Your Bathtub Is Taking Up Space You Could Love Every Single Morning. Here Is How to Convert It the Right Way, on Budget, Without the Renovation Horror Stories.
Here is a question worth asking honestly: when did you last use your bathtub? Not for the children’s bath time — but for yourself, a deliberate soak, an actual use of this fixture that occupies roughly 14 to 16 square feet of your bathroom floor plan? For the majority of Durham Region homeowners we speak with, the answer is months or longer. The tub is there because it was there when they moved in, and replacing it has felt like a large, uncertain project better left for another year.
That year is 2026. Bathtub to shower conversions have become one of the most requested bathroom renovations at Brandom Kitchens & Bath Design Centre — and one of the most satisfying to deliver — precisely because the result transforms a room that most homeowners use twice a day. This guide covers the seven reasons Durham Region homeowners are choosing to convert, what the project actually costs in Canadian dollars (CAD), how the construction process works step by step, what design options are available, and how to make sure your conversion adds value rather than creates complications.
Q1. Why are Durham Region homeowners choosing bathtub to shower conversions in 2026?
The decision to convert a tub to a shower is rarely about disliking baths in principle. It is almost always about making better use of the space you live in. Here are the seven most common reasons Brandom clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, and Clarington are making the switch:
Reason 1: The Tub Is Not Being Used
Industry surveys across North America consistently show that the majority of homeowners over 35 use their primary bathtub fewer than once a month. In a secondary bathroom or ensuite, that percentage is even lower. When a fixture occupies a significant portion of a bathroom and delivers no weekly value, converting it to a shower that serves you every morning is a straightforward quality-of-life decision.
Reason 2: Shower Conversions Reclaim and Feel Larger
Removing a built-in tub and replacing it with a walk-in shower — especially a curbless one — opens the bathroom dramatically. The continuous floor line makes the room read as larger, easier to clean, and more intentionally designed. In Durham Region bathrooms that run 50 to 80 square feet, this spatial transformation is significant.
Reason 3: Aging-In-Place Accessibility
A curbless walk-in shower eliminates the step-over hazard of both a tub lip and a curbed shower base. For homeowners planning to age in place in their Durham Region homes, or for those who already have family members with mobility considerations, the conversion to an accessible curbless shower is both practical and valuable at resale. Grab bar blocking built into the walls during conversion allows future bar installation without invasive work.
Reason 4: Design Modernization
An alcove tub with a sliding door or a shower curtain is a design signature of a past era. Replacing it with a frameless glass walk-in shower, custom tile, a linear drain, and a rain shower head transforms the bathroom from dated to designed. For Durham Region homeowners approaching a sale or simply wanting to enjoy their home more, this visual upgrade is among the highest-impact renovations available.
Reason 5: Easier Daily Cleaning
A well-designed shower — with a large-format tile that minimizes grout lines, a linear drain that promotes water movement to a single point, and frameless glass rather than a track-based sliding door — is dramatically easier to clean than a fiberglass tub surround with a tile shelf edge and a curtain rod. This is a practical, daily quality-of-life improvement that our clients consistently mention in post-renovation conversations.
Reason 6: Added Home Value in Durham Region’s Market
Real estate agents across Durham Region consistently advise that updated bathrooms — particularly those with walk-in showers — attract buyer attention. A dated tub in the primary ensuite signals deferred renovation; a modern walk-in shower signals a well-maintained, thoughtfully updated home. While specific return-on-investment figures vary by market conditions, a well-executed conversion consistently recoups a meaningful portion of its cost in perceived home value.
Reason 7: Energy and Water Efficiency
A well-designed shower with a low-flow rain head and a hand shower typically uses significantly less water per use than filling a bathtub. For Durham Region homeowners conscious of utility costs and environmental impact, the conversion also reduces hot water consumption — a benefit that accumulates over years of daily use.
Q2. What does a bathtub to shower conversion cost in Durham Region in 2026?
Conversion costs vary based on the size of the existing tub alcove, the complexity of the shower design chosen, the tile selected, and whether plumbing needs to be modified. The table below reflects 2026 installed pricing for bathtub-to-shower conversions in Durham Region in CAD, excluding HST.
| Conversion Scope | Typical Cost (CAD) | What It Typically Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Conversion (same footprint, acrylic or prefab base) | $4,500–$8,000 | Remove tub, install prefab shower base, acrylic surround panels, new fixtures, basic glass door |
| Mid-Range Custom Tile Conversion | $8,000–$16,000 | Cement board substrate, custom tile walls and floor, curbless or curbed glass enclosure, niche, rain head |
| Premium Curbless Spa Conversion | $16,000–$30,000+ | Full waterproofing system, large-format tile, frameless glass, linear drain, bench, rain head + hand shower, lighting |
The key cost drivers specific to bathtub conversions:
- Waterproofing system: This is the most critical and non-negotiable element. A shower conversion requires a continuous waterproofing membrane across all walls and the floor. Cutting corners here is the single most common cause of failed shower renovations. Brandom specifies and installs certified waterproofing systems on every conversion.
- Drain type and location: A standard curbed shower uses a centre or offset drain that often aligns with the existing tub drain, simplifying plumbing. A curbless conversion with a linear drain typically requires the drain to be repositioned toward one wall and the floor to be pre-sloped during the subfloor work — adding cost but delivering a premium result.
- Glass enclosure style: A simple framed or semi-frameless door panel costs less than a fully frameless enclosure with thick tempered glass. The frameless option delivers the spa aesthetic most homeowners want and is significantly easier to clean.
- Tile selection: Tile cost per square foot varies from $4 to $80+ CAD. Large-format tiles reduce grout lines but require more precise installation. The choice of floor tile (mosaic for slip resistance in a shower setting is recommended vs. smooth large-format) affects both material and labour cost.
