Bathtub to Shower Conversion in Arlington, MA
You want the tub gone and a shower you can step into without climbing over a ledge, and you want to know what that job actually involves before you call anyone. This page walks through how a bathtub to shower conversion runs in an Arlington bathroom, what it costs, and what you end up with.
Arlington’s housing stock is old. The median home here was built around 1931, and close to half the town’s homes went up before 1939. That means most of the tubs we pull out are cast iron, sitting on drain lines that are cast iron or galvanized steel and usually due for replacement on their own timeline anyway. We check the drain line and the subfloor before we quote the job, not after the wall is already open.
Why Arlington homeowners call us for bathtub to shower conversion
A lot of Arlington bathrooms were built to a small footprint, often five feet by seven feet or smaller, because that was standard for a single bathroom serving a family in a 1920s or 1930s house. Pulling a cast iron tub out of a room that size, without cracking the tile on the wall you’re keeping, takes a different approach than the same job in a newer house with more room to work in. In East Arlington and around the two-family and triple-decker streets, we also run into bathrooms stacked directly over a kitchen or a downstairs unit, which changes how we handle the drain relocation and the subfloor blocking for a grab bar. On anything built before 1980, we test for asbestos in the old tile mastic and adhesive before we start cutting, because a lot of it is there, and it changes how demo day goes.
What We Do
- Removing the existing tub, surround, and any tile down to the studs or original plaster
- Testing for asbestos in old adhesive and mastic on pre-1980 tile jobs, and handling abatement if it comes back positive
- Inspecting and, where needed, replacing the drain line and shutoff valves before the new pan goes in
- Framing and setting a shower pan or a poured curb, sized to the room
- Installing cement board and a waterproofing membrane before any tile goes on
- Setting new tile or an acrylic surround, based on what you pick
- Installing a new shower valve, showerhead, and any niche or bench you've asked for
- Adding blocking behind the wall for a future grab bar, even if you don't want one installed now
- Confirming the bathroom has working exhaust ventilation, and adding a fan if it doesn't
What it costs, roughly
Most bathtub to shower conversions in Arlington run from about $7,000 to $16,000. A straightforward swap into the existing footprint, with a fiberglass or acrylic surround, sits at the low end. A custom tile shower, a relocated drain, or work to fix rot or old plumbing found once the tub is out pushes it toward the high end. Room size and how much of the original plumbing needs replacing move the number more than anything else. For the real breakdown by scope, see the cost page.
How the job runs
Most conversions take three to five working days once the permit is in hand. Day one is demo: tub, surround, and old tile come out, and we confirm what the drain and subfloor look like underneath. Day two is rough plumbing and framing for the pan or curb. The next one to two days are waterproofing and tile or surround installation. The last day is fixtures, trim, and cleanup.
A plumbing permit is required for any drain or supply line work, and in Arlington that goes through the town's Inspectional Services Department. We pull the permit and schedule the inspections as part of the job, not as an add-on.
Recent Work in Arlington
A 1920s single-family off Mass Ave had a five-by-seven bathroom with the original cast iron tub still in place. We cut the tub out in sections, found a galvanized drain line that needed replacing while the floor was already open, and built a 36-by-48 tiled shower with a bench in the same footprint.
A two-family near Arlington Heights had an upstairs bathroom sitting directly over the kitchen below. We added blocking in the joist bay for a future grab bar, relocated the drain a few inches to clear a joist, and installed a low-curb shower with a niche instead of the old tub and surround.
A Cape near the Brackett School had a half-height tiled tub surround from what looked like a 1970s update. We matched the new tile layout to the hall bathroom down to the trim height, replaced the old shutoff valves, and added an exhaust fan where there hadn’t been one.
Serving Arlington and the Surrounding Towns
We also do bathtub to shower conversions in Belmont, Lexington, Winchester, and Medford.
Areas We Serve:
- Belmont
- Lexington
- Winchester
- Medford
Get a Free Estimate
If you’re ready to see what this looks like in your bathroom, book a free in-home estimate and we’ll walk the space with you before we write a number down. Call 857-847-4440, or use the contact page to set a time.
What Arlington Clients Say
Arlington Tub to Shower completely transformed our outdated bathroom into a beautiful, modern space. The team was professional, respectful, and made the entire process easy from start to finish. We love our new shower and the quality of the work exceeded our expectations.
Jessica M.
— Waltham, MA
We couldn’t be happier with our tub-to-shower conversion. Arlington Tub to Shower helped us choose the right design and completed the project with great attention to detail. Our new bathroom feels safer, more comfortable, and looks amazing.
David R.
— Waltham, MA
The craftsmanship and service were outstanding. Arlington Tub to Shower made upgrading our bathroom simple and stress-free. The team kept us informed throughout the project, and the final result gave our bathroom a fresh, updated look that we truly enjoy.
Sarah L.
— Waltham, MA