Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Barrie

Turning an unused Barrie bathtub into a comfortable walk-in shower

Many homeowners across Barrie reach a point where an old bathtub no longer fits how their household uses the bathroom. In older bungalows and two-storey homes in Allandale, Eastview, Sunnidale and Letitia Heights, stepping over a 15-inch cast-iron or acrylic tub apron onto a curved, slippery bottom becomes a daily hazard—or the family simply prefers a comfortable and functional walk-in shower over a curtain-rod tub. In 1990s and 2000s subdivisions like Holly, Ardagh Bluffs and Painswick, the upstairs primary ensuite often has a huge tiled corner tub deck that collects dust while everyone squeezes into a narrow 36-inch stall next to it.

Both Barrie layouts convert cleanly into a custom walk-in shower:

• A five-foot (60 x 30 in or 60 x 32 in) three-wall tub alcove converts into a generous walk-in shower with full-height porcelain walls, a recessed shampoo niche, a low or curbless threshold, and a fixed frameless glass splash panel or sliding doors.
• An oversized corner tub deck beside a narrow stall in a Barrie primary ensuite can be merged into one wide walk-in shower with a built-in bench, overhead rain and hand shower heads, and room for a double vanity.

Completed walk-in shower conversions from our portfolio

See how a standard 3-piece tub bathroom opens up when the alcove is stripped to the studs and rebuilt as a frameless glass walk-in shower in two of our project case studies:

• Navy Shaker Vanity & Walk-in Shower Remodel: A 3-piece bathroom rebuilt with a frameless glass walk-in shower, built-in window bench, patterned feature wall tile, brushed brass hardware and a deep navy shaker vanity.
• Monochrome Walk-in Shower with Body Jets: A full 3-piece conversion featuring a frameless glass shower enclosure, matte-black body jets, dual LED-lit recessed niches, patterned floor tile and a wall-hung vanity.

Six steps behind a watertight tub-to-shower conversion

1. Full tear-out to bare studs. Rather than gluing plastic panels over old tile, our crew removes the bathtub, ceramic surround and damp drywall right down to the wood framing and subfloor.
2. Upsizing the shower drain and P-trap. Standard bathtubs drain through a 1.5-inch waste pipe set near the end wall, whereas a dedicated walk-in shower performs best with a 2-inch P-trap and vent positioned at the centre of the sloped pan or along one wall for a linear drain.
3. Mounting a modern shower mixing valve. Our plumber replaces the old tub valve with a pressure-balanced or thermostatic mixing valve set at comfortable standing (or seated) reach, paired with a diverter for a rain head and slide-bar hand wand.
4. Framing recessed niches, benches and blocking. We frame recessed shampoo niches between the wall studs, build a waterproofed bench or bolt 2x8 lumber blocking for a folding seat and grab bars, and hang waterproof backer board.
5. Continuous bonded waterproofing. We bond a continuous sheet waterproofing membrane across the sloped shower pan, curb (or recessed curbless floor), bench, niche and walls, sealing every corner band and the drain collar.
6. Porcelain tile and custom tempered glass. Our tile setters lay the shower pan and wall slabs to your approved layout drawings, grout and silicone every seam, and fit custom 10 mm frameless glass.

If the conversion is for an older family member or someone with reduced mobility, visit our accessible bathrooms in Barrie page for barrier-free details and federal/provincial tax credits.

What a tub-to-shower conversion costs in Barrie

What a Barrie tub-to-shower conversion costs comes down to whether we are rebuilding just the 60-inch wet alcove or renovating the entire bathroom (floor porcelain, vanity, toilet and lighting) at the same time.

As a completed project benchmark, a barrier-free curbless tub-to-shower conversion built by our crew averages around $15,000 all-in. When the conversion is part of a full four-piece Barrie primary ensuite remodel, our published 9 x 12 ft labour package covers the room:

Your written Barrie quote prices demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tile setting, glass and fixtures on individual lines. Compare full-room ranges and line items on our Barrie bathroom renovation cost page.

Resale tip: keep at least one bathtub in a Barrie family home

Before taking out the last bathtub in a detached home in Holly, Ardagh Bluffs, Painswick or Little Lake, consider whether future buyers with young children will want at least one tub in the house. As long as the upstairs family hall bath retains its alcove tub (see bathtub replacement), turning the primary ensuite tub into a spacious walk-in shower is a clear win for both daily use and resale. In a two-full-bath bungalow or a home where safe entry comes first, converting to a walk-in shower makes everyday life much easier.

City of Barrie permit rules and on-site timeline

Under the City of Barrie’s Residential Building Permits guidelines, replacing a fixture in the exact same spot without modifying the piping does not require a building permit. However, because converting a bathtub to a shower usually involves upsizing the trap from 1.5 inches to 2 inches or shifting the drain location, the City of Barrie treats that plumbing change as work requiring a building permit via APLI. Source: City of Barrie: Residential Plumbing, Drains & APLI Permit Applications (accessed November 7, 2026) We check your plumbing setup and note permit requirements clearly in your written quote; read our article on Barrie bathroom renovation permits.

In your Barrie home, a standard alcove tub-to-shower conversion normally finishes in one to two weeks from floor protection and demolition to grouted tile and glass. Walk through our 5-step Barrie renovation process or upload photos of your bathtub for a free itemized quote covered by our written labour warranty.