If your tub doesn’t fit your routine anymore, converting it to a walk-in shower is one of the fastest ways to make a San Diego bathroom feel larger, brighter, and easier to maintain. Homeowners choose this project for safer entry, quicker clean-up, and a more modern look that photographs well when it’s time to sell. With over 30 years remodeling bathrooms in Southern California, CALbath plans each conversion around how you live now and how you want the room to feel for years.
Why tub-to-shower conversions are so popular in San Diego
Many homes here have compact secondary baths or primary baths with an oversized alcove tub that rarely gets used. Removing that bulk opens sightlines, improves traffic flow, and lets natural light travel across the room. The result is a bathroom that reads “calm and clean” instead of “tight and dated.” A well-executed conversion doesn’t require moving walls; it just requires good planning and careful waterproofing.
What actually changes when you convert
The footprint can stay similar, but the experience changes completely. Entry becomes simpler, especially when you opt for a low threshold. Clear glass replaces a curtain, so the full width of the space is visible. Wall finishes extend to the ceiling for a taller feel. Storage shifts off the tub edge and into a niche or slim ledge. Ventilation and lighting improve, which keeps glass clearer and grout crisper day to day.
Materials that live well near the coast
Porcelain is our default for most shower walls because it delivers the stone look without the stone maintenance. Large formats reduce grout breaks and make the enclosure feel more expansive. For floors and benches, smaller scale or lightly textured surfaces add grip without visual clutter. If you love the depth of natural stone, we design for realistic care and proper drainage so it keeps its character. Glass matters, too: low-iron panels avoid the green tint that can mute whites and beiges, and factory coatings make cleaning faster.
Safety and accessibility without the clinical look
A conversion is an opportunity to make the space easier to use for everyone. Wider entries, lever handles, a well-placed bench, and thoughtful grab bar blocking behind the tile all improve stability without changing the room’s style. CALbath integrates these details into the architecture so the shower reads warm and residential, not institutional.
How CALbath handles water management
What you can’t see is just as important as what you can. Behind the tile, we install full-coverage membranes and proper backer boards, slope the pan correctly to a center or linear drain, and seal every penetration. We treat glass as part of the water-management system rather than a decorative afterthought. That’s how you avoid leaks, rattles, and recurring caulk “repairs.”
Cleaning that fits real life
Conversions are popular partly because they simplify upkeep. Fewer grout lines, coated glass, and balanced ventilation mean a quick squeegee and a mild cleaner usually handle daily maintenance. During your walkthrough, we share care tips specific to your materials so the space stays crisp with less work.
What influences project cost without quoting numbers
Every home is different, so exact pricing varies. More useful is understanding the factors that move the needle. Scope is the big one: keeping plumbing close to existing runs preserves budget for finishes. Material choices matter, especially glass type and hardware. Structural considerations, such as going fully curbless versus a low curb, can affect labor. CALbath clarifies these tradeoffs up front so you invest where performance and longevity pay you back.
Timeline and what to expect
A typical conversion includes consultation and measurements, final selections, demolition, plumbing adjustments, waterproofing, tile and surfaces, glass measure and install, and finishing details. We protect adjacent areas, keep the jobsite tidy, and communicate what’s happening at each step. You’ll always know what’s next and why.
Common pitfalls (and how we steer you around them)
Patchwork fixes over questionable backer boards, under-sized ventilation, and busy tile patterns that shrink a small room can undermine a good plan. So can hardware mixes that look accidental or niches placed where overspray collects and stains. Our process catches these issues on paper before they become problems in the field.
Why homeowners choose CALbath for conversions
Bathrooms are what we do, every day, across San Diego and Orange County. That focus shows up in the details you feel: solid benches, quiet fans, glass that seals and stays smooth, pans that drain correctly, grout that resists everyday wear, and storage that disappears into the design. We specify quality brands, install with craft-first methods, and finish with care instructions you’ll actually use. It’s a calm, organized process that respects your home and your time.
Bottom line
A tub-to-shower conversion turns an underused footprint into a shower that looks bigger than it measures, lives easier than before, and holds up to real life. When you plan the layout intentionally, choose materials that earn their keep, and install with professional waterproofing, you get a bathroom that feels new for years. That’s the CALbath approach.
Ready to talk about your conversion?
Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Design Consultation. The design experts at CALbath have helped thousands of homeowners across San Diego and Orange County create bathrooms they love. Contact us today to schedule your completely free, no-obligation design consultation and discover what 30 years of experience can do for your home. Prefer to chat first? Call for a quote and we’ll walk you through smart options for your space.