Tub to shower conversion · Old Town Scottsdale
Tub to Shower Conversion in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ
Old Town holds the oldest housing in the service area, and many of its bathrooms are compact, which is where a tub to shower conversion in Old Town Scottsdale can open up the room. Call (747) 243-2089 to talk about yours.
Last updated
01Good to know
Why does a conversion suit Old Town's smaller bathrooms?
Old Town's 85251 median year built is 1979 (52.2% predate 1980), so the typical bathroom here is more than 45 years old (American Community Survey, 2024) and can be on the small side. A conversion works with the grain of the house: the shower takes the tub's footprint, no wall moves, and the room can feel larger and lighter without gaining square footage. Many of these bathrooms may also still carry original fixtures and drain parts from the 1960s and 1970s.
02Planning
What should pre-1978 Old Town houses plan for before demolition?
Houses from before 1978 fall under the federal Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which sets lead-safe work practices for renovations that disturb lead-based paint (EPA (opens in a new tab)). With 52.2% of 85251 units built before 1980, many Old Town homes sit near that window, and it belongs in the plan from the start rather than the day the walls open. The rest of the conversion follows the usual order: the tub and surround come out, framing and blocking go in, the new valve and drain are tied in, the shower gets waterproofing and a pan, and tile, glass and fixtures finish it.
03How it works
How does a conversion work in an Old Town condo or townhome?
Old Town's 85251 stock leans attached and multifamily, 9,316 units of it in buildings of 50 or more, so conversions often touch shared building systems. That means coordinating with the HOA or building manager before work starts, working inside building work-hour rules and using shared water shutoffs carefully. The blocks around Main Street and Brown Avenue hold several individually designated historic buildings, and historic review focuses on exteriors while interiors can be modified as needed (City of Scottsdale (opens in a new tab)). In practice, the building shapes the schedule, not the historic rules.
Sound and dust control matter with neighbors close, so work hours and cleanup get planned as tightly as the build itself.
04Costs
What does a conversion cost in Old Town Scottsdale?
A remodeling firm serving Scottsdale publishes a range of $9,000 to $14,000 for this job. National guides spread wider: one lists a $1,200 to $10,000 range with an average of $4,000. Another spans $1,200 to $15,000, with a $3,000 typical project and custom tiled walk-in showers from $3,500 to $15,000. Small bathrooms do not automatically mean smaller numbers; plumbing, waterproofing and labor carry the same scope as in a larger room. A curbless entry pushes the total up: barrier-free stalls run $2,000 to $4,100 (per the second guide), and the curbless upgrade adds about $3,000 over a low curb (per the Scottsdale firm). These are published ranges, and the actual price is set after an on-site assessment. Call (747) 243-2089 to arrange one.
054 questions
Questions people ask
Still have a question? Call (747) 243-2089 and describe the bathroom.
01Do condos need approval for a shower conversion?
It depends on the building. Interior work is usually the owner's call, but condo buildings commonly set work-hour rules and require notice for shared shutoffs. With about 75% of 85251 units attached or multifamily, checking with the building early is standard.
02How long does the work take in a small bathroom?
A custom conversion can take 1 to 2 weeks or longer once materials are on site, according to a national cost guide. A small room does not shorten waterproofing and pan days, and glass adds time after tile.
03Does the work need a permit?
Cosmetic work with no structural change and no trade work generally needs no permit, according to Scottsdale's home improvement guidance (opens in a new tab), while plumbing, electrical and mechanical changes do; same-location fixture replacement can use a Minimum Permit with no plan review. The city decides.
04What can a small Old Town shower gain?
Small showers reward details more than size: a recessed niche, a seat where the room allows, frameless glass and blocking for grab bars. A national cost guide lists built-in or fold-down seats at $100 to $600 and nonslip flooring at $200 to $1,000.
06Keep reading
