Turning builder-grade tubs into walk-in showers in newer New Braunfels homes
Much of New Braunfels was built in the last few decades, and many of those homes came with a fiberglass garden tub nobody uses and a cramped shower beside it. Pulling both out to make room for one generous walk-in shower is the request we hear most here.
On a slab, the drain location drives the cost. Keeping the shower drain close to where the tub drain sits avoids trenching concrete, while moving it across the room means cutting the slab, rerouting the line and patching. We’ll show you both layouts with honest tradeoffs before you choose.
- Remove the tub, old surround and any damaged drywall
- Confirm drain location and slope, trench only if the layout requires it
- Install a waterproofed pan and wall system before tile
- Set tile, glass, valve trim and lighting, then seal grout
What older homes near downtown and Gruene need behind the walls
Older houses in the German heritage core of town and around Gruene are often pier-and-beam, with plank subfloors and bathrooms tucked into spaces that were added later. Floors can bounce, and old cast iron drains may be cracked or corroded. We check framing and drain lines first, because tile laid over a flexing floor won’t last.
These homes reward a lighter touch on style. A clawfoot or freestanding tub, hex or subway tile, and a furniture-style vanity often fit the character better than a sleek modern box.
How do river cabins and lake homes handle bathroom moisture?
Homes near the Comal and Guadalupe see a lot of wet towels, sandy feet and humid air. Many are weekend or rental places, and the bathrooms take hard use. We lean toward porcelain tile, solid surface or tiled shower walls, sealed grout and a properly sized exhaust fan vented outdoors, not into the attic.
Low-lying lots near the rivers can also carry flood history. If yours does, we’ll talk about materials that tolerate getting wet, like porcelain floors and PVC trim, so a future cleanup is simpler.
Outdoor showers and mudroom baths are popular on river properties too. A small rinse-off bath near the back door keeps sand and river grit out of the main bathrooms. We’ll plan a durable floor drain, a simple tiled stall and hooks for wet gear, and route the supply lines so they can be drained before a hard freeze. Cabinets in these spaces stay minimal, because open shelves dry out faster than closed boxes and are easier to wipe down after a busy weekend of tubing and swimming.
- Exhaust fan sized to the room and ducted outside
- Porcelain floor tile over a waterproofed substrate
- Moisture-resistant vanity boxes with raised toe kicks
- Hard-wearing fixtures that stand up to rental guests
Working with permits and scheduling in New Braunfels
Plumbing and electrical changes normally need a permit through the City of New Braunfels, and homes in county areas may fall under Comal County rules instead. We figure out which applies and handle the paperwork. Our page on remodel permits explains how inspections usually fit into a bathroom schedule.
We plan New Braunfels jobs as a block so the crew isn’t bouncing between sites. Calls are answered around the clock, so call for a walkthrough when it suits you and a designer will set a time to see the space.
Remodels we do most in New Braunfels
Walk-In Shower Installation
A walk-in shower looks simple: tile, a drain and a sheet of glass. The part that decides whether it lasts is underneath, in the slope, the pan and the membrane, and that’s where we spend the most care.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Climbing over a tub wall gets old, and plenty of 60-inch alcove tubs see more showers than baths anyway. We convert that space into a step-in shower that fits the same footprint and works with the drain already in your slab.
Master Bathroom Remodel
A master bath has to handle two people getting ready at once, plus the slow evenings when one of you wants a long soak. We design these rooms for both, with room to move and storage where it’s needed.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Installation
Steam that lingers after every shower ends up in the paint, the grout, and the ceiling drywall. A properly sized fan, vented outside and controlled so it actually runs long enough, is the cheapest mold prevention a bathroom can get.
Kitchen Remodeling
A good kitchen remodel starts with the house, not a catalog photo. We design and build full kitchen remodels across San Antonio, sorting out layout, plumbing, power and permits before anyone picks a cabinet color.
Close to New Braunfels
Comal County
Historic town homes, subdivisions, acreage and lake homes. Garden tubs, closed kitchens and hard water.
Canyon Lake (78133)
Weekend cabins, retirement homes and newer hillside builds. Heavy guest use and septic-limited plumbing.
Garden Ridge (78266)
Custom homes from the 1970s onward on large lots. Cold stone floors and dated primary bath layouts.
Seguin (78155)
Older downtown homes, mid-century ranches, newer subdivisions. Aging plumbing and dated, closed-in kitchens.
New Braunfels remodeling questions
Is a tub-to-shower conversion worth it in a New Braunfels subdivision home?
For most families who never use the garden tub, yes. A walk-in shower uses the space better and is easier to clean. If the house has only one tub, we’ll talk about keeping one somewhere, since some buyers with young kids look for it. Keeping the drain near its current spot keeps cost down.
Can you remodel a bathroom in a New Braunfels river rental between bookings?
We can plan around a booking calendar, but most full bathroom remodels need a few weeks of unbroken work. We’ll sequence the job so materials are on hand before demolition and give you a realistic window, which helps you block the dates in advance rather than squeezing work into short gaps.
Do older pier-and-beam homes in New Braunfels need floor work before tile?
Often they do. Tile needs a stiff floor, and older plank floors on piers tend to flex. We usually add blocking, sister joists where needed, and a proper underlayment before tile. It adds some cost up front but prevents cracked tile and grout a year or two later.