Shower-Only Remodels and Tub-to-Shower Jobs With JDI

Not every bathroom needs to be gutted. If the vanity, toilet and floor still work and the shower is the problem, a shower-only remodel fixes the part that is failing for much less disruption than a full remodel. This page covers when that makes sense, what the job actually includes, how permits apply, and how to get one priced by JDI Construction.

Does JDI do shower-only jobs?

Yes. JDI Construction remodels whole bathrooms and also does shower remodels and tub-to-shower conversions. If you came here from one of our shower articles, this is the page for the next step: what a shower-only job with JDI involves and how to ask for one. Our shower remodeling in Vancouver page shows the service itself.

When a shower-only job makes sense

The test is whether the rest of the room is worth keeping. A shower-only job is money well spent when:

• the vanity, counter and toilet are in good shape and you like them;
• the floor is sound, with no soft spots near the tub or toilet;
• the fan works and is ducted outdoors;
• the problem is the shower itself: failing grout or caulk, a cracked base, a dated surround, a leaking valve, or a tub nobody uses.

It is the wrong choice when the floor is soft, when water has damaged the subfloor beyond the shower, or when you already know the whole room will be redone in a few years, since a new shower is built around the layout it sits in. If you are unsure, bathroom remodel levels helps you place your project.

What a shower-only remodel includes

A proper shower remodel goes back to the framing in the shower area. In order, the job usually runs like this:

1. Demolition. The old tile or surround, base or pan and the backer behind them come out. In homes built before 1978, painted surfaces fall under Washington's lead-safe renovation rules, and old wall texture or flooring may need an asbestos determination first under the Southwest Clean Air Agency's rule.
2. Repairs. Rot at the sill or studs is repaired. Unexpected structural repair is handled by written change order.
3. Plumbing. A new valve, a drain in the right place for the new floor, and the showerhead and any handheld supply. Plumbing work in Washington must be done by a certified plumber, or by an owner on their own home; you can check a plumber's certification on L&I's Verify tool.
4. Floor. A preformed base or a tiled floor sloped to the drain over a pan or bonded membrane. A curbless floor needs the subfloor lowered or built up to the shower.
5. Walls and waterproofing. Backer board and a waterproofing membrane, or a panel system, across the whole wet area. Tile and grout are finishes, not the waterproof layer.
6. Finish. Tile or panels, a niche or bench if planned, trim, the showerhead and glass.

Converting a tub to a shower

A tub-to-shower conversion is the most common shower-only job. The tub comes out, the drain usually moves to suit the new floor, the valve is raised to shower height, and the wall area to be waterproofed gets taller and wider. Before you remove the last tub in the house, read tub-to-shower conversions, which covers what changes and what to weigh.

Permits for a shower-only job

The rules depend on where you live, as of October 2026:

• City of Vancouver. Vancouver Municipal Code 17.08.090 exempts removing and reinstalling a tub or shower only if the work does not involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes or fixtures. A new valve, drain or base is not on that list, and the city's 2026 fee table lists "Tub/shower/shower pan" at $15.14 per item on a plumbing permit.
• Unincorporated Clark County. The county says "A plumbing permit is required for installation of any plumbing fixtures."
• Other cities. Rules differ by city; check with your city's building department.

JDI handles permits for its clients. Our page on whether a bathroom remodel needs a permit covers the details.

What it costs

In JDI's published bathroom cost calculator, a walk-in or curbless shower is an add-on with a planning range of $4,000-$10,000 before sales tax, on top of the bathroom remodel ranges. That is a planning range, not a quote. A shower-only job is priced from a site visit, because the size of the shower, the condition of the framing, whether the drain moves and the tile you choose decide the figure. For the full picture, see shower remodel cost.

JDI also runs a walk-in shower and tub offer. Offers change, so check that page for the current amount, terms and expiry.

How to request a shower-only quote

Schedule a free in-home consultation or call (360) 309-9571, and say it is a shower-only job or a tub-to-shower conversion so the visit covers the right things. We measure the shower, look at the valve wall, the floor and the fan, and talk through base, walls, glass and valve. After the visit JDI sends a firm written quote, typically within a week. If the visit shows the bathroom needs more than a new shower, we will say so and explain why. The work carries JDI's 5-year written workmanship warranty.