Our La Harpe crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Hancock County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Have you ever looked at that giant, clunky basin taking up half your bathroom floor and wished it would just disappear? Getting rid of that high-sided tub opens up your tiny room and creates a much more functional space for your daily morning routine.
You might feel trapped by the layout of your home in that quiet little corner of Hancock County. Most folks around here live in houses built when deep soaking basins were the standard for every single bathroom. However, your needs change over time and sometimes you just want a sleek space to rinse off quickly before you head out the door.
Think about how much effort it takes to climb over a high wall just to get clean every single day. This creates a real hazard for anyone who struggles with balance or just wants a safer environment. By removing the barrier, you gain a sense of ease that makes your morning routine feel like a breeze.
Moreover, the added floor space makes a huge difference in how your room feels when you walk inside. You suddenly have room to move around without bumping into walls or fixtures. This upgrade provides a level of luxury that turns a cramped bathroom into a place where you can actually breathe.
Changing your setup allows you to install beautiful glass doors that make the whole room look way bigger than it was before. These doors keep the water inside where it belongs so you do not have to worry about messy puddles on your floor. You also get the benefit of choosing fancy tile work that reflects your own personal style perfectly.
Additionally, this kind of renovation can really boost the value of your property if you ever decide to sell. Buyers these days usually prefer a clean, open layout over an old tub that just collects dust. You are investing in the future of your house while making your own life much better right now.
| Feature | Benefit for you |
|---|---|
| Low entry threshold | Improved safety and easy access every day |
| Clear glass enclosure | Makes the small room feel much more open |
| Custom tile backsplash | High level of visual appeal and personal taste |
| Optimized footprint | More floor space for storage or movement |
You should not try to tackle this kind of plumbing and construction project all by yourself unless you have serious experience. Pulling out an old cast iron unit is back-breaking work that requires the right tools and a lot of patience. If you do it wrong, you could end up with leaks or structural damage that costs a fortune to fix later.
Instead, let a local pro handle the messy stuff so you can stay focused on picking out the fun materials. We know the ins and outs of residential plumbing in the 61450 area and understand how these older homes were put together originally. We make sure everything is sealed tight so you never have to fret about water damage hiding behind your walls.
First, we come over to your place to look at the current setup and talk about what you want to achieve. We measure everything twice to make sure the new fixtures fit like a glove in your specific bathroom. This helps us give you an accurate idea of what the project will cost from start to finish.
Next, we strip away the old materials and inspect the framing to ensure it is solid and ready for the new build. We pay close attention to every detail during this phase because we know you want a long-lasting result. Then we install the new waterproof backing and the beautiful finish materials you picked out.
Think about all the things you could do with the extra space once the bulky basin is finally gone. You could install a tall cabinet for extra storage or maybe even a nice bench for seating. It really changes the entire dynamic of your bathroom when you stop fighting for space with a giant tub.
Furthermore, the cleaning process becomes much faster and simpler when you have a flat, open area to wipe down. You can say goodbye to scrubbing curved surfaces that are hard to reach and prone to grime buildup. This gives you more time to focus on the things you actually enjoy doing in your free time.
Sometimes you might be worried about the mess or the time it takes to finish the job. We keep your home clean throughout the project and work efficiently to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. You deserve a smooth experience that leaves you with a finished space that feels like a dream.
When you contact us, we provide a free estimate so you know exactly where you stand before any work begins. There are no hidden fees or surprise costs that pop up halfway through the process. We believe in being honest and direct because that is how we treat our neighbors here in the state.
Many people ask if they will miss having a place to soak after they make the switch. Honestly, most folks find they rarely used the tub for baths anyway because it just took too long. You will quickly find that the convenience of a fast, hot rinse outweighs the rare soak you might have taken once or twice a year.
Another common concern is whether the bathroom will get cold without the enclosed tub area. We use high-quality materials and sealing techniques that keep the heat inside where it belongs. You will feel cozy and satisfied knowing that your new setup is built to handle the daily demands of your household.
Choosing your new materials is the best part of the whole journey because you get to define the look. You might like a modern minimalist vibe with large gray tiles and chrome hardware. Or maybe you prefer a traditional style with warm tones and classic stone patterns.
Whatever your preference, we help you find materials that look great and stand up to daily use for years to come. We want you to feel pride in your home every time you step into the room to start your day. It is all about creating a space that feels right for you and your family.
If you live in this wonderful community and want to improve your home, we are ready to assist you. You do not need to live with a bathroom that does not meet your needs anymore. Reach out to us today to get your questions answered and start planning your project.
We look forward to meeting you and seeing how we can transform your bathroom into a highlight of your house. It is time to stop dreaming about a better bathroom and actually start building one. Drop us a message or send a message to grab your free quote today and get the ball rolling on your home 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 La Harpe 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 Hancock 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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