Converting a rarely-used bathtub into a walk-in shower is one of the most requested bathroom projects in our Vancouver showroom — and one of the few renovations that improves daily comfort, accessibility and resale value at the same time. Older Vancouver homes and condos are full of narrow, deep tubs nobody has used in years, sitting in the one spot where a proper shower would change the whole bathroom.
The question we get on every call is the same: which option is right for my bathroom, and how long will it be out of service? This guide walks through the two routes we actually build across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond and the North Shore, what each one includes, and how long each takes.
Two ways to convert a tub into a shower
Almost every tub-to-shower conversion in Vancouver goes one of two routes. They are very different projects with very different budgets, and choosing the right one is most of the decision.
Option 1 — Panel system (no tile)
The tub comes out and the walls are finished with large waterproof wall panels instead of tile. We use Kobertin panels for this: large-format sheets with almost no seams, no grout lines to scrub, and a finish that reads like stone or large-format tile from a step away.
This is the practical choice when you want the bathroom back quickly, you are renovating a rental or a suite, or you simply do not want grout maintenance. The existing shower base or tub footprint is kept where possible, which is what keeps the cost down.
Option 2 — Full custom tiled walk-in shower
The tub and the old wall assembly come out completely, the space is rebuilt with a properly sloped base, full Schluter Kerdi waterproofing, and tile of your choice — porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, mosaic feature bands, niches, benches, curbless entries. This is a full bathroom rebuild in that corner of the room, and it is what most homeowners picture when they say "walk-in shower".
Panel system vs custom tile — how to choose
| Option | Best for | Time on site | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel system (Kobertin, no tile) | Fast turnaround, rentals and suites, no grout maintenance | 3–5 working days | Quoted after a free in-home visit |
| Full custom tiled walk-in shower | Design freedom — niches, benches, feature walls, curbless entries | 1–2 weeks | Typically $10,000–$20,000, depending on tile, size and substrate |
The panel route is faster and less expensive because there is no tile setting, no grouting and far less curing time. The custom tiled route costs more because it is genuinely more work: full demolition, substrate rebuild, waterproofing membrane, tile layout, setting, grouting and curing — plus glass.
What moves the price on either option
- Plumbing changes. Keeping the drain and valve where they are is far cheaper than moving them. Relocating a drain in a concrete condo slab is the single biggest cost jump we see.
- What is behind the wall. In older Vancouver homes we regularly open a tub surround and find rotten studs, failed old waterproofing or undersized supply lines. We flag this at the walk-through where we can, and carry it as a contingency line in the quote.
- Colour, size and material. The same shower in a different tile or panel colour and size can quote differently — larger formats, mosaics, herringbone and feature walls all change the labour and the waste factor.
- The substrate. What sits behind and under the old tub decides how much rebuilding is needed before anything decorative goes on.
- Glass. A frameless enclosure costs meaningfully more than semi-frameless or a fixed panel.
- Extras that make sense while the wall is open: a recessed niche, a bench, a linear drain, or Schluter DITRA-HEAT in-floor heating.
What is included — and what is not
| Item | Panel system | Custom tiled shower |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and removal of the old tub | Included | Included |
| Waterproofing | Included | Included (Schluter Kerdi) |
| Plumbing / moving the drain | Not included | Included |
| Glass shower door or enclosure | Not included | Included |
| Written labour warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
If you choose the panel system and you do want glass or a drain relocation, we can absolutely do both — they are quoted as separate line items so you can see exactly what each one adds.
Waterproofing is the part you will never see and cannot afford to get wrong
Most leaking-shower failures we are called to repair in Vancouver are not tile problems. They are waterproofing problems: a shower built over cement board and sealant, relying on grout to keep water out. Grout is porous. Two or three years later the water is inside the wall.
On tiled showers we install Schluter Kerdi — a fully bonded waterproof membrane behind the tile with sealed seams at every corner and at the drain, over a sloped Schluter tray. On panel systems the waterproofing is built into the assembly behind the panels. Either way the wall is waterproof before anything decorative goes on it, and that is not an upgrade we offer — it is standard on every shower we build.
How long will my bathroom be out of service?
- Panel system: 3–5 working days on site.
- Custom tiled shower: 1–2 weeks, including curing time for the waterproofing, thinset and grout before the shower can be used.
- Glass: add roughly 1–2 weeks after tiling for template, fabrication and install — the shower is usable with a curtain in the meantime on most layouts.
If it is the only bathroom in the home, tell us at the walk-through. We sequence single-bathroom projects tightly and keep the toilet and sink usable for as much of the schedule as possible.
Condo and strata conversions in Vancouver
Roughly half our tub-to-shower conversions are in Vancouver strata buildings — Yaletown, Coal Harbour, downtown, False Creek, the West End. Those come with paperwork before a single tool comes out: contractor liability insurance, WorkSafeBC clearance, an indemnification form, elevator booking, and work-hour restrictions that usually limit noisy work to weekdays between 9am and 5pm.
We handle that paperwork as a routine part of every condo job. One extra thing to know: in a concrete building, moving a shower drain often needs strata approval and sometimes an engineer, because the drain runs through the slab. That is the first thing we check on a condo walk-through — it decides which of the two options actually makes sense for you.
Is a tub-to-shower conversion a good idea for resale?
Our honest answer: yes, with one condition. If it is the only tub in a family home, keep a tub somewhere — buyers with young children look for one. If you have a second bathroom with a tub, or you are in a condo, converting the main bathroom to a proper walk-in shower is one of the better-value bathroom upgrades available, and it is what most buyers now expect to see.
Ready to talk about your bathroom?
We have been renovating bathrooms across Metro Vancouver since 1999, with Schluter waterproofing on every shower we build and a written one-year installation warranty on the work. Book a free in-home consultation and we will look at your bathroom, tell you honestly which of the two routes fits it, and follow up with an itemized written quote.
Book a free in-home consultation or call 604-739-4477. You can also visit our West Broadway showroom to see tile and panel samples in person.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to convert a tub to a shower in Vancouver?
It depends on which route you take and on the colour, size and material you choose — and on what the substrate looks like once the old tub is out. A panel-system conversion is the faster, lower-cost option and takes 3–5 days; a full custom tiled walk-in shower typically falls in the $10,000–$20,000 range and takes 1–2 weeks. We quote in writing after a free in-home visit rather than guessing from a price list.
Can you convert a tub to a shower in a condo?
Yes — a large share of our conversions are in Vancouver strata buildings. We provide the insurance certificate, WorkSafeBC clearance and indemnification paperwork the strata will ask for, and book the elevator. If the drain needs to move within a concrete slab, that usually requires strata approval, so we check it during the walk-through.
Do I need to move the plumbing?
Not always. Keeping the drain and valve in place is what makes the panel option affordable. Full custom tiled showers include the plumbing work, since the base is being rebuilt anyway.
Is a panel shower as durable as tile?
For everyday use, yes — and it is easier to maintain because there is almost no grout. Tile still wins on design freedom: patterns, niches, benches, feature walls, curbless entries and stone looks that panels cannot reproduce exactly.
Do you remove and dispose of the old tub?
Yes. Demolition, removal and disposal of the old tub and surround are included in both options.
What warranty do you provide?
Every installation carries our written one-year installation warranty, plus the manufacturer warranty on the materials.