Our Rodman crew pulls the idle tub, keeps the alcove, and hands back a shower anywhere in Palo Alto County within days.
Written quote at no cost, one callback, no chasing afterwards.
Maybe you feel tired of stepping over that high, slippery ledge every single morning just to wash up. This annoying daily obstacle can quickly become a serious safety hazard for anyone in your household. Fortunately, swapping out that deep, unused basin for a modern, low-profile walk-in option will completely change how you use your bathroom. Our local team comes right to your door to plan this awesome upgrade and we always give you a completely free estimate first.
Naturally, making this change gives you a lot more physical space to move around while you get ready. You will finally stop bumping your elbows against cold plastic walls or glass doors that feel way too close. On top of that, your whole room instantly looks twice as large because we open up the sightlines. It is a smart, simple way to upgrade your home without paying for a massive, stressful renovation project.
If you live in Palo Alto County, you probably know how precious a functional, modern home really is. Our local crew loves helping neighbors near the West Fork Des Moines River get the exact layout they need. We bring all the tools, do the heavy lifting, and leave you with a gorgeous, accessible space. You do not have to settle for an outdated setup when a quick message brings us out for a zero-cost consultation.
First of all, think about how much water and time you save when you do not have to maintain a giant, stained basin. Older tubs accumulate nasty soap scum and mildew in hard-to-reach corners that require you to get down on your knees to scrub. Replacing that old monster with a sleek, non-slip pan makes cleaning a absolute breeze. This means you get to spend your weekends relaxing instead of fighting stubborn bathroom grime.
Another major plus is the immediate boost in home safety for your loved ones. Statistics show that most household slips happen right when people try to balance on one foot to exit a deep tub. By installing a low-threshold entryway, you practically eliminate this danger for kids and grandparents alike. We can even add secure grab bars and comfortable built-in seating to make the space feel like a luxurious private spa.
To help you compare your options, here is a quick look at how these two setups match up:
| Feature | Old Deep Basin Setup | New Walk-In Option |
|---|---|---|
| Step-In Height | Usually 14 to 18 inches high | Only 1 to 3 inches maximum |
| Cleaning Effort | Requires painful bending and scrubbing | Quick wipe down with mild soap |
| Visual Space | Makes small bathrooms feel cramped | Creates an open, airy feeling |
Which means you get a safer daily routine without losing any of the styling points you want for your property. We customize every single project to fit the exact footprint of your existing plumbing. This clever approach saves you tons of money because we do not have to tear up your entire floor just to move pipes around.
When you decide to modernize your wash area, you gain access to an amazing variety of durable materials. For instance, high-quality acrylic surrounds offer a seamless look that mimics expensive stone without the heavy price tag. These modern surfaces resist fading and cracking, which ensures your investment looks brand new for decades. You can choose from classic white, warm beige, or even modern slate patterns to match your personal style.
Besides the wall panels, you also get to pick the perfect glass enclosure or curtain rod setup. Sliding glass doors with spot-free coatings keep water exactly where it belongs while letting natural light flood the cabin. If you prefer an open layout, we can install a fixed glass pane for a ultra-modern wet room vibe. This lets you design a space that feels like a high-end hotel right in your own home.
Do not forget about the small details that make a huge difference in your daily routine, like recessed corner shelves for your shampoos. We can also install high-end fixtures, including rain showerheads and handheld sprayers that make rinsing off feel incredibly relaxing. Our team works closely with you to map out every single shelf and hook during your free home visit.
Now, you might worry that a project like this will leave your home in a messy disaster zone for weeks. Actually, our specialized crew usually wraps up the entire demo and installation process in just a couple of days. We start by carefully removing your old cast iron or steel tub without damaging the surrounding drywall. After that, we inspect the subfloor and plumbing to make sure everything is completely solid and dry.
This careful preparation prevents future leaks and mold growth behind your new beautiful walls. Next, we secure the new slip-resistant base directly to your subfloor and connect it to your existing drain system. We seal every joint with industrial-grade, mold-resistant silicone to ensure a lifetime of waterproof performance. You can sleep easy knowing our local hands-on professionals handle every single detail with extreme care.
To give you a better idea of how we spend our time on site, here is our typical project timeline:
| Phase | Key Tasks | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition | Remove old tub, inspect plumbing, clean area | Day 1 Morning |
| Preparation | Reinforce subfloor, install new drain lines | Day 1 Afternoon |
| Installation | Fit the new base, mount wall panels, seal joints | Day 2 Morning |
| Finishing | Install hardware, add glass doors, final cleanup | Day 2 Afternoon |
Which means you will not have to deal with endless construction noise or dust clouding up your living room. We respect your property and always clean up every speck of debris before we wave goodbye. You will be able to enjoy a hot, relaxing wash in your brand-new stall almost immediately.
Living in a cozy town with a population of just 31 people means we treat every single client like our actual neighbor. We know that folks around here value hard work, honesty, and getting a job done right the first time. With a healthy local median household income of $76,875, homeowners in our area appreciate smart upgrades that build real equity. We love driving through the scenic country roads of the 50580 ZIP code to help families improve their homes.
Because we are local, we understand the specific water conditions and building styles common to this beautiful part of Iowa. We do not use pushy sales tactics or try to force you into buying things you do not actually need. Instead, we focus on delivering top-notch craftsmanship that stands up to cold winters and busy family life. When you work with us, you get friendly, down-to-earth service from start to finish.
Whether your current bathroom is decades old or just needs a quick safety update, we are ready to help. We bring all our samples directly to your home so you can see and feel the materials in your own light. This makes it incredibly easy to choose the perfect colors and textures without any guesswork.
Taking the first step toward a safer and more attractive home is much easier than you think. All you have to do is reach out to us, and we will schedule a convenient time to look at your space. We will measure your current tub, listen to your ideas, and give you a detailed, honest quote. There is absolutely no pressure to buy, just friendly advice from local folks who know how to build things to last.
Imagine never having to struggle with a high tub wall again when you want to get clean. Think about how much brighter and more inviting your entire bathroom will look with a gorgeous, modern walk-in area. We are excited to help you turn this dream into a reality without breaking your budget. Contact us today to request your completely free project estimate and let us do the hard work for you!
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 Rodman 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 Palo Alto County; the statewide picture lives on Iowa; 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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