Why Ashburn homeowners convert tubs to showers
A lot of Ashburn homes were built with a tub in every full bath, including a large soaking tub in the primary suite. Years later, many owners find the tub is used for storage more than bathing, while the shower next to it feels tight. Converting the tub space to a larger walk-in shower is a way to get daily value out of square footage the room already has.
The other common reason is getting in and out safely. Stepping over a tub wall gets harder with age, injury or a bad knee. A low-threshold or curbless shower removes that step entirely, and it can be planned with grab bar blocking and a bench from the start.
What a conversion includes
- Removing the existing tub or shower
- Framing and waterproofing for the new shower
- Tile, glass and fixture selection
- Curbless and low-threshold options
The waterproofing is the part you will never see and the part that matters most. Bathroom Brigade uses Schluter's tile-in waterproofing systems, including Kerdi-Shower kits and Kerdi-Board, which are designed to keep moisture from getting behind the tile. The tile is the finish; the membrane underneath is what keeps water out of the wall and subfloor.
Both photos above are from Ashburn: a herringbone tile walk-in shower from one project, and a tub and shower combination with a vertical marble surround and built-in niche from another. Keeping a tub is a perfectly reasonable choice too, especially if it is the only tub in a house with young children.
Questions to settle before you commit
Will the shower fit where the tub is?
Usually the tub alcove becomes the shower footprint, which keeps the drain close to where it already is. Moving the shower somewhere else is possible but turns a conversion into something closer to a full remodel.
Curb, low threshold or curbless?
A curbless entry needs the shower floor to slope to the drain without a step, which can mean recessing or rebuilding part of the subfloor. Whether that is practical depends on the framing under your bathroom, and in a second-floor bath it also depends on what is below. We check before recommending it.
Glass, niche and bench
Glass is measured after the tile is set, so it is one of the last pieces installed. Niches and benches need to be designed into the waterproofing, not cut in afterward. Decide on them during design.
Permits for a shower conversion in Loudoun County
Moving or replacing a drain, valve or supply lines is plumbing work, and Loudoun County requires trade permits for residential plumbing with rough-in and final inspections. A conversion that also adds lighting or a new fan adds electrical work. We tell you what your specific scope needs.
Typical cost
| Tier | Typical Scope | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-In Showers & Tub Conversions | Replacing an old tub with a walk-in shower, or upgrading an existing one. | $8,000–$18,000 |
Typical Northern Virginia reference ranges from Bathroom Brigade's published cost guide. They are a starting point for planning, not a quote. Your written scope sets the actual price for your Ashburn bathroom.
The range moves with the size of the shower, how much wall is tiled, the glass, whether the entry is curbless, and how much of the floor has to be rebuilt. Our tub-to-shower guide goes through those decisions in more detail.
Can any tub be converted to a walk-in shower?▸
Often, but it depends on the room footprint, drain location, plumbing, framing and the type of entry you want. We look at the existing bathroom before finalizing the scope.
What is the difference between a tub-to-shower conversion and a full remodel?▸
A conversion replaces just the tub or shower area: framing, waterproofing, tile and fixtures for that one space. A full remodel changes the layout, tile, vanity and fixtures throughout the bathroom.
Should I remove the only tub in my house?▸
Think about who lives there now and who might later. Some families keep one tub for bathing small children; others never use one. If another tub remains in the house, converting a second one is an easier call.
Can a walk-in shower be curbless?▸
Yes, curbless and low-threshold showers are part of our service. Whether curbless is practical depends on the floor structure under the bathroom, which we check during the consultation.