Swapping a tub you rarely use for a walk-in shower is one of the most requested bathroom projects in Scioto County. Partly for the cleaner look, and increasingly so people can stay in their homes safely as they get older. HHS handles tub-to-shower conversions across Portsmouth and the surrounding area, from quick prefab swaps to full custom-tile walk-ins. Here is what it actually costs, how long it takes, and when you need a permit. Call (740) 357-9020 for a free in-home estimate.
What a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs in Portsmouth
For a straightforward swap, pulling the old tub and dropping in a prefab acrylic or fiberglass walk-in shower in the same footprint, most Portsmouth homeowners land between $3,500 and $7,000. Step up to a mid-range job with a nicer base, glass, and some tile and you are usually in the $6,000 to $12,000 range. A full custom-tile walk-in with a curbless entry, bench, and niche runs $10,000 to $18,000+ depending on size and finishes.
The things that move the price: whether the drain has to be relocated (a centered tub drain rarely lines up with a shower), tile versus a prefab surround, glass versus a curtain, accessibility features like grab bars and a bench, and removing a heavy cast-iron tub (those run 15–25% more to deal with). There is also a budget option (a “tub cut,” where a section of the tub wall is removed and capped) that can come in under $1,000, but it is a stopgap, not a real shower. Most folks who are done with their tub want the real conversion.
Prefab vs. Custom Tile
A prefab acrylic unit is faster, cheaper, easier to clean, and has fewer places to leak. It is the right call for most conversions. Custom tile costs more and takes longer, but it is the way to go if you want a curbless zero-threshold entry, an exact size, or a high-end look. We will walk your bathroom and tell you straight which one fits your space and budget, not which one pads the invoice.
How Long Does It Take?
A prefab tub-to-shower conversion is usually a 1 to 3 day job. A custom-tile walk-in runs 1 to 3 weeks: tile, waterproofing, and grout all need cure time, and rushing that is exactly how showers start leaking at year two. We schedule it so your home is usable as much as possible while we work.
Do You Need a Permit in Scioto County?
If the conversion involves plumbing changes (and most do, because the drain almost always moves) then yes, the work requires a permit and inspection in Scioto County. Electrical changes (new exhaust fan, lighting) trigger it too. A like-for-like prefab swap with no plumbing relocation sometimes does not, but we confirm with the building department before we start and pull whatever is required. Skipping permits is how a bathroom project comes back to bite you at resale.
Walk-In Showers for Aging in Place
A big share of our conversions are about safety, not style: getting rid of the step-over tub wall that becomes a fall risk. For those, we build zero-threshold (curbless) entries, blocking in the walls for grab bars, fold-down benches, handheld shower heads on a slide bar, and slip-resistant floors. If you or a family member is a current or former nuclear worker, this kind of accessibility work may be fully covered under the federal program. See our EEOICPA home modifications page. Either way, it is the same crew and the same build standards as our bathroom remodeling work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most conversions run $3,500 to $7,000 for a prefab acrylic swap, $6,000 to $12,000 for a mid-range job with glass and some tile, and $10,000 to $18,000+ for a full custom-tile walk-in. The biggest cost drivers are relocating the drain, tile versus prefab, and accessibility features. Call (740) 357-9020 for a free in-home estimate.
A prefab conversion is typically 1 to 3 days. A custom-tile walk-in runs 1 to 3 weeks because tile, waterproofing, and grout need time to cure. We won’t rush the waterproofing. That’s what keeps a shower from leaking down the road.
If the project changes plumbing (the drain usually has to move) or electrical, yes. It needs a permit and inspection. A like-for-like prefab swap with no plumbing relocation sometimes doesn’t. We confirm with the building department and pull all required permits before we start.
Yes. We build zero-threshold entries, install grab bars with proper wall blocking, fold-down benches, handheld shower heads, and slip-resistant floors. For current and former nuclear workers, this work may be covered under EEOICPA. Ask us about it at (740) 357-9020.
Get a Free Estimate
If you’re thinking about pulling that tub, call HHS at (740) 357-9020 or visit hooverhousingsolutions.com. We’ll walk your bathroom, give you a real number, and tell you whether a prefab swap or a custom build makes more sense for your space, no pressure.