Tub-to-Shower Conversion in San Antonio: Out With the Tub, In With an Easy Step

This is the first question, and there’s no single right answer. If your home has another bathtub, or no one in the house takes baths, converting the tub into a shower usually makes daily life easier. Older family members find it safer, and the shower feels roomier without a tub wall in the way.

If it’s the only tub in the house and you have young children or plan to sell soon, think it through. Many buyers with kids want at least one tub. Our conversion pros and cons guide walks through those trade-offs in detail. A common compromise is converting the master tub while keeping a tub in the hall bath.

• Is there another tub in the house?
• Does anyone bathe young kids or pets in this tub?
• Is stepping over the tub wall getting harder for someone at home?
• Are you planning to sell within a few years?
• Would a bigger, more open shower change your daily routine?

A typical alcove tub has its drain at one end, under the faucet. On a San Antonio slab, that drain sits in the concrete and connects to the main line. The least expensive conversion keeps the drain at that end and slopes the new shower floor toward it, or uses a linear drain along that wall.

Some people prefer a center drain, which means cutting the slab, trenching and moving the pipe. That adds cost but gives a more traditional look. A linear drain often gives the best of both, since it sits near the old drain location, lets the floor slope in one direction and works well with large tile. We’ll show you the options and their prices up front.

Tub openings are typically 60 inches wide and 30 to 32 inches deep. A standard conversion adds a low curb across the front, a few inches tall, to contain water. A low-threshold curb at an inch or two makes stepping in easier with only modest extra slab work.

For a fully curbless entry, the shower floor has to be recessed into the slab so it can slope to the drain while the bathroom floor stays level. That’s the best choice if someone uses a wheelchair or walker, and it’s worth discussing during design. Our accessible bathroom remodel work covers wider doors, grab bars and other features that pair with a curbless shower.

Removing an old tub reveals the walls and floor behind it. In older San Antonio homes, especially 1970s and 1980s builder baths, we often find water damage around the tub’s edges, rotted framing near the faucet wall and corroded valves. The old drain may be worn or poorly sloped.

We show you anything we uncover and explain the fix before moving ahead. Repairs are usually straightforward once the walls are open, and it’s much better to fix them now than to tile over a problem. Replacing the old valve with a new pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve is part of nearly every conversion.

• Tiling over damaged framing hides problems that will come back
• Reusing an old valve with worn cartridges can lead to drips and leaks
• A shower pan without a flood test risks a slow leak into the slab
• Uncoated glass spots quickly in San Antonio’s hard water
• Skipping the exhaust fan upgrade invites mold in a humid climate

Most tub-to-shower conversions follow this order.

1. Walkthrough: we measure the alcove, check the drain and valve, and talk about curb style, tile and glass.
2. Selections: tile, valve trim, drain type and glass are chosen and ordered.
3. Demolition: the tub, surround and damaged drywall come out, with floors protected.
4. Repairs and rough-in: framing is fixed, the drain is adjusted and a new valve is installed, with inspections when required.
5. Pan and waterproofing: the shower floor is built, sloped and waterproofed, then flood tested.
6. Tile: walls, floor, curb and niches are tiled and grouted.
7. Glass and fixtures: glass is measured, fabricated and installed, then fixtures are connected and tested.

A recessed niche in the back wall holds bottles without clutter. A small bench or corner seat helps with shaving and gives a place to rest. A handheld shower on a slide bar makes rinsing and cleaning easier. Blocking in the walls lets grab bars go in now or later without opening the tile.

Glass with a protective coating resists hard water spots, and a fixed panel instead of a hinged door reduces seals to clean. If you’d like a fully frameless enclosure, our frameless glass shower door service covers options and care.

Ventilation deserves a look while the walls are open. A tub gets used warm and briefly, but a shower runs longer and puts more steam into the room. If the existing fan is weak, noisy or vents into the attic, this is the cheapest moment to upgrade it, since the ceiling is already being patched and painted. A fan on a timer switch keeps running after you leave, which helps the grout dry out during humid San Antonio summers.