Start to Finish Tub to Shower Conversion

Andy from Daddicated shows off his complete guest bathroom DIY remodel with a tub to shower conversion.

Complete Guest Bathroom Remodel: Tub to Shower Conversion

In this project, I completely remodeled an old guest bathroom from start to finish, including converting the existing tub into a shower.

First, I cleared everything out of the bathroom and protected the tub area for easier cleanup during demolition. I removed the old faucets, shower head, and valve, which was rusty and clearly needed to be replaced. After demolition, I installed cement board and prepared two wall niches for storage.

Next, I updated the plumbing. I replaced the old copper lines with CPVC and moved the valve higher to fit the new shower layout. I also redid the drain, choosing a square drain positioned closer to the shower side so I could avoid tearing up more concrete than necessary.

Once the plumbing was in place, I waterproofed the shower walls using mesh tape and AquaDefense over the joints and screws. After that, I started tiling the shower. Because of the tile pattern, the process took a long time and required a lot of careful cuts, but the final result came together well.

After the shower walls were complete, I moved on to the floor. I demolished the old tile with a jackhammer, built the shower curb with pavers, and removed the mirror, vanity, sink, and toilet. I also cleaned up the remaining tile and debris so I could prep the floor properly.

To prepare the shower pan, I filled the drain area with cement and created the proper mud-set slope for drainage. Then I tiled the bathroom floor and used mosaic tile to create a smooth transition between the bathroom tile and the wood flooring in the hallway.

Next, I waterproofed the shower floor and corners with AquaDefense and membrane, then tiled the shower floor and curb. After that, I grouted the bathroom floor and shower areas, cleaned the surfaces, and moved on to the finishing work.

I removed the old light fixture, patched the walls, repaired damaged drywall, and painted before installing a new vanity and fixture. I also installed new shutoff valves, a new wax ring, and a new toilet. Then I added the sink faucet, drain assembly, and tested everything for leaks.

To finish the shower, I installed the shower head, valve trim, medicine cabinet, and finally the large glass sliding shower door. In the end, the bathroom came together beautifully and the tub-to-shower conversion completely transformed the space.

Readers considering a tub-to-shower conversion should also see bathroom remodel project planning for scope and sequencing, top bathroom design mistakes for layout pitfalls, and walk-in tub installation if accessibility is a major goal.