Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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Before
AfterHow Much Does Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Boca Raton?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Boca Raton typically costs between $3,500 and $10,000, with most mid-range projects landing around $5,500 to $7,000 once demo, waterproofing, tile, and fixtures are priced in. The wide range exists because South Florida’s humidity demands a higher-spec waterproofing membrane than you’d use in a dry climate, and Boca Raton homeowners tend to upgrade tile and fixtures at the same time. Get a written scope before anyone starts work – under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, that written price comes first, every time.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost Breakdown (2026)
The table below reflects what Rowan Construction Group sees in the Boca Raton market in 2026. These are real line-item ranges based on current material pricing, South Florida labor rates, and the permit requirements specific to Palm Beach County. If a competitor hands you a single-number quote without a line-item scope, you don’t know what’s included – and in our experience since 2007, that’s where cost surprises come from.
| Line Item | Low End | High End | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition and tub removal | $350 | $700 | Cast-iron tubs cost more to remove; fiberglass is faster |
| Plumbing reconfiguration | $600 | $1,800 | Moving the drain or adding a body spray line pushes cost up |
| Waterproofing membrane | $400 | $900 | Florida building code requires continuous membrane; don’t skip this |
| Tile and installation | $900 | $3,500 | Standard ceramic vs. large-format porcelain is the biggest variable here |
| Shower pan or base | $300 | $1,200 | Prefab acrylic base vs. custom mud-set mortar bed |
| Shower door or enclosure | $400 | $1,800 | Frameless glass is heavier on budget; curtain rod is lightest |
| Fixtures (valve, showerhead, trim) | $300 | $1,200 | Kohler and Moen mid-range kits vs. Delta or Pfister entry-level |
| Drywall, paint, and finishing | $250 | $600 | Cement board is required behind tile; green board alone doesn’t meet code |
| Permits (Palm Beach County) | $150 | $400 | Required for plumbing and structural changes; Rowan pulls these for you |
Total range: $3,500 to $10,000. A basic conversion – prefab base, ceramic tile, standard Kohler valve, frameless curtain rod – runs $3,500 to $5,000. A mid-range project with a mud-set mortar base, large-format porcelain on the walls, a semi-frameless glass enclosure, and a Kohler Rite-Temp pressure-balance valve lands around $5,500 to $7,500. A high-end conversion with a linear drain, 24×48 porcelain panels, a fully frameless glass door, a rain-head and hand-spray combo, and a built-in niche runs $7,500 to $10,000.
One detail specific to Boca Raton: homes in Mizner Park-adjacent neighborhoods and along the Intracoastal often have older cast-iron tubs, which add $200 to $400 to demo cost because of the weight and the need to section the tub before it can be removed through standard doorways. If your home was built before 1985, budget for that possibility and ask your contractor to confirm tub material during the walkthrough.
What Affects Tub-to-Shower Conversion Pricing in Boca Raton
Six factors move the number more than anything else. Understanding them before you call for quotes puts you in a much better position to compare bids line by line.
- Waterproofing specification: Boca Raton’s combination of humidity, seasonal rain, and salt-air proximity means the waterproofing layer isn’t a place to cut cost. A proper continuous membrane – Schluter Kerdi or a liquid-applied system like RedGard – adds $400 to $900 but protects the substrate from moisture intrusion that causes mold behind walls. Contractors who quote a low total often skip or thin this layer.
- Tile size and format: Standard 4×4 ceramic tile is the cheapest material to buy and to set. Large-format porcelain (12×24 or 24×48) costs more per square foot and requires a flatter substrate, which sometimes means additional mud work before setting. In Boca Raton, we see a lot of homeowners choosing large-format tile to match the aesthetic of newer construction in developments like Lotus and Boca Village – a reasonable preference that adds $600 to $1,500 to tile and labor.
- Drain reconfiguration: A tub drain and a shower drain are not in the same location. If your plumber needs to move the drain more than 12 inches, or if the existing drain line sits below a slab (common in Boca Raton’s slab-on-grade construction), that involves saw-cutting concrete – which adds $400 to $900 to the plumbing scope.
- Enclosure type: A tension curtain rod with rings is $50 to $150 and takes 20 minutes. A prefab sliding door unit runs $400 to $700 installed. A semi-frameless hinged glass door is $800 to $1,200. A fully frameless custom glass enclosure – common in East Boca homes where the bathroom is a selling point – runs $1,200 to $1,800 installed.
- Existing substrate condition: Drywall behind a tub surround sometimes shows moisture damage once the tub and surround are removed. In older Boca Raton homes – particularly in the Camino Gardens and Palm Beach Farms areas – we occasionally find two or three layers of older tile or compromised backer board that has to be replaced before new tile can go in. That adds material and labor that neither you nor your contractor can price until demo is done. A well-written change-order process (signed before any additional work starts) is the only fair protection in that situation.
