Planning a Bathtub to Walk-In Shower Conversion, Step by Step
Thinking of replacing an old bathtub with a walk-in shower? What the conversion involves, what to check under the tub, and how it is priced from RM3,500 per project.
Many older Malaysian homes came with a built-in bathtub that the household rarely uses. It takes up a long stretch of the bathroom, it is awkward to step over, and it often ends up as a place to stand under the shower anyway. Replacing it with a walk-in shower is one of the most common ways to make a bathroom easier to use.
This guide covers how to plan the conversion: the questions to settle first, what the work involves, and what to look out for under the old tub.
Questions to settle first
Who uses the bathroom?
Think about everyone in the household. A walk-in shower with a low or level entry is easier for older family members and anyone who finds stepping over a tub edge difficult. If someone in the home still bathes in the tub, talk it through before deciding, since another bathroom may be the better one to convert.
How much of the space becomes shower?
The old tub footprint does not have to become shower in full. Some owners use the whole length for a roomy shower; others use part of it and gain space for a vanity or storage.
Level entry or a low kerb?
A level, kerbless entry looks clean and is easiest to walk into, but it depends on whether the floor can be shaped to fall properly towards the drain. A low kerb is a practical alternative where the floor build-up is limited.
What the conversion involves
- Removal: the bathtub, its panel and the surrounding tiles are taken out, and the debris is cleared
- Inspection: the floor and pipes under the old tub are checked
- Plumbing and drainage: the waste is reworked for a shower, a floor trap is positioned, and the shower mixer and head points are set
- Floor slope: the floor is formed so water runs towards the floor trap
- Waterproofing: a membrane is applied over the new shower floor and up the shower walls, then checked before tiling
- Tiling: floor and wall tiles are laid, with a slip-resistant finish underfoot
- Shower screen: a glass screen is fitted to keep water in the shower area
What may be hiding under the bathtub
A bathtub covers a section of floor that nobody has seen since it was installed. Once it comes out, it is common to find old waste pipes, a damp base, or signs of past leaks. These cannot be priced before the tub is removed.
At BathWorks Malaysia, anything found at this stage is photographed and priced, and you approve it before that work continues. The rest of the conversion stays as quoted.
Design choices to make
Tiles
Small-format porcelain or mosaic on the shower floor follows the slope well and adds grip. Larger tiles on the walls give fewer grout lines. Bathroom tiling starts from RM25 per sq ft.
Screen
A fixed glass panel suits a long shower space formed from the tub footprint, while a sliding or swing door suits a more enclosed layout. Shower screen installation starts from RM800 per installation.
Storage and fittings
A recessed niche in the shower wall keeps bottles off the floor, and a grab rail is worth considering for older users. The shower set position should be planned with the height of the people using it in mind.
How the conversion is priced
A bathtub to shower conversion starts from RM3,500 per project. The final figure depends on the size of the space, the tiles and screen you choose, and what the plumbing needs. If the rest of the bathroom is also due for an update, the conversion can be folded into a full bathroom renovation from RM5,000 per project.
The process is the same either way. Send photos and rough measurements on WhatsApp, a site visit follows to measure and check the room, and you receive a written, itemised quotation. Quotations are no-obligation, and work starts once you accept the quotation and pay the agreed deposit. Owners who supply their own tiles or fittings can do so, and if the household needs to keep using the home, the work can be arranged section by section.
See the conversion among our other renovation services or the renovation packages. Owners in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Seremban can also read the page for their town.
Ready to plan your conversion? Send a photo of the bathtub area and rough measurements to start. Get My Quote