Prefab / Acrylic Shower Conversion
Prefab acrylic shower conversion is the fastest and most affordable Handis bath path — a one-piece or three-panel acrylic surround kit (Sterling, Kohler, or a comparable major brand) drops into the existing alcove footprint over a pre-formed pan, the licensed plumber converts the drain, the kit gets sealed at the corners, and a sliding or pivoting glass door goes on. Two to four working days on a standard 60-inch alcove, no grout to maintain, no mortar pan to flood-test, no tile labor. From $5,000 for a basic three-panel kit with a sliding glass door to $9,500 for a premium one-piece kit with built-in shelves, a frameless glass enclosure, and a handheld shower head. The right path for a rental property, a fast turnaround between tenants, a budget under $7,000, or any bath where simple-and-clean matters more than the design flexibility of full tile.
Service
What Prefab Acrylic Shower Conversion Covers
The prefab acrylic path swaps an alcove tub for a factory-made acrylic shower surround. The surround kit ships from the manufacturer pre-sized to standard alcove dimensions (60-inch is the default, 48-inch and 72-inch kits are available for non-standard alcoves). The pan is pre-formed with the slope built in, so there is no mortar pan to dry-pack and no 24-hour flood-test wait. The acrylic surround panels (or one-piece units) install with adhesive plus mechanical fasteners; corner joints get sealed with a manufacturer-recommended silicone. A sliding or pivoting tempered glass door finishes the install. The licensed Washington L&I plumber comes in for the drain conversion and the final fixture trim.
Acrylic Kit Selection + Footprint Verification
Pre-install we confirm the alcove footprint (60-inch is standard, others available), the drain position (most kits work with the standard center drain location), and the kit selection. We recommend Sterling Vikrell and Kohler Choreograph as the two best-supported kit lines in the Seattle market — both have a strong dealer network for parts and replacements, both have warranties that mean something in 10 years, and both come in a range of finishes (clean white, off-white, smooth or subtly textured walls). We do not recommend the cheapest no-name kits because the wall panels can flex enough over time to crack the corner sealant.
Tub Demo and Drain Cap (Plumber Visit)
Floors protected with rosin paper, adjacent rooms sealed with plastic, tub removed (cast iron broken up in the pan and hauled in pieces because of the 250 to 400-pound weight). Surround comes down to studs. The licensed Washington L&I plumber arrives for the drain conversion — converting the 1.5-inch tub drain to a 2-inch shower drain and capping the tub spout supply line. Plumber visit on a prefab job typically runs 2 to 3 hours (less involved than a full tile build because the drain stays in the standard center-of-alcove position).
Wall Backer Prep
The acrylic surround mounts to the wall studs via adhesive plus mechanical fasteners — no cement backer board, no waterproof membrane behind the panels (the acrylic IS the waterproof surface). We shim or sister-joist any studs that are out of plane (more important on a one-piece surround than a three-panel because the one-piece is rigid and any wall irregularity will show). We patch any framing damage from the demo and verify the wall is true to within manufacturer tolerance (typically 1/4 inch over 8 feet).
Pre-Formed Pan Drop-In + Set + Sealed Joints
The pre-formed pan goes in first — leveled to the existing drain position, set into a bed of mortar or acrylic-rated adhesive per the manufacturer's installation guide, and the drain assembly bonded to the pan flange with a silicone or solvent-based sealer (depends on the manufacturer). We confirm the pan sits flush with the wall studs and the slope toward the drain is consistent.
Acrylic Surround Panels + Corner Seal
For a three-panel kit: back wall first, then the two side walls. For a one-piece kit: the whole unit slides in (sometimes the bath door has to come off the hinges for clearance). Panels bond to the studs with manufacturer adhesive and a few mechanical fasteners near the top edge for retention. Corner joints get sealed with the manufacturer's recommended sealant (typically a 100% silicone in a color matched to the surround). Sealant needs 24 hours to cure before the shower is used.
Glass Door + Plumber Final Trim
Sliding glass doors are the standard finish for an acrylic install — easy operation, no door swing into the bath, frame matches the surround. Pivoting tempered glass doors are the upgrade for a cleaner look. Door goes in after the corner sealant has cured. The licensed plumber returns for final fixture trim — shower head, handheld on a slide bar if specified, mixer handle, escutcheons.
