We had such a great experience working with Gabriel and his team at Bencke’s Tile Bath Remodel. From the very beginning, Gabriel was incredibly communicative, responsive, responsible, and someone we felt we could completely trust. He always kept us updated, answered every question, and made what could have been a stressful renovation feel easy.
Our Jack-and-Jill bathroom was 25 years old and very builder-grade and felt cramped with way too many doors. Gabriel helped completely transform the space into a bathroom that feels so much larger, brighter, and honestly looks like something out of a magazine.
The quality of the work is exceptional. They waterproofed the bathroom properly, insulated the tub, installed a linear drain with a perfectly sloped floor so the water drains exactly where it should, and the tile work is absolutely flawless. The floating vanity, mirror, and every finish were installed with so much attention to detail.
What I appreciated just as much was that Gabriel truly stands behind his work. If we noticed even the smallest thing, he was happy to come back and make it right without any hesitation. It’s rare to find a contractor who genuinely wants everything to be perfect.
We interviewed several contractors before choosing Gabriel, and I am so glad we did. The final result exceeded our expectations, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gabriel and his team to anyone looking for a bathroom remodel. They do beautiful work, they’re honest, and they’re the kind of people you actually enjoy working with. Adding the before and after pictures for reference!
Tub to Shower Conversion in Richmond, VA
A tub to shower conversion takes out the bathtub and puts a tiled shower in its place. Bencke’s Tile does conversions in Richmond, VA, and the free estimate tells you what your bathroom needs.
Call for Remodeling Service:804-244-6737- 5.0 16 Google reviews
- Free in-home estimate
- Licensed & insured
If nobody takes baths, the tub is just in the way
A tub uses floor space a shower could use. The tall side is hard to step over for some people, and a curtain never feels finished.
The tub usually sits in an alcove, so the new shower often fits the same spot. The drain sits in a different place for a shower, and that is the part that needs care.
Signs a tub to shower conversion makes sense
You have not used the tub in a year, and it holds shampoo and laundry. Stepping over the side feels risky for someone in the house, now or soon. The tub surround has cracks, stains or loose tile that keep coming back. You are tired of a curtain and want glass or an open entry. Or the bathroom is small, and the tub takes the space a good shower would use.
What happens when the tub comes out
Tub removal and wall repair
The tub goes, and the walls around it are made ready for new work.
A new shower floor
The floor is sloped so water runs to the drain.
Walls tiled to the height you pick
Full height or part way up, plain or patterned.
Tiled showers by Bencke’s Tile
Not every tub is the same, and that changes the job
The simplest case is a standard tub in an alcove with a wall on three sides. A freestanding tub, a corner tub or a tub with a tiled deck is a bigger change, because the walls and floor around it come out too.
The place of the drain also matters. A shower drain usually sits in the center or at one end of the floor, while a tub drain sits at the end of the tub. Moving it means working below the floor, and that is a good thing to know before you set a date.
What can go where the tub was
Tiled shower with a low curb
The classic choice. A low wall holds the water in, and you step over a short edge. It suits most alcoves.
Curbless or zero-entry shower
No step at all, with the floor sloping down to the drain. It is the easiest to enter and the hardest to build, because the floor structure often has to be lowered. Ask early whether your framing allows it.
Prefabricated base and wall panels
A one-piece base with solid wall panels goes together faster and has few seams. The look is simpler, and the choices of size and style are narrower than with tile.
Shower with a bench
A seat built into the alcove, sized for sitting. A good fit for comfort and for anyone who needs support.
A refreshed tub and surround
If you decide to keep the tub, new tile around it may be all you need. That is a different job from a conversion.
What can change in an older house
Every house hides different things behind the wall, but older houses share some surprises. If yours was built before 1978, the paint on old walls may contain lead. Federal rules from the EPA require contractors who disturb painted surfaces in homes of that age, in most cases, to be certified and to follow lead-safe work practices. Ask any contractor whether the firm holds that certification.
Older bathrooms may also have cast iron or galvanized pipes, plaster walls over wood strips, or a wood floor on joists that have been damp for years. In some houses, old vinyl floor tile and the black glue under it contain asbestos, and the safe move is to test before anyone sands or breaks it up. None of this means the job cannot be done. It means the first look inside the wall matters.
How a project runs.
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Free in-home estimate
We come to your home, measure, and talk through what you want.
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Your price
You get the price for your job before any work starts.
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The build
Demo, prep, tile and grout, in that order.
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Walkthrough
You look over the finished room before the job is closed.
5.0 on Google from 16 reviews.
We love our new kitchen tile backsplash! Working with Bencke’s was a great experience, from the start with good communication and professionalism to the finish with a beautiful job well done!
Gabriel came by to give an estimate on doing tile work and was very thorough in articulating his approach, timeline and cost. He gave a wonderful idea to put a marble counter ledge which turned out really beautiful. He was so quick in starting the project and kept everything so clean with protecting furniture surround the bathroom. His crew were so polite and did an amazing job. I’m so grateful for them completing this so quickly. Gabriel went above and beyond to get everything done quickly but also with excellence. I would highly recommend him and his crew!
We needed an access panel for our tile bathtub and Gabriel was able to give us a quick estimate. He delivered flawlessly and we are very happy!
I can't say enough about Gabriel and his team. I put in an emergency request for kitchen and bathroom tile repairs/replacements on a Tuesday, and they were out fixing it and doing an amazing job by Thursday!! Highly recommend. Can't say enough good things! Thank you!
Mistakes that make a conversion harder than it needs to be
Choosing a shower too small for the people who will use it. Forgetting where the valve and shower head will sit, which should suit the tallest person in the house. Leaving out the fan. Forgetting the door swing, so the glass hits the vanity. Taking out the only tub in the house without thinking about who may need a bath, like a baby or a dog.
And skipping the question of what is behind the old tub wall. That is where leaks hide, and it is far cheaper to learn about them before the tile goes up.
A shower that is easier on your knees
Stepping over a tub wall is the hardest part of a bath for many people. A shower with a low curb, or none, takes that step away. Add a bench for sitting and a tile with some texture underfoot, and the room gets safer for everyone.
If anyone in your home may need extra help later, say so at the estimate. Grab bars are easiest to add while the walls are open.
Questions to settle before the tub goes
Do you want a door, a curtain or an open entry? A bench? Where should the shelf go?
Think about the rest of the house too. If this is your only tub, some buyers look for at least one bathtub when you sell. If you have another one, the conversion is an easy call.
Frequently asked questions
Don’t see your question? Call or write and we will answer it.
It depends on the size of the alcove, the tile you choose and what is found behind the old tub.
The work has stages, and the tile cannot be rushed. Ask about the schedule for your bathroom at the free estimate.
Usually the shower takes the footprint of the tub, and it can feel bigger because there is no curtain or tall wall. The estimate visit is where we measure what is possible.
It depends on whether the plumbing moves. The city of Richmond and the surrounding counties have separate building offices.
It is worth it if you rarely use the tub and want more room or an easier step in. If you bathe children, or you want a soak, keep a tub in your home somewhere.
Related pages.
ServiceShower Remodel
Bencke’s Tile remodels showers in Richmond, VA: walk-in showers tiled wall to wall, with niches, benches and tile floors. Ask for a free estimate and we will come measure your shower.
Learn more
ServiceBathroom Remodeling
Bencke’s Tile remodels bathrooms in Richmond, VA, from demo to the last grout line, and tile is our trade. Ask for a free estimate: we come to your home, measure the room and talk through what you want.
Learn more
GuideTub to Shower Conversion: What to Expect, Step by Step
