Alcove Tub to Walk-In Shower
Alcove tub to walk-in shower is the most common bathroom conversion we do — a standard 60-inch alcove tub (the kind in almost every primary bath built between 1960 and 2010) becomes a curbed walk-in shower in the same wall-to-wall footprint, with a 4 to 6-inch tile curb at the entry, tile or solid-surface walls, ceramic or porcelain floor tile sloped to a center drain, and a framed or frameless glass enclosure. Seven to ten working days on a standard install, from $6,000 for a ceramic subway tile package with a framed enclosure to $12,000 for a premium porcelain large-format build with a frameless glass enclosure, a tile bench, and a niche. Handis owns the demo, framing, curb build, backer board, waterproofing, mortar pan and flood test, tile, glass enclosure, and trim. The licensed Washington L&I plumber comes in on two scheduled visits — drain rough-in (after demo, before framing closes) and final trim (after tile is grouted, before glass) — and we book both visits at project signing.
Service
What Alcove Tub to Walk-In Shower Conversion Covers
The alcove conversion is the most common Handis bath project — replacing a worn or unused 60-inch alcove tub with a curbed walk-in shower in the same wall-to-wall footprint. The walls stay where they are; the floor stays where it is; the drain converts (plumber) and the surround transforms (Handis). Everything inside the work happens inside the existing alcove. Permits required by Seattle DCI for the drain alteration go through the licensed plumber under their license.
Demo of the Existing Alcove Tub
The crew protects the surrounding floors with rosin paper, covers the adjacent rooms with plastic sheeting to control dust, and pulls the tub. Lightweight tubs (acrylic, steel) come out in one piece. Cast iron tubs typically get broken up with a sledgehammer inside the pan (they weigh 250 to 400 pounds in one piece) and hauled in pieces. The surround comes down to studs. We document the wall behind the surround — any rot at the bottom plate, any galvanized supply line that should be flagged for the plumber, any framing irregularities — before any new work starts.
Framing + Curb + Backer Board
We frame the entry curb (typically 4 to 6 inches tall, 4 inches deep — wide enough for a level top edge with the tile) using pressure-treated lumber and waterproof-rated framing. The wall framing gets sistered or shimmed if any studs are out of plane (older homes are rarely true). Cement backer board (Hardibacker, Durock) or a foam-core panel (Schluter Kerdi-Board, Wedi) goes up on the walls and over the curb. Backer board joints get taped with mesh and thinset; corners are bedded for the membrane.
Mortar Pan Build + Waterproof Membrane + 24-Hour Flood Test
A mortar bed gets dry-packed over the subfloor sloped at 1/4 inch per foot toward the drain (industry standard, Schluter or TCNA recommended). The waterproof membrane goes over the mortar — either a sheet membrane (Schluter Kerdi) heat-welded or thinset-bonded, or a rolled-on liquid membrane (RedGard, Hydroban, Mapei) at the manufacturer's required mil thickness. The membrane wraps the curb on all three sides and ties into the wall membrane above. Then the pan gets flood-tested: drain plugged, pan filled to curb height, left overnight for 24 hours. A leak shows up at the test or the wall behind it. Non-optional on every Handis install.
Tile Install (Walls, Floor, Curb)
Wall tile and floor tile install after a successful flood test. We typically use porcelain or ceramic for both, with the floor tile being smaller for slip resistance and easier sloping (typically 2 by 2-inch mosaic). Large-format wall tile (12 by 24-inch or larger) is the modern look and a Handis specialty when the walls are true. Niches get framed inside the waterproof envelope before tile so the recess is dry. Tile goes on with proper-thickness thinset and is left to set 24 hours before grouting.
Grout, Seal, Caulk Corners
Sanded grout in the field joints (cement-based, color matched), unsanded grout in the wall-to-wall and wall-to-floor inside corners ONLY if the joint is under 1/8 inch, otherwise color-matched silicone in those moving joints (the TCNA standard — grout cracks in moving joints, silicone flexes). Grout gets sealed 72 hours after install with a penetrating grout sealer. We tell you on hand-off how to maintain the silicone joints (re-caulk every five to seven years as a normal maintenance item).
