Before work begins
Deciding whether to keep a tub somewhere
In Scottsdale homes with more than one bathroom, the tub in a guest or secondary bath is often the one homeowners convert. Before removing it, think about who uses the house. Families with small children, or anyone who enjoys soaking, may want at least one tub to remain. If another bathroom has a tub, converting this one is usually an easy decision.
It also helps to consider resale and guests. Some buyers look for a tub somewhere in the home, so keeping one in a hall bath while converting another is a common compromise.
We help you think through that choice and then plan the conversion as a full tile shower, with removal included as part of the installation.
Making a tub alcove feel like a shower
A typical tub alcove is long and fairly narrow. As a shower, that shape works well when the valve is on a short end wall and the entry spans most of the long side. A fixed panel with a hinged door, or a sliding system, are common. If you want an open walk-in feel, a partial panel can work when the shower is long enough that spray stays inside.
Some Scottsdale conversions borrow space from a linen closet or a neighboring vanity area to deepen the shower. That involves framing and possibly plumbing changes, which we discuss before design is finalized.
Plumbing sequence with your plumber
The tub drain must be moved to suit the new pan, and on a slab that means cutting and patching concrete. The valve may be replaced or raised, the spout removed, and a handheld or new head added. These are plumbing tasks for a licensed plumber. Our part is making sure the drain lands where the pan design needs it and that everything is set before we waterproof.
Niches and a small bench
Tub alcoves rarely had storage beyond a corner shelf. A niche on the back wall, framed between studs and kept clear of the valve, adds storage without using standing room. A small corner bench or a foot ledge can fit in longer alcoves. Each is waterproofed continuously with the walls and sloped so water does not sit.
We size niches to the wall tile so edges finish cleanly, and we align them with tile joints where the layout allows.
Floor tile and the bathroom floor outside
Shower floor tile in a conversion is usually a mosaic for a center drain or a larger tile for a linear drain. Outside the shower, the bathroom floor may have tile that ran up to the old tub. If that floor stays, we plan how the new curb meets it and what will cover the strip where the tub sat. If the floor is being replaced, we align both layouts.
What removal tends to uncover
Older tub installations sometimes hide problems that were invisible while the tub was in place. Water that slipped past a failed caulk joint at the tub edge can soften the bottom plate of the wall framing or stain the subfloor. Leaks at the overflow or drain can leave the slab damp beneath the tub. None of this is assumed in advance, but we look for it carefully.
If we find damage, we stop, show you what we see, and discuss what repair is needed before rebuilding. Framing repairs and anything involving plumbing are coordinated with the appropriate trades. Building a new tile shower over a compromised substrate would waste your investment, so this pause is a normal part of a careful conversion. It also gives you a clear point to confirm the final plan, fixture locations, and tile selections before waterproofing goes on.
Schedule and starting the conversation
The schedule depends on what removal reveals, plumber availability, curing times, and glass lead times. We walk you through the sequence without promising a fixed number of days, and we let you know which steps leave the bathroom unusable.
Send Sons Marble & Tile photos of the tub and surround, the alcove dimensions, and your tile ideas. Call 602-885-7438, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ROC 294160.