How the Acrylic Conversion Works
Six sequential phases from kit selection to glass-door install — the actual two-to-four-day working sequence we run on every standard 60-inch acrylic conversion, with the licensed plumber on one scheduled visit.
Acrylic Kit Selection + Footprint Verification
Confirm the alcove footprint (60-inch standard, 48-inch or 72-inch available), the drain position, and the kit selection. We recommend Sterling Vikrell or Kohler Choreograph for parts availability and 10-year warranty support. Kit ordering lead time is typically 5 to 10 business days; we order at contract signing so the kit lands the day before demo.
Demo + Plumber Drain Cap Visit (Day 1)
Floors protected, adjacent rooms sealed, tub removed (cast iron broken up in the pan and hauled), surround down to studs. Licensed Washington L&I plumber arrives the same day for the drain conversion (1.5-inch tub drain to 2-inch shower drain) and tub spout supply cap. Plumber visit runs 2 to 3 hours on a prefab job. We do not touch in-wall plumbing.
Wall Backer Prep + Stud Verification
Stud verification — any studs out of plane get shimmed or sister-joisted (more critical for a one-piece kit than a three-panel because the one-piece is rigid). Walls verified true within manufacturer tolerance (typically 1/4 inch over 8 feet). Any framing damage from demo gets patched. No cement backer board needed — the acrylic IS the waterproof surface.
Pre-Formed Pan Set + Drain Bond (Day 2)
Pre-formed acrylic pan set into mortar or acrylic-rated adhesive per the manufacturer's installation guide, leveled to the drain position, drain assembly bonded to the pan flange with manufacturer-recommended sealer. Pan sits flush with wall studs; slope toward drain verified. No flood test needed (the pan is factory-tested and the slope is built in).
Acrylic Surround Install + Corner Seal (Day 2-3)
Three-panel kit installs back wall first, then the side walls; one-piece kit slides in as a whole unit. Panels bond to studs with manufacturer adhesive plus mechanical fasteners at the top edge. Corner joints sealed with 100% silicone color-matched to the surround. Sealant cures 24 hours before the shower is used.
Glass Door + Plumber Final Trim (Day 3-4)
Sliding tempered glass door (standard) or pivoting frameless door (upgrade) installs after corner sealant has cured. Licensed plumber returns for final fixture trim — shower head, mixer handle, handheld on a slide bar if specified. Final walk-through and warranty paperwork hand-off. The bath is left broom-clean.
Prefab / Acrylic Conversion Pricing
Final pricing depends on the kit selection (three-panel vs one-piece, standard vs premium finish), the door style (sliding vs frameless pivoting), and any add-ons (built-in shelves, handheld shower head, designer color). The licensed plumber's portion is included in every quote. Plumbing permit, where required, also lives inside the project total. Request a free in-home estimate for an accurate quote.
Tell us the alcove footprint and the kit selection — we will quote the project including the plumber's portion.
Why Homeowners Book Handis for Prefab Acrylic Conversions
An acrylic conversion is the right answer in three specific situations — a rental turnover where downtime costs more than the bath looks; a primary bath in a starter home where the homeowner needs the conversion done in a week and is going to move in three years anyway; and any second bath in a larger home where simple-and-clean trumps custom-and-tile. It is the wrong answer when the bath is the primary in a home you intend to keep for ten years and you care about the design flexibility of full tile — that is the tiled walk-in path. Acrylic also has a reputation problem from the worst kits sold in the 1990s; modern Sterling Vikrell and Kohler Choreograph hold up well, look acceptable at five years, and warranty the surface for ten. We will not install a no-name budget kit on a Handis job because we will not warrant the corner sealant past year three.
Sterling Vikrell or Kohler Choreograph only — no budget no-name kits
We install Sterling Vikrell and Kohler Choreograph as the two best-supported acrylic kit lines in the Seattle market. Both have a dealer network for replacement parts in 10 years, both have warranties that mean something, and both have wall panel rigidity that holds the corner sealant past year five. We do not install the cheapest no-name kits because the panel flex over time cracks the corner sealant, and the warranty disappears with the brand. The price difference between a no-name kit and a Sterling is $400 to $600 on a $5,000 project; not worth the long-term failure mode.