Glass Enclosure (Framed or Frameless)
Framed enclosures use aluminum framework and 3/16-inch tempered glass — durable, more affordable, the standard for a $6,000 to $8,000 build. Frameless enclosures use 3/8-inch tempered glass with stainless-steel clamps — cleaner look, more expensive, the standard for an $8,000+ build. Glass goes in after the silicone has cured 24 hours so the door does not bind on a wet caulk joint. The plumber comes in for final fixture trim — shower head, mixer handle — the same day or the next day.
How the Alcove Conversion Works
Six sequential phases from existing-tub demo to glass-door install — the actual working sequence we run on every standard 60-inch alcove conversion, with the licensed plumber on two scheduled visits inside the timeline.
Pre-Demo Walkthrough + Plumber Schedule Lock
Estimate visit confirms the footprint, the tile or acrylic selection, the curb height, the enclosure (framed or frameless), and any niches or benches. We lock the licensed plumber's two scheduled visits (drain rough-in day two, final trim day eight or nine) at contract signing. The schedule does not slip because both companies are on the same calendar from day one.
Demo of the Existing Alcove Tub
Floors protected with rosin paper, adjacent rooms sealed with plastic to control dust, tub removed (cast iron broken up in the pan to manage the 250 to 400-pound weight). Surround comes down to studs. We document any rot at the bottom plate, any galvanized supply line, or any framing irregularities for the plumber's visit. Demo day runs 4 to 8 hours.
Plumber Drain Rough-In Visit (Day 2)
The licensed Washington L&I plumber arrives the day after demo. They convert the 1.5-inch tub drain to a 2-inch shower drain, reposition the shower valve to standing height if requested, and replace any galvanized supply line we documented at demo. They pull the plumbing permit under their license. Visit runs 3 to 5 hours. We do not touch in-wall plumbing.
Framing + Curb + Backer Board + Waterproof Membrane + Pan Flood-Test
Curb framed in pressure-treated lumber, walls shimmed true, cement backer board or foam-core panel installed on walls and curb, mortar bed dry-packed and sloped 1/4 inch per foot to the drain, waterproof membrane installed (sheet Kerdi or rolled RedGard), then the pan flood-tests for 24 hours. No tile until the flood test passes. Days 3 to 5.
Tile Install + Grout + Silicone Corners
Wall tile and floor tile install on day 6 and 7 with proper-thickness thinset, niches and benches framed inside the waterproof envelope and tiled in. Sanded grout in field joints, color-matched silicone in moving corner joints (TCNA standard — grout cracks in moving joints, silicone flexes). Grout sealed 72 hours after install with a penetrating grout sealer.
Glass Enclosure + Plumber Final Trim (Day 8-10)
Glass enclosure goes in after silicone has cured 24 hours — framed for the $6,000 build, frameless 3/8-inch tempered for the $8,000+ build. The licensed plumber returns for final fixture trim (shower head, mixer handle, escutcheons). Final walk-through with you, hand-off of warranty paperwork, permit copy from the plumber. The bath is left broom-clean.
Alcove Tub to Walk-In Shower Pricing
Final pricing depends on tile selection (ceramic vs porcelain vs natural stone), enclosure type (framed vs frameless), and any add-ons (niche, bench, body sprays). The licensed plumber's portion is included in every quote — not a surprise. Plumbing permit, where required, also lives inside the project total. Request a free in-home estimate for an accurate quote.
Tell us the bath layout and the tile selection — we will quote the project including the plumber's portion.
Why Homeowners Book Handis for the Alcove Conversion
After a few dozen alcove-tub conversions across Seattle baths from 1960s tract homes to 1990s suburban remodels, the same handful of details separate a 10-year shower from a 3-year one. Mortar pan sloped wrong by a tile setter who started with a thin bed at the drain instead of building from the high point — water pools at the corners and re-emulsifies the grout. Silicone left out of the wall-to-floor corner because the apprentice grouted everything — grout cracks open in six months at the heaviest-loaded joint. Glass installed on caulk that had not cured 24 hours — the door binds the first time it gets used. Backer board over an out-of-plane wall — the large-format tile lips at every joint. None of these are exotic mistakes; they are the production-rate shortcuts that get made when one trade chases the next without enough time. Handis runs the schedule so the time exists.
Mortar pan built from the drain, not from the high point
The TCNA-recommended slope on a shower pan is 1/4 inch per foot toward the drain. The way to build it correctly is from the drain outward — set the drain at the lowest point, mark the slope on the wall studs at 1/4-inch-per-foot rise, dry-pack the mortar to those marks. Building from the high point in is faster but lands the drain too high or too shallow. We build from the drain. Every pan gets a level + a slope gauge check before the membrane goes on.
