Entry & comfort
Curb height, opening width, controls, seating options, and practical daily movement.
Chicago & North Shore tub-to-shower conversions
Tub-to-Shower Conversions in Chicago & the North Shore
Replace an underused bathtub with a comfortable shower planned around safe entry, drainage, waterproofing, storage, tile, fixtures, and glass.
Specialized remodeling experience
A focused conversion still requires complete wet-area planning.
A tub-to-shower conversion can improve daily access and make better use of a bathroom, but it is more than removing one fixture and installing another. Drain location, waterproofing, floor slope, wall preparation, plumbing, ventilation, glass, and transitions must work as a system.
URB evaluates the existing opening and surrounding bathroom before defining the scope. The result can range from a carefully fitted conversion to a broader bathroom renovation when storage, flooring, lighting, or adjacent finishes also need attention.
URB Remodeling & Renovation Co. has served Chicago-area homeowners and residential buildings since 1986. Our role is to make the decisions, responsibilities, construction sequence, and building requirements visible before they become field problems. An experienced project manager then coordinates trades, materials, site protection, communication, quality, and the final walkthrough.
Before a meaningful tub-to-shower conversions budget and schedule can be discussed, the property and intended scope need enough definition. URB considers existing conditions, work that affects connected rooms or systems, the desired level of finish, material availability, access, approvals, and decisions that remain unresolved. This separates assumptions from known requirements and helps homeowners understand which choices have the greatest effect on cost, timing, and the finished result.
Early planning also establishes who is responsible for selections, professional documentation, permits, building communication, ordering, and site decisions. When those responsibilities are clear, construction can follow a more reliable sequence and the homeowner has a better framework for evaluating changes. The objective is not to remove every unknown from remodeling; it is to identify foreseeable constraints early and manage the remaining decisions with consistent communication.
Scope & details
What the project may include.
Drainage & slope
Drain position, floor geometry, waterproofing, and reliable movement of water.
Wall preparation
Substrate condition, wet-area assemblies, niches, backing, and transitions.
Fixtures & controls
Showerheads, handheld options, valves, placement, and accessible operation.
Tile & surrounds
Durable surfaces, slip awareness, grout, maintenance, edges, and visual proportion.
Glass & storage
Door clearances, fixed panels, ventilation, niches, ledges, and bathroom circulation.
Plan beforeconstruction
Planning priorities
Resolve the conditions that shape the result.
A meaningful scope is specific to the property. Existing construction, applicable permits and inspections, material lead times, access, occupancy, and connected finish work can all influence the correct approach.
The existing drain
Relocation or modification depends on floor construction, plumbing access, building rules, and the selected shower design.
The waterproof assembly
The shower base, walls, corners, penetrations, niches, and transitions are treated as one continuous water-management system.
The rest of the bathroom
Flooring, base, paint, ventilation, lighting, vanity relationships, and door clearances may be affected by the conversion.
For Chicago condos and high-rises, planning may also include association or management review, alteration agreements, certificates of insurance, approved work hours, elevator reservations, deliveries, and common-area protection. Requirements are clarified for the specific building and scope.
A managed renovation
One clear path from idea to completion.
Listen
We begin with what is not working, the desired result, known property conditions, timing, and investment range.
Define
Scope, responsibilities, existing conditions, approvals, selections, logistics, and the construction sequence come into focus.
Build
A project manager coordinates trades, materials, protection, progress, communication, and finish quality.
Complete
We review the work with the homeowner, address final items, and close the project with a clear walkthrough.
Selected URB work
Craftsmanship you can see. Planning you can feel.
The most successful remodeling projects hold together at every scale—from the overall layout and daily function to alignments, transitions, protection, communication, and the quiet details that make a finished space feel resolved.
“The estimate was detailed and fair, there were no surprises, and the team kept us informed throughout the process.”
Garrett F. Verified client review
Since 1986Chicago-area remodeling experience
ChicagoExplore city service areas
North ShoreExplore suburban service areas
One teamPlanning through final walkthrough
Good questions, clear answers
Planning your tub-to-shower conversions project.
Can any bathtub be converted into a shower?+
Many can, but feasibility depends on dimensions, plumbing, drainage, floor structure, access, ventilation, building requirements, and the desired shower configuration.
Can the shower have a low entry?+
Often, but achievable entry height depends on drain location, required slope, floor construction, waterproofing details, and the surrounding bathroom.
Are grab bars and seating available?+
Yes. Blocking, placement, fixture clearances, user needs, and compatible products should be planned before walls are closed and tile is installed.
Does the entire bathroom need to be remodeled?+
Not always. The surrounding flooring, walls, plumbing, ventilation, and finish transitions determine whether a focused conversion or broader bathroom scope is more appropriate.
Do you perform conversions in condos?+
Yes, when building systems and association requirements support the work. Planning may include approvals, certificates of insurance, access, protection, and restricted work hours.
Let’s talk about your home
Bring us the project that needs experience.
Tell us what you want to change, what is not working, and where you need guidance. We’ll help you understand the right next step.
Schedule your consultation