Stud verification before the panels go on
Acrylic panels bond directly to the studs with manufacturer adhesive plus a few mechanical fasteners near the top edge. The bond is only as good as the wall behind it — out-of-plane studs leave gaps in the adhesive bed and the panel ends up unsupported in spots. We shim or sister-joist any studs out of plane (more critical for a one-piece surround than a three-panel because the one-piece is rigid) and verify the wall true within the manufacturer tolerance (typically 1/4 inch over 8 feet) before any panel comes off the truck.
Manufacturer sealant in the corners, not a generic silicone
Each kit specifies a corner sealant — Sterling spec is a different silicone formulation than Kohler spec, and a generic 100% silicone tube from the hardware store will work for a year and then start to fail at the corners. We carry the manufacturer-recommended sealant on the truck and use it on every install. Sealant cures 24 hours before the shower is used; we tell you on hand-off to inspect the corners annually and re-caulk every five to seven years as normal maintenance.
Licensed Washington L&I plumber on the drain conversion + permit
The drain conversion from a 1.5-inch tub drain to a 2-inch shower drain is in-wall plumbing work and requires a Washington L&I licensed plumbing contractor per RCW 18.106. We subcontract to a licensed plumber who handles the drain conversion, caps the tub spout supply, and pulls the Seattle DCI plumbing permit under their license. The plumber comes in once on day one (a 2 to 3-hour visit) and returns at the end for final fixture trim. We are not licensed plumbers and we do not pretend to be.
Insured, background-checked, 30-day workmanship + 10-year manufacturer warranty on the surround
Every Handis carpenter carries liability insurance and clears background screening. The 30-day workmanship guarantee covers any installation issue (panel alignment, corner sealant, door alignment). The kit itself carries the manufacturer's 10-year warranty on the acrylic surface and the pan — Sterling and Kohler both honor those warranties in 10 years and have parts available. The licensed plumber warrants their portion under their own license terms. All warranties in writing at project close.
Estimate
Tell us the alcove footprint (60-inch standard, 48-inch or 72-inch non-standard), the kit preference (three-panel vs one-piece, Sterling vs Kohler), the door style (sliding standard, frameless pivoting upgrade), and any add-ons (built-in shelves, handheld shower head, designer color). We send back a clear estimate and a project timeline.
Customer Reviews
Prefab acrylic shower conversion reviews from real Handis customers.
Acrylic kit conversion on a rental property we turn quickly between tenants. Three days from demo to a working shower. The Sterling one-piece kit looks clean, the licensed plumber's drain conversion was straightforward, the sliding tempered glass door went in last. No grout to clean ever again — that was the whole point. Came in at $5,800 with the built-in shelves upgrade.
We have a small second bath in our 1980s split-level we never really used. Booked the basic three-panel Sterling Vikrell kit with the sliding door at $5,000. Two and a half working days, plumber on day one for the drain swap, kit in by end of day two, sealant cured overnight, door on day three. Looks like a clean modern shower — nothing fancy, but exactly right for that bath.
Wanted a one-piece Kohler Choreograph for the cleaner look without panel seams. Handis ordered it at contract signing (took eight business days to arrive), pulled the existing acrylic tub on a Tuesday, plumber came in the same day for the drain conversion, the one-piece slid in Wednesday (we had to take the bath door off the hinges for clearance — they told us in advance), sealant cured overnight, frameless pivoting door went in Thursday. Three and a half working days.
Top-end build for our second bath — designer-color one-piece Sterling kit (a warm beige instead of the usual white), built-in corner shelves, handheld shower head on a slide bar, frameless pivoting door. Four working days. The color holds up well against the rest of the bath finishes. Came in at $9,400.
Smaller alcove than standard — 48-inch instead of 60-inch — in our 1950s rambler primary bath. Sterling had a 48-inch three-panel kit available; Handis ordered it, did the install in three working days, plumber handled the drain conversion. The 48-inch footprint feels just right for the space; the previous tub had felt crammed. Came in at $5,200.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about prefab acrylic shower conversion — pricing, timeline, kit brands, plumber handoff, and what to expect.