Q3. How does the bathtub to shower conversion process work at Brandom Kitchens & Bath?
Understanding the construction sequence helps set timeline expectations and lets you ask the right questions of any contractor. Here is the typical process for a Brandom-managed conversion in Durham Region:
Step 1: Design Consultation and 3D Drawing. Our designer visits your home, measures the bathroom, photographs the existing tub alcove, and discusses your design vision, lifestyle needs, and budget. We produce a 3D drawing of the converted shower so you can visualize the finished result before any work begins — including tile pattern, glass placement, niche positioning, and fixture locations.
Step 2: Selections at Our Showroom. You visit our 9,000 sq ft showroom to select tile, glass style, fixtures, and hardware — seeing physical samples together in one place rather than making decisions from separate catalogue pages.
Step 3: Demolition and Substrate Preparation. The tub is removed and the alcove is inspected. The existing wall surfaces, subfloor condition, and plumbing rough-in are assessed. Cement board or equivalent waterproof substrate is installed to all shower walls and the floor.
Step 4: Waterproofing. A continuous, certified waterproofing membrane is applied to all surfaces — walls and floor — before any tile is installed. This is the step that separates a conversion that lasts decades from one that develops moisture problems within years.
Step 5: Tile Installation. Wall tile is installed first, followed by floor tile. Niche framing and tile are integrated into the wall during this phase. Large-format tile installations use leveling systems for a flat, professional result.
Step 6: Glass Enclosure and Fixtures. After tile grout has cured, the glass enclosure is templated and fabricated (typically a one-week lead time for frameless glass). Fixtures — rain head, hand shower, valve trim, and linear drain cover — are installed.
Step 7: Grout Sealing and Final Inspection. Grout is sealed, the glass is installed and adjusted, and a thorough client walkthrough confirms everything meets the standard approved in the original 3D drawing.
Typical total timeline: 2 to 4 weeks from demolition to completion, depending on tile and glass lead times.
Q4. What design options are available for a shower conversion in Durham Region?
The design choices for a converted shower are more varied than most homeowners realize. Here are the primary decisions your Brandom designer will guide you through:
Curbed vs. Curbless Entry. A curbed shower has a short threshold — typically 4″ — that contains water. It is easier and less expensive to build. A curbless (zero-threshold) shower requires the floor to slope toward the drain from a larger area and typically uses a linear drain at one wall. It is the accessibility-preferred and aesthetically superior option.
Centre Drain vs. Linear Drain. A centre point drain paired with a mosaic tile floor is the most common configuration. A linear drain along one wall allows large-format floor tiles with a single-direction slope and delivers a cleaner, more architectural look.
Tile vs. Acrylic Surround Panels. Acrylic or solid-surface panels are faster and less expensive to install than tile, and they eliminate grout entirely — a maintenance advantage. Custom tile offers unlimited design flexibility, the ability to match your design vision precisely, and a quality that reads as higher-end. Brandom can execute both; your designer will discuss the trade-offs for your specific situation.
Glass Enclosure Options:
- Fully frameless: Premium aesthetic, easiest to clean, requires 3/8″ or 1/2″ tempered glass
- Semi-frameless: Hardware at the wall and top but frameless door panel; mid-range cost
- Framed: Most economical, functional, but visually dated in a premium renovation
- Walk-in panel (no door): For larger shower footprints, a single glass panel without a door creates an open, spa-like entry
Bench and Niche Integration. A built-in bench — tiled to match the shower walls — adds comfort and accessibility. Built-in niches in the shower wall, with a tile-lined interior, eliminate bottles on the floor or a hanging organizer. Both are specified and built during the tile installation phase.
Common Questions Durham Region Homeowners Ask About Bathtub to Shower Conversions
Will removing the tub hurt my resale value in Durham Region? This depends on the number of bathrooms in your home. If your home has two or more full bathrooms and one retains a tub, converting the primary ensuite to a walk-in shower is generally viewed positively by buyers. If the home has only one bathroom, retaining a tub is recommended for resale appeal to families with young children.
Can I add a heated floor to my converted shower space? Yes — electric radiant floor heating can be installed beneath the tile in the shower footprint and the surrounding bathroom floor during the conversion project. This is best planned from the outset rather than added later, as it requires electrical rough-in before tile goes down.
How long will the bathroom be out of service during the conversion? For a mid-range custom tile conversion, expect the shower space to be out of service for 10 to 18 days, accounting for demolition, substrate work, tile installation, glass fabrication lead time, and fixture installation. Planning temporary bathroom access with another bathroom in the home or a temporary arrangement is recommended.
Does a shower conversion require a permit in Durham Region municipalities? Most shower conversions that do not involve moving the drain location or adding new electrical circuits do not require a permit. Projects that involve drain relocation, new GFCI circuits for heated floors or lighting, or changes to the plumbing vent system may require municipal permits. Brandom’s team reviews the scope with you and advises on permit requirements before work begins.
Ready to Reclaim Your Bathroom with a Stunning Shower Conversion?
At Brandom Kitchens & Bath Design Centre, we have managed hundreds of bathtub-to-shower conversions across Durham Region — each one designed in 3D, specified to the homeowner’s lifestyle, and built to last. From a simple alcove conversion to a full curbless spa with heated floors and linear drain, our team brings the expertise and trade coordination to deliver a result you will love every single morning.
🚿 Book your free bathtub-to-shower conversion consultation today. Call 905.432.3300 or visit brandomkitchensandbath.com — serving Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, and all of Durham Region.
#BathtubToShowerConversionDurham #BathroomRenovationOntario #BrandomKitchensAndBath #ShowerConversionDurhamRegion #AjaxBathroomRemodel