Silicone in moving joints, grout in field joints — TCNA standard
The wall-to-wall, wall-to-floor, and any change-of-plane inside corner is a moving joint. Grout in a moving joint cracks within a year because the two planes flex independently. Color-matched silicone flexes and stays sealed for five to seven years. We put silicone in every change-of-plane inside corner per the TCNA Handbook standard, and we tell you on hand-off to re-caulk those joints every five to seven years as normal maintenance.
24-hour pan flood test before any tile goes down
The shower pan flood-tests for 24 hours — drain plugged, pan filled to curb height (or to a marked line), left overnight. A leak in the pan after tile is up means the entire tile job comes off to find it; catching a pan leak at flood-test stage costs an hour to fix and zero tile. Industry standard, never skipped on a Handis build.
Licensed Washington L&I plumber on two scheduled visits, permits via them
In-wall plumbing — converting the 1.5-inch tub drain to a 2-inch shower drain, repositioning the valve, any in-wall supply work — requires a Washington L&I licensed plumber per RCW 18.106. We subcontract that portion to a licensed plumber on two scheduled visits (drain rough-in day 2, final trim day 8 or 9). They pull the Seattle DCI plumbing permit under their license number, schedule the inspection, and provide the permit copy at project close. We are not licensed plumbers and we do not pretend to be.
Insured, background-checked, 30-day workmanship + 2-year tile/pan warranty
Every Handis carpenter carries liability insurance and has cleared a background screening before the first job. 30-day workmanship guarantee covers caulk joints, glass alignment, and any cosmetic finish. The 2-year warranty on tile-and-pan covers grout cracking from substrate movement, pan leaks from waterproofing failure, and any tile that comes loose — if it happens within 2 years from our installation, we come back and fix it at no charge. The licensed plumber warrants their portion separately under their own license terms; both warranties are in writing at project close.
Estimate
Tell us the bath layout (typical 60-inch alcove, oversized 66-inch or 72-inch alcove, or a custom footprint), the tile selection (subway ceramic, porcelain large-format, or stone), the enclosure preference (framed or frameless), and any add-ons (niche, bench, body sprays). We send back a clear estimate and a project timeline.
Customer Reviews
Alcove tub to walk-in shower reviews from real Seattle-area Handis customers.
1976 split-level in Redmond, primary bath had a 60-inch acrylic tub from a 1998 remodel we never used. Booked the alcove walk-in with porcelain large-format walls, a frameless 3/8-inch enclosure, and one tile niche. Seven working days exactly as quoted. The plumber came in on day two for the drain conversion and day eight for the trim, both on the day Handis said. The flood-test ran overnight on day five and we slept easier knowing the pan had been verified.
1962 brick rambler in Bellevue, original cast iron alcove tub still in service but the surround was 40-year-old plastic panels. Tech broke the tub up in the pan and hauled it in pieces (it weighed close to 350 pounds), demolished the surround, and rebuilt the alcove as a curbed walk-in with ceramic subway tile and a framed enclosure. Came in right at $6,400. The bath has been in daily use for two years now with zero issues.
Spent $10,800 on the premium build with a tile bench, a tile-in niche above shoulder height, frameless 3/8-inch glass, and porcelain large-format. Tile setter mocked the niche placement on the framing with painter's tape before he committed — we adjusted it down two inches because of where I actually keep the shampoo. The bench is the right depth (12 inches) for actually sitting on. Worth every dollar.
Wallingford bungalow, 1924, the previous owner had crammed a 56-inch alcove tub into a non-standard space and tiled around it badly. We had Handis pull the tub, reframe to a true 60-inch footprint, build a 4-inch tile curb, and tile the whole thing in subway. The plumber relocated the drain to center it (the original was off by 3 inches). Eight working days. The bath finally feels right.
Came in for an estimate on a basic conversion and ended up upgrading to porcelain large-format with the frameless enclosure once we saw the price difference. Nine working days. The pan flood-test was the part that gave us the most confidence — Handis showed us the test setup before they filled it and texted us a photo when the water level was still at the line 24 hours later. That kind of small accountability is rare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about alcove tub to walk-in shower conversion — pricing, timeline, plumber handoff, design choices, and what to expect.