The Garden Tub Is Going Away

If you live in a home built between 1990 and 2010 in Miami-Dade County, there is a good chance your master bathroom has a garden tub. Big, deep, takes up half the room. And nobody uses it.

We hear it every week. "We haven't taken a bath in that tub in years." "It just collects dust." "I want my space back."

You are not alone. The garden tub removal trend has been building for years across South Florida, and it picked up serious speed in 2025 and 2026. Homeowners in Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Doral, and The Hammocks are pulling out oversized tubs and replacing them with walk-in showers that actually get used.

But before you start swinging a sledgehammer, there are a few things worth thinking through. The right answer depends on your bathroom layout, your family, and whether you plan to sell the house anytime soon.

What a Walk-In Shower Conversion Actually Involves

Let's talk about what happens when you swap a tub for a walk-in shower. This is not a weekend project. It is a real remodel with plumbing, waterproofing, tile, and usually some framing work.

Here is the basic process:

Demo. The old tub gets ripped out. If it is a garden tub sitting on a raised platform, that platform comes out too. If it is a standard alcove tub, the surround walls come down.

Plumbing. The drain location almost always needs to move. A tub drain and a shower drain sit in different spots. The shower valve and controls may need to be repositioned too.

Waterproofing. This is the most important step and the one most people skip when they try to cut corners. In Miami's humidity, you need a proper waterproofing membrane on every surface inside the shower. We use systems like Schluter DITRA or RedGard on all shower walls and the floor pan. No exceptions.

Framing and backer board. New cement backer board goes up on the walls. If the garden tub had a platform, the floor may need leveling.

Tile. Walls and floor get tiled. This is where you make your design choices. Large format porcelain, subway tile, accent niches. Whatever fits your style and budget.

Glass. A frameless glass panel or full enclosure goes in last. This is what gives a walk-in shower that open, modern look.

The whole conversion typically takes 5 to 8 working days depending on the size and complexity.

What Does a Walk-In Shower Conversion Cost in Miami?

A walk-in shower conversion as part of a full bathroom remodel typically adds $3,000 to $5,000 to the project total. That covers the extra demo, plumbing relocation, waterproofing, and glass.

Here is how the numbers break down as a standalone project:

Basic conversion ($5,000 to $8,000). Standard porcelain tile, single fixed glass panel, chrome fixtures, single shower niche.

Mid-range conversion ($8,000 to $14,000). Large format tile, frameless glass enclosure, upgraded fixtures, multiple niches, linear drain.

High-end conversion ($14,000 to $22,000). Custom tile design, full frameless glass, rain head and handheld combo, body jets, bench seat, heated floors.

If you are already doing a full bathroom remodel and just want to swap the tub for a shower within that scope, the add-on cost of $3,000 to $5,000 is typical. You are already paying for demo, plumbing, tile, and labor. The shower conversion adds some extra work but shares a lot of the same costs.

For a detailed walkthrough of the full process, check out our walk-in shower conversion guide.

The Case for a Walk-In Shower

There are real, practical reasons why walk-in showers are winning in South Florida homes.

More usable space. A garden tub takes up 15 to 20 square feet of floor space. Replacing it with a walk-in shower can give you room for a double vanity, a linen closet, or just breathing room.

Easier to clean. No tub edges to scrub around. No platform collecting dust. A tiled shower with a glass panel wipes down in minutes.

Better accessibility. A curbless or low-curb walk-in shower is easier to step into. If anyone in your household has mobility issues, this matters a lot.

Modern look. Frameless glass and clean tile lines make a bathroom feel bigger and more current. This is the look buyers expect in updated homes.

Daily use. Most people shower every day. Very few people take baths regularly. You are remodeling around how you actually live.

The Case for Keeping the Tub

Not every home should lose its bathtub. Here is when keeping the tub makes sense.

Families with young kids. If you have children under 6, you need a bathtub somewhere in the house. Bathing small kids in a shower is not practical. If this is your only bathroom with a tub, think carefully.

Resale value. This is the big one. Real estate agents in Miami-Dade consistently say that a home should have at least one bathtub. Not necessarily in the master bath, but somewhere. Removing the only tub in the house can turn off buyers with young families.

Soaking preference. Some people genuinely love baths. If that is you, do not let a trend talk you out of something you enjoy.

The compromise. Many homeowners keep a tub in the hall bathroom and convert the master bath to a walk-in shower. This gives you the best of both. You get your modern master shower and the house still has a tub for kids or resale.

Frameless Glass Options

The glass enclosure is what makes or breaks the look of a walk-in shower. Here are the most common options we install in Miami-Dade homes.

Fixed glass panel. A single pane of glass, usually 3/8 inch thick, mounted to the wall. No door. Water stays in the shower and the rest of the bathroom stays open. This is the most popular choice. Cost: $800 to $1,500 installed.

Frameless pivot door. A full glass door on a pivot hinge. Good for smaller showers where you need to contain all the water. Cost: $1,200 to $2,500 installed.

Full frameless enclosure. Multiple glass panels with a door. Used for larger showers or corner installations. Cost: $2,000 to $4,000 installed.

No glass at all. Some walk-in showers are designed with a half wall or open entry and a proper slope to the drain. This works in larger bathrooms where splash is not a concern. Cost: $0 for glass, but the tile and waterproofing budget goes up.

All frameless glass should be tempered safety glass. We use 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch depending on the installation. Thicker glass feels more solid and has less flex.

Waterproofing Is Not Optional

This point deserves its own section because it is that important, especially in South Florida.

Miami's humidity means moisture is constantly trying to get behind your walls. A walk-in shower without proper waterproofing will develop mold, rot the framing, and eventually fail. We have torn out showers that were less than 3 years old because someone skipped the waterproofing step.

Every walk-in shower we build gets a full waterproofing system. That means:

Waterproof membrane on all shower walls from floor to ceiling
Pre-formed shower pan or liquid-applied membrane on the floor
Waterproof membrane behind all niches and benches
Sealed joints at every corner and transition
Proper slope to the drain (1/4 inch per foot minimum)

This is not something you can see after the tile goes on. But it is the difference between a shower that lasts 20 years and one that fails in 3.

Making the Decision

Here is a simple framework.

Convert to a walk-in shower if: You never use the tub, you want more space, you have another tub in the house, or you are remodeling for yourself and plan to stay long-term.

Keep the tub if: You have young kids who need it, this is the only tub in the house and you plan to sell within 5 years, or you genuinely use it.

Do both: Keep the hall bath tub. Convert the master to a walk-in shower. Most of our clients in Kendall, Palmetto Bay, and Doral end up going this route.

Ready to Talk About Your Bathroom?

If you are thinking about a walk-in shower conversion or a full bathroom remodel, we would like to hear about your project. We work across Miami-Dade County and handle everything from demo to final grout.

Call or text us at (786) 363-7039 for a free estimate. We will come take a look at your space and give you real numbers, not a sales pitch.

Walk-In Shower vs Bathtub: What Miami Homeowners Should Know