Before work begins
Why homeowners convert the tub
Many Phoenix bathrooms have a tub that rarely gets used as a tub. It serves as a shower with a high wall to step over and a curtain that never quite seals. Converting that alcove to a tile shower keeps the same footprint while making the space easier to use and more pleasant to look at. It is one of the most common shower projects we discuss.
Sons Marble & Tile handles tub to shower conversions as complete tile installations. We answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 602-885-7438. The first step is understanding what is behind and under the existing tub, because that shapes the rest of the plan.
Removing the tub and surround
Removal is part of our installation, not a standalone service. Steel and cast iron tubs are heavy and may need to be broken up to leave the house; fiberglass and acrylic units are lighter but often attached to the walls. The tile or panels around the tub come off with their backer so we can see the framing.
Once the alcove is open, we check studs and the floor for past water exposure, look at how the slab or subfloor sits where the tub was, and note anything that needs repair before rebuilding. We share what we find before going further.
Drain and valve coordination
A tub drain sits at one end, close to the wall, and at a different height than a shower drain. Converting usually means moving the drain toward the center of the new pan, or to a line at the back wall for a linear drain, and changing the trap. On a slab, that means opening concrete. This is plumbing work done by a licensed plumber, and we coordinate the sequence with them.
The valve often changes too. Tub valves have a spout outlet and sit low; a shower may want the valve higher, a new head location, or a handheld. Those decisions are made before waterproofing so the walls are closed only once.
Pan options for the new shower
The floor of the new shower can be a site built mortar bed with a membrane, a foam or prefabricated sloped tray system with bonded waterproofing, or a design with a linear drain and single plane slope. Each option has different height, drain, and tile implications. We recommend a pan approach based on the alcove, the drain location your plumber can achieve, and the floor tile you want.
The entry can be a low curb, which is common in tub alcoves, or a curbless design if the floor can be recessed. Curbless in a conversion is a bigger project and needs separate assessment.
Wall prep and tile
Tub alcove walls were built to meet a tub, not to run all the way to the floor. The lower section where the tub flange sat needs new framing or backing, and the walls should be checked for flatness and plumb. We correct the walls, install backer and a waterproofing system that ties into the pan, and plan niches between studs while the walls are open.
Wall tile layout is then planned so cuts are balanced at corners and the ceiling, and the valve sits comfortably within the pattern.
Glass and the finished entry
Once the curb and walls are tiled, the glass company measures for the enclosure. In a converted alcove, a fixed panel with a hinged door is common, as is a sliding system for tighter bathrooms. We make sure the curb is level along its length and that solid backing sits where hinges or clamps will attach, so the glass can be installed cleanly.
Timeline and what to send
A conversion moves through removal, plumbing, pan, waterproofing, tile, grout, and glass, with curing time between some steps. The total depends on what removal reveals, plumbing scheduling, and your tile choices, so we explain the sequence rather than promise a fixed number of days. If it is your only bathroom, we talk about that early.
Send photos of the tub alcove, the valve, and the bathroom floor, plus the alcove width and length. Call Sons Marble & Tile, ROC 294160, at 602-885-7438, any hour of any day.