A tub to shower conversion typically takes 1 to 2 days when an acrylic walk in shower replaces the tub, according to the Tubbs by Grubbs cost index. This guide walks through install day in order, explains what can add time, such as layout changes, plumbing moves or damage behind the wall, and compares the schedule with a tiled shower that often takes 1 to 2 weeks. It also covers how to prepare so the work stays on schedule.
Most acrylic tub to shower conversions take 1 to 2 days. The Tubbs by Grubbs cost index lists a tub to shower conversion at 1 to 2 days, with an acrylic walk in shower as the most common project, and lists a walk in tub at about 1 day. A simple swap into the same footprint sits at the short end of that range. Add a plumbing change or a larger shower and the job moves toward two days.
The reason it is quick is the material. An acrylic or solid surface system arrives as a prefabricated base and wall panels, so there is no waiting on a mortar bed, a waterproofing membrane or grout to cure. The crew removes the old tub, sets the new base, fits the walls and installs the fixtures in one continuous run of work.
The same cost index puts the typical installed price of a tub to shower conversion at $14,000 to $25,000. The number of days follows the scope of the job, not the speed of the crew, so ask for the scope in writing along with the day count that goes with it.
What to do: before you book, decide whether the drain and valve can stay where they are. That one answer usually decides whether you should plan for one day or two.
Install day runs in a set order over 1 to 2 days: the crew protects the floors, shuts off the water, removes the old tub, inspects and repairs the wall and plumbing, sets the new base and wall panels, installs the fixtures, then seals and cleans up. The company's cost index gives the total as 1 to 2 days, and the steps below are the sequence the work follows. Exact hour marks vary with the crew and the scope of your bathroom, so ask for a time plan for your own job.
The day begins with protection and shutoff. The crew covers floors and the path from the door to the bathroom, then shuts off the water and disconnects the tub drain and fixtures. Demolition comes next: the old tub and its surround are cut out and carried away.
Once the tub is out, the walls, floor and drain area are exposed for the first time. This is the inspection point, where any rot, leaks or framing problems show up. If everything is sound, the plumbing is adjusted for the shower, and the new base is set and leveled. Wall panels follow, then the valve trim, shower head, shelving and any grab bars. Sealing and caulking come near the end, then glass if your design has it, then cleanup and a walkthrough.
What to do: be home for the inspection point and the final walkthrough, because those are the two moments when decisions get made.
Four things stretch a 1 to 2 day conversion: a layout change, a plumbing move, a larger or custom shower, and damage found behind the wall. A same footprint acrylic swap avoids all four, which is why it sits at the short end of the schedule.
Layout changes matter because the new base and walls have to fit the framing. Moving a drain or valve means opening the floor or wall, and that adds plumbing work before any panels can go up. Custom sizing and upgrades add steps too. The company's published ranges show where scope grows: a low threshold barrier free shower runs $17,000 to $24,000, a shower with a glass door and shelving runs $18,000 to $25,000, and a larger or custom size shower runs $19,000 to $25,000 on its shower remodel page. The accessible shower line on the cost index is also listed at 1 to 2 days.
Damage behind the wall is the unknown. A tub that has leaked for years can leave soft framing or a wet subfloor, and that has to be repaired before the new system goes in.
What to do: ask the installer to tell you which of these four apply to your bathroom before the contract is signed, and ask what the plan is if the wall turns out worse than expected.
An acrylic or solid surface shower takes 1 to 2 days, while a tiled shower often takes 1 to 2 weeks, according to the install time row in the Tubbs by Grubbs acrylic vs tile guide. The gap comes from the way each one is built. Acrylic is manufactured ahead of time and fitted on site. Tile is assembled piece by piece, with waterproofing, setting material and grout that each need time before the next step.
The difference continues after install. The same guide lists acrylic as wiping clean with no grout and very low upkeep, while tile needs regular scrubbing and sealing and ongoing sealing and regrouting. Tile does offer fully custom patterns and colors, which is the reason some homeowners accept the longer schedule.
The decision comes down to how long you can live without the shower and how much upkeep you want to take on. If you have one bathroom, a week or two without it is a real disruption. If you have a second bath and want a specific custom look, tile may be worth it.
What to do: decide on the look first, then check what that choice does to the calendar before you commit.
Acrylic and solid surface compared with tile
| Feature | Acrylic and solid surface | Tile |
|---|---|---|
| Install time | 1 to 2 days | Often 1 to 2 weeks |
| Cleaning | Wipes clean, no grout | Regular scrubbing and sealing |
| Mold and mildew | Resists it, seamless surface | Grout lines can trap it |
| Upkeep over time | Very low | Ongoing sealing and regrouting |
Source: Tubbs by Grubbs published guide, Acrylic vs Tile Shower
Yes, usually: the same scope that adds days, such as moving plumbing or a larger shower, also adds cost, and that scope is priced into the exact quote at the in home visit. The Tubbs by Grubbs cost index shows a tub to shower conversion at $14,000 to $25,000 and 1 to 2 days. A full bathroom remodel on the same index runs $20,000 to $45,000 and takes 1 to 3 weeks, which shows how much the schedule stretches once the whole room is involved.
Within tub to shower work, the company's tub to shower page publishes the ranges below. A standard acrylic walk in shower sits at the bottom, and options such as a barrier free threshold, glass and shelving, or a seat with grab bars move the price up.
The practical point is that a price quote and a schedule should arrive together. If one estimate promises a day count that is much shorter than the others for a similar scope, ask what is left out. If a quote includes a plumbing move or wall repair, the schedule should say so.
