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
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.
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.