Short answer: Yes. This small bathroom had a tub with a shower curtain. MG Builders replaced it with a walk-in shower: glass doors, marble-look tile, a rain shower head and a pebble floor. The window stayed right where it was.
The homeowner put it best in their Google review: "We didn’t think we could possibly turn this small bathroom into a personal spa oasis."
The video above shows the whole change in under 8 seconds. Here's a closer look at the before, the after, and what changed in between.
Before: A Tub and a Shower Curtain
A standard tub with a tile surround, a shower curtain, a pole caddy for the shampoo, and a pedestal sink.
After: A Walk-In Shower With Glass Doors
Same room, same window. The tub's spot is now a walk-in shower, and the pedestal sink became a navy vanity.
What changed:
- The tub came out, and a walk-in shower with sliding glass doors went in.
- Large marble-look tiles run up to the ceiling.
- A square rain shower head, plus a hand shower on a slide bar.
- A black pebble floor inside the shower.
- The window stayed. It's trimmed in the same tile now, and its ledge holds towels and soap.
- The pedestal sink became a navy vanity with a drawer, two doors and a speckled white top.
- A lit mirror with touch buttons, with a crystal light bar above it.
In their review, the homeowner tagged the work as bathroom remodeling, tile work, plumbing, drywall repair, interior structural repairs and general repairs.
Why It Feels Like a Spa
"Spa" was the homeowner's word. Here's what gives the room that feeling:
- Glass instead of a curtain. You can see all the way to the back wall, so the room looks bigger.
- Rain from above. The square head pours water straight down, and the hand shower is there for rinsing off.
- Big tiles, fewer grout lines. The marble look runs in long, calm lines instead of a busy grid.
- Smooth stone underfoot. Pebbles feel good under bare feet.
- A place for everything. The vanity's drawer and doors give everyday things a home.
- Soft light. The mirror lights up, and the crystal bar above it adds a little sparkle.
In the Homeowner's Words
Their Google review, with their name and photo blurred:
MG turned lemons into lemonade. We didn’t think we could possibly turn this small bathroom into a personal spa oasis. Worth every budget friendly penny.
5 stars on Google. They also marked MG positive for responsiveness, punctuality, professionalism and value.
Tub to Shower Questions
Can you replace a tub with a walk-in shower? Yes. In this bathroom, the walk-in shower took the tub's spot, and the window in that wall stayed. It's more than a swap: the homeowner's review lists plumbing, tile work and drywall among the work MG did.
Can a small bathroom have a walk-in shower? Yes, this one does. Clear glass doors keep it feeling open, because you can see through to the back wall.
Can you have a window in a walk-in shower? Yes. This bathroom's window was already in the tub wall. Now it's inside the shower, trimmed in the same marble-look tile, and its ledge works as a shelf.
Is a pebble shower floor a good idea? If you like the feel of smooth stone, yes. Small pebbles mean lots of grout lines, which give your feet extra grip. The trade-off is more grout to clean than on a large-tile floor.
Do you need a permit to replace a tub with a shower in New Jersey? Usually, yes, because it's plumbing work. Under New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code, "a construction permit is required for any new construction as well as for work on existing buildings, including structural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work." The exception is "ordinary maintenance, which includes routine repair." The owner or the contractor applies to the town's construction office (NJ Department of Community Affairs).
What does it cost to replace a tub with a walk-in shower? It depends on the bathroom: the size of the shower, the tile and glass you pick, the fixtures, and what the plumbing needs. MG gives you a written proposal after a free visit to your home.
Thinking about trading your tub for a shower? See MG's bathroom remodeling service, or get a free estimate below.
Giovanni Merino
Owner & Founder, MG Builders LLC · 29+ Years Experience
Giovanni founded MG Builders in 1997 and leads the Edison-based remodeling company. NJ Home Improvement Contractor Business registration NJ #13VH08376600.
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