What to do: get the scope, the total price and the number of working days written on the same page, so you can compare estimates fairly.
Tub to shower conversion options and typical installed ranges
| Conversion option | Typical installed range |
|---|---|
| Acrylic walk in shower, standard | $14,000 to $19,000 |
| Low threshold barrier free shower | $17,000 to $24,000 |
| Shower with glass door and shelving | $18,000 to $25,000 |
| Shower with seat and grab bars | $16,000 to $22,000 |
Source: Tubbs by Grubbs published tub to shower price table
Yes, an older West Monroe home can lengthen the schedule, because older bathrooms are more likely to hide damage or outdated plumbing once the tub comes out. Census ACS 5 year 2023 data puts the median home in West Monroe at a build year of 1976, and 24.9 percent of homes were built before 1960. Only 4.9 percent were built after 2010. The bathroom behind an older tub has had decades of daily moisture, which is where damaged framing or an aging drain tends to turn up.
The same Census data shows a median home value of $174,400 in West Monroe, 44 percent owner occupied homes, and a median of 5.1 rooms per home. That points to compact hall baths where a tub to shower swap often has to fit a tight footprint. A tight footprint is good news for the schedule when the drain stays put, because the work stays at the short end of the 1 to 2 day range.
The Tubbs by Grubbs office at 402 Cypress St is in West Monroe, so estimates in the city start within about 2 miles of the office, and a follow up visit is just as close.
What to do: if your home dates from the 1970s or earlier, treat a possible wall repair as a realistic scenario and ask how it would be handled before work begins.
Choose the installer whose written quote gives a clear scope and a firm 1 to 2 day schedule, not simply the lowest day count. Ask each installer for a written scope that names the base and wall system, whether the drain and valve move, who handles demolition and haul away, and how many working days they expect. The company's cost index lists 1 to 2 days for a tub to shower conversion, so an estimate far outside that range deserves a question.
Ask about permits too. Requirements differ by city and by the type of plumbing work, so confirm with the installer and your local building office whether your job needs one, and whether that affects the start date.
If you plan to use outside funding, settle it before you book. The Louisiana Department of Health Community Choices Waiver funds Environmental Accessibility Adaptations, including grab bars and a roll in shower, for people who are 21 or older, meet long term care Medicaid eligibility and meet nursing home level of care. The VA HISA grant pays up to $6,800, and the Texas STAR+PLUS program allows up to $7,500 in lifetime minor home modifications.
What to do: pick a date only after the scope, price, permit question and any funding approval are confirmed in writing.
Sources: Tubbs by Grubbs published cost index (project timelines and typical installed ranges); Tubbs by Grubbs published guide, Acrylic vs Tile Shower; Tubbs by Grubbs published tub to shower price table; Tubbs by Grubbs published shower remodel and accessible showers price tables; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 year 2023, West Monroe city; Louisiana Department of Health Community Choices Waiver; VA HISA grant and Texas STAR+PLUS program limits as published by Tubbs by Grubbs.
For an acrylic tub to shower conversion, expect 1 to 2 days, based on the Tubbs by Grubbs cost index. A simple same footprint swap sits near one day, and a job with plumbing changes or repairs moves toward two. A tiled shower often takes 1 to 2 weeks, so the material you choose changes the answer more than anything else. If your home has only one bathroom, ask the installer when the new shower can be used, and line up a backup such as a gym membership or a family member's home for the install window.
Install day follows a set order over 1 to 2 days: the crew protects the floors, shuts off the water and removes the old tub and surround, inspects the walls and floor, adjusts the plumbing, sets the base and wall panels, installs the fixtures, grab bars or shelving, then seals, cleans up and walks through the work with you. Plan to be home for the inspection after demolition and for the final walkthrough, since those are the points where decisions are made.
Plan for 1 to 2 days of work and clear the bathroom and the path to it before the crew arrives. Remove towels, toiletries, rugs and wall decor, and move anything fragile out of nearby rooms. Make sure the crew can park close to the door and reach the water shutoff. Tell the installer about pets, small children and any working hours you need to respect. Confirm the scope and day count in writing beforehand, and arrange a place to shower elsewhere for the install window.
The crew fixes it before the new shower goes in, which can stretch a 1 to 2 day conversion, while the exact Tubbs by Grubbs quote stays the price you pay. Older homes are more likely to have them: Census ACS 5 year 2023 data shows a median build year of 1976 in West Monroe. Typical finds include soft framing, a wet subfloor or a worn drain. If you are comparing other installers, ask before signing whether their price can change once the wall is open.
An acrylic or solid surface shower takes 1 to 2 days, while tile often takes 1 to 2 weeks, according to the Tubbs by Grubbs acrylic vs tile guide. Acrylic arrives as a prefabricated base and panels, so there is no cure time for setting material or grout. Tile is built in stages and needs time between them. The same guide lists acrylic as very low upkeep and tile as needing ongoing sealing and regrouting, so the faster option is also the lower maintenance one.
Usually not by much, since the cost index lists accessible showers at 1 to 2 days, the same as a standard tub to shower conversion. What changes is the scope and price. The company's published accessible shower table shows a low threshold walk in shower at $14,000 to $19,000, a zero threshold roll in shower at $18,000 to $25,000 and a shower with seat and grab bars at $16,000 to $22,000. A zero threshold design that needs floor work is the likeliest to move toward the longer end of the schedule.
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