- Permit and inspection requirements: Palm Beach County requires a permit for any plumbing modification and for structural changes to a wet area. Rowan Construction Group pulls permits for every qualifying job in Boca Raton – the permit fee runs $150 to $400 depending on scope, and inspection scheduling typically adds two to five business days to project timeline. Any contractor who tells you permits aren’t necessary for a tub-to-shower swap involving a drain move is telling you something worth questioning.
Before
AfterTub-to-Shower Conversion vs. Full Bathroom Remodel: Where Does This Project Fit?
A tub-to-shower conversion sits at the lower end of the bathroom project range in Boca Raton. For context: a Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Boca Raton runs $3,500 to $10,000, while a full bathroom remodel in this market runs $9,000 to $28,000 and a small bathroom remodel runs $5,000 to $12,000. If the vanity, toilet, and flooring are in good condition, a targeted conversion is the tightest path to a functioning walk-in shower without touching everything else.
Some homeowners in Boca Raton start with a conversion and find that once the tub surround is off the wall, the floor tile looks mismatched or dated. That’s worth thinking through in advance: a bathroom vanity installation adds $800 to $3,000 to the scope, and floor tile replacement adds another $600 to $1,500. If you’re already at that point, a full small bathroom remodel at $5,000 to $12,000 may be a cleaner way to budget. Rowan’s written scope process helps make that call before work starts, not halfway through demo.
How to Save on Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Saving money on this project is mostly about making decisions before the crew arrives, not during. Here’s what makes a real difference.
- Keep the drain where it is. If your plumber doesn’t have to move the drain more than a few inches, you avoid saw-cutting the slab. Design the shower footprint around the existing drain location and you’ll save $400 to $900 right there.
- Choose a prefab shower base over a custom mud bed. A quality acrylic base from a brand like Swanstone or Kohler runs $300 to $500 installed and performs well in most standard-size alcoves. A custom mortar bed with a linear drain can cost $800 to $1,200 more and is worth it in irregular spaces or high-end finishes – but not required for a clean, functional conversion.
- Price fixtures separately from the install. Rowan sources fixtures across 50-plus vetted brands, and a mid-range Kohler or Delta pressure-balance valve kit purchased through our supplier relationship costs less than the same kit at retail. Ask what your contractor pays for materials versus what they’re marking them up to – a transparent written quote answers that question before any work starts.
- Tile one accent wall, not three. If you’re drawn to a feature tile – a handmade zellige, a wood-look plank, a penny-round mosaic – use it on the back wall and run a straightforward large-format porcelain on the side walls. The design reads as intentional and keeps tile cost $600 to $1,000 lower than tiling all surfaces in the premium material.
- Get a second opinion on any written estimate. Rowan offers a free second opinion on any written estimate you’ve received – bring the line-item scope and we’ll review it with you at no charge. If the competing bid is missing a waterproofing line, a permit line, or a substrate line, that’s where the low number is coming from. Call (754) 254-8065 to set that up.
- Don’t skip the permit to save time. It’s tempting, but an unpermitted conversion in Boca Raton creates a disclosure obligation when you sell and can require tear-out if caught during a resale inspection. The $150 to $400 permit fee and a few days on the schedule is cheaper than retroactive remediation.
What Rowan Construction Group Delivers on Every Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Grant Rowan started Rowan Construction Group in 2007 with one non-negotiable: the written price before anyone picks up a tool. Across 4,000-plus projects since then, that discipline has kept project costs within a few percent of the agreed number on every job. On a tub-to-shower conversion in Boca Raton, that means you receive a flat written price with a written scope, a signed contract, and the expectation that no additional work proceeds without a signed change order. If demo reveals a damaged substrate, you’re told the cost and you sign before the repair happens. No surprises baked into the final invoice.
Every crew member working in your home is background-checked and uniformed. A live person answers calls 24 hours a day. When the job is done, you receive a documented photo record of what was found and what was built – including the waterproofing layer, the substrate condition before tile, and the finished shower. That documentation is a standard deliverable, not something you have to ask for.
The 365-Day Done Right Promise is printed on every contract: if the work isn’t right, Rowan makes it right. That’s backed by the Haven Standard’s written terms, not a verbal assurance at handshake. For a project that involves plumbing, tile membrane, and moisture management in a Florida climate, knowing that promise exists in writing matters.
For a broader look at what Rowan offers in South Florida’s residential construction market, the home page covers all seven trades and how the written-price process works across each one.
FAQs – Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Boca Raton
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Boca Raton in 2026?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Boca Raton costs $3,500 to $10,000, with most projects falling between $5,500 and $7,000. Basic conversions with a prefab base, ceramic tile, and standard fixtures run $3,500 to $5,000. High-end conversions with a mud-set mortar base, large-format porcelain, and frameless glass land at $7,500 to $10,000. The biggest cost drivers are tile choice, whether the drain needs to be moved, and the waterproofing specification. Call (754) 254-8065 for a written quote specific to your bathroom – estimates are free and come with a full line-item scope.
Do I need a permit for a tub-to-shower conversion in Boca Raton?
Yes, in most cases. Palm Beach County requires a permit for any plumbing modification – which includes moving a drain – and for structural changes to a wet area. The permit fee in Boca Raton typically runs $150 to $400 depending on scope. Rowan pulls permits on every qualifying project and includes that cost in the written quote upfront. Skipping the permit creates a disclosure obligation at resale and can require tear-out if flagged during a buyer’s inspection.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take in Boca Raton?
Most standard tub-to-shower conversions take three to six business days from demo to final inspection, assuming no hidden substrate damage and a permit pulled in advance. Add two to five days if the permit inspection schedule is backed up, which occasionally happens in Palm Beach County during busy season (roughly October through April in Boca Raton). A conversion involving a slab saw-cut for drain relocation adds one to two days. Rowan gives you a written project timeline before work starts so you know what to expect.
Is it cheaper to replace the tub or convert it to a shower in Boca Raton?
A tub replacement runs $800 to $2,500 installed if you’re swapping like-for-like in the same alcove. A tub-to-shower conversion costs $3,500 to $10,000. If you use the tub regularly and just want an updated look, a tub replacement or a tub resurfacing ($300 to $600) is the more economical path. If you haven’t used the tub in two years – which is common for primary bathrooms in Boca Raton where homeowners prefer walk-in showers – the conversion adds more functional value and typically recoups well at resale in this market. Call (754) 254-8065 to talk through which scope makes sense for your situation.
What waterproofing is required for a shower conversion in South Florida?
Florida building code requires a continuous waterproof membrane behind tile in any shower surround. In practice, that means either a sheet membrane like Schluter Kerdi, bonded to the cement-board substrate before tile is set, or a liquid-applied membrane like RedGard brushed on in two coats. Boca Raton’s combination of high ambient humidity, seasonal rain, and salt-air proximity makes this step more consequential than in drier climates. A membrane failure in South Florida doesn’t just cause grout cracking – it causes mold growth behind the wall within months. Budget $400 to $900 for a proper membrane, and verify it’s a named line item on your contractor’s quote.
Does a tub-to-shower conversion add value to a home in Boca Raton?
In the Boca Raton resale market, primary bathrooms with no tub tend to sell without issue when a secondary bathroom retains one. Buyers in this market – particularly those purchasing in East Boca, the Broken Sound area, or newer developments along Glades Road – expect a walk-in shower in the primary suite and rarely flag the absence of a primary tub as a negative. The conversion adds value by improving daily function and updating the aesthetic. If your home has only one bathroom, keep the tub – or add a deep soaking component to the shower design. A Rowan estimator can walk through that tradeoff before you commit to a scope.
Key Takeaways
- Tub-to-shower conversion in Boca Raton costs $3,500 to $10,000 in 2026.
- Most mid-range projects land at $5,500 to $7,000 with tile, a prefab or mud-set base, standard fixtures, and a glass enclosure.
- Waterproofing membrane, drain location, and tile format are the three factors that move cost most significantly.
- Palm Beach County requires a permit for plumbing modifications; budget $150 to $400 and a few extra days for inspection.
- Older Boca Raton homes may have cast-iron tubs or compromised substrate behind the surround – a transparent change-order process protects you if that happens.
- Rowan Construction Group delivers a written flat price with line-item scope before any work starts, pulls permits, and provides a documented photo record on every visit.
- The 365-Day Done Right Promise and a free second opinion on any written estimate are standing offers on every Boca Raton project.
Get a Written Price for Your Boca Raton Tub-to-Shower Conversion
If you’ve been putting off this project because you didn’t know what it would cost or what you’d actually be agreeing to, that’s a reasonable hesitation. Rowan Construction Group’s process starts with a free, no-obligation estimate: a site visit, a documented assessment of your existing bathroom, and a written flat price with a line-item scope delivered before any commitment is made. Grant Rowan built the company on the principle that a customer should be able to screenshot the number and compare it – and that hasn’t changed since 2007.
Call (754) 254-8065 to schedule your free estimate. A live person answers every call. If you have a competing quote and want a second opinion on what’s included, bring the written scope – we’ll review it line by line at no charge.
Pricing reflects the Boca Raton market as of 2026. Rowan Construction Group Boca Raton offers free estimates – call (754) 254-8065.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner at Rowan Construction Group, serving Boca Raton since 2007.
What Our Customers Say
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