifting where the old porcelain basin gets sliced and hauled away. Because these tubs weigh a ton, letting seasoned pros handle the muscle saves your walls from dents. That heavy lifting removal happens fast and cleanly.
Once the old unit disappears, experts check your subfloor for hidden water damage or rot. Spotting leaks early prevents expensive structural failures down the road. Fixing underlying issues right away guarantees your new installation lasts for decades.
Old plumbing valves often leak or fail to regulate water temperature correctly. Replacing those aging pipes ensures your shower delivers steady warmth every single time. This upgrade protects your new walls from sneaky internal leaks.
Behind the pretty tiles, waterproof membranes act as your ultimate line of defense against moisture. Professionals install thick vapor barriers that stop humidity from rotting your wooden studs. This hidden layer brings long-lasting durability to your bathroom remodel.
Proper sloping toward the drain prevents standing puddles after you finish your rinse. Expert tile setters measure every angle so water flows straight down the pipe. This attention to detail keeps your bathroom floors dry and safe.
Hardware choices turn a basic washing stall into a stunning focal point. You can select matte black faucets or brushed nickel showerheads that match your decor style. These gorgeous fixtures give you precise control over water pressure and temperature.
Adding built-in soap niches keeps your shampoo bottles organized and off the floor. Recessed shelves maximize your elbow room while keeping all your cleaning products handy. This smart storage trick reduces clutter instantly.
Consider installing a fold-down teak bench for ultimate relaxation during your evening rinse. Such seating options provide a comfortable spot to sit when you feel tired. This thoughtful addition elevates your daily routine immensely.
Remodeling projects require a solid financial plan so you never face unexpected budget shocks. While prices vary based on materials, upgrading your bathroom boosts your property value significantly. Future buyers love seeing a modern walk-in wash station instead of a dated tub.
Think about water usage because modern shower heads often consume fewer gallons than a deep tub. Lower utility bills save you cash month after month in your household budget. This eco-friendly shift pays for itself over time.
Local contractors provide transparent pricing so you know what to expect before work starts. Getting a clear breakdown helps you budget without any nasty hidden fees popping up later. That financial clarity makes planning your project stress-free.
Working with someone who understands Washoe County building codes ensures your project passes all inspections. Local tradespeople know the regional plumbing quirks and climate challenges of northern Nevada. This local expertise prevents code violations and delays.
Always ask to see photos of past bathroom transformations before signing any contracts. Real portfolio pictures prove the contractor delivers quality craftsmanship you can trust. Seeing actual finished rooms builds your confidence immediately.
Communication matters just as much as technical skill during a messy home renovation. Friendly crews answer your questions patiently and keep you updated on daily progress. This great communication ensures you stay informed every step of the way.
Clear out all personal items from your bathroom before the work crew arrives on site. Removing towels and rugs gives workers plenty of unobstructed space to move their tools. This simple prep step speeds up the entire installation schedule.
Set up a temporary washing routine in another bathroom if your home has a second one. Communicating family schedules with your contractor keeps daily household friction to an absolute minimum. Planning ahead makes the construction phase feel like a breeze.
Keep pets locked securely in a quiet bedroom away from loud demolition noises. Protecting your furry friends from sudden construction sounds keeps them calm and safe. This thoughtful precaution prevents accidental escapes through open front doors.
Upgrading your washing space changes how you start and finish every single day. You deserve a gorgeous custom enclosure that meets all your daily needs without hassle. Now is the perfect moment to improve your living environment.
Reach out today to request your completely free quote from our local team. We visit your property, discuss your vision, and provide honest pricing without any pressure. Let us turn your bathroom dreams into a wonderful reality right now.
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 Empire 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 Washoe County; the statewide picture lives on Nevada; the wider region is the West; background reading sits on Wikipedia.
One three-day job stands between this bathroom and its best fixture.
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