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Walk-In Shower Conversion in Roanoke, VA

Convert an old tub or dated shower into a modern walk-in with proper waterproofing.

A walk-in shower conversion is the most common single-scope bathroom project in Roanoke: pull the old tub or basic fiberglass shower, waterproof the framing correctly, tile a curbless or low-curb walk-in, install a glass panel or door, and set a modern shower valve. Most conversions run $9,500 to $18,000 depending on size, tile choice, and whether the door is a fixed panel or a full enclosure. The waterproofing system underneath (Schluter Kerdi, RedGard, or a similar sheet or liquid membrane, backed by proper slope and drain choice) is the part of the job nobody ever sees again, and the only part that cannot be corrected later without taking the tile off.

What the work involves

  • Full waterproofing per TCNA and manufacturer guidelines, Schluter, RedGard, or hot-mopped where the substrate calls for it
  • Proper slope to drain, verified with a water test before tile goes down
  • Tile installation with the right thinset for the substrate and tile type (porcelain, ceramic, stone)
  • Linear or point drains, and curbless entry where a walker or a chair has to get in
  • A modern pressure-balanced or thermostatic shower valve in place of the old one
  • Glass door or fixed panel installation, tempered glass throughout
  • Old fixtures hauled and disposed properly

Common questions about shower conversion

Why does a shower conversion take longer than it looks like it should?

Because a good part of it is waiting rather than working. The membrane cures, the pan holds water overnight to prove it, the thinset under the tile sets before anyone grouts it, and the grout cures before anyone runs water down it. None of that is compressible by adding people. A curbless conversion adds a step on top: the subfloor has to be recessed so the shower floor can sit flush with the room and still fall toward the drain.

How much does a walk-in shower conversion cost in Roanoke?

Most walk-in shower conversions in Roanoke run $9,500 to $18,000. A basic alcove tile shower with a standard glass panel and mid-grade tile lands at $9,500 to $12,000. A larger walk-in with premium porcelain, a linear drain, and a full glass enclosure runs $14,000 to $18,000. Curbless (zero-entry) conversions add $1,500 to $2,500, because dropping the shower floor into the framing means opening the floor. Custom bench seats, niches, and mosaic accents add scope and cost proportionally.

Should I keep a tub or convert to a walk-in shower?

This is a personal decision, but a practical one. If it is the only tub in the house and you have young kids or expect to sell to a family, keep the tub. If it is a secondary bath, or the primary in an aging-in-place scenario, a walk-in shower is usually the right call. The pattern in the Roanoke resale market is that the primary bath wants a shower and the house wants a tub somewhere; it does not have to be the same room. Removing the last tub in a three-bedroom house is the one version of this that costs you buyers.

What is the difference between Schluter Kerdi and RedGard?

Both are legitimate waterproofing systems used across the industry. Kerdi is a fabric membrane you fold and thinset over a foam board substrate, extremely reliable, well-documented, and what most Roanoke tile setters trained in the last decade default to. RedGard is a liquid-applied membrane you roll onto cement board, cheaper on material but more sensitive to application thickness. Both work when installed correctly. Schluter is the better default for anything above a basic budget scope; RedGard is fine for hall baths where the budget is tight. What matters most is that the person installing it knows the system.

Related Reading

More on shower conversion in the Roanoke Valley

Curbless Shower Conversion in a Roanoke Home: What It Takes

The specific structural and design considerations for converting a standard bathroom to a curbless (zero-entry) walk-in shower. Aging-in-place, contemporary design, and older-home constraints.

Schluter Kerdi vs RedGard vs Kerdi-Board for Showers

The three legitimate residential shower waterproofing systems compared, Schluter Kerdi sheet membrane, RedGard liquid membrane, and Kerdi-Board integrated substrate. When each fits.

Other Services

Consider these adjacent scopes

Bathrooms sometimes benefit from combined scope. If you are already remodeling one bathroom, adding a second with the same crew and the same mobilization usually saves 15 to 25 percent versus separate projects.

Full Bathroom Remodel

Complete bathroom renovation, the room taken down to the studs and rebuilt

Tub-to-Shower Conversion

Replace an unused tub with a walk-in shower, most common single-day-quote job in Roanoke

Small Bathroom & Powder Room Remodel

Half-bath, powder room, and small hall-bath remodels, tight footprint, big impact

Primary Bathroom Remodel

Primary suite bathroom builds, separate walk-in shower, double vanity, spa-scale scope

Ready to plan your bathroom remodel?

Call (540) 384-4486 or use the quote form for a free written quote on any bathroom project in the Roanoke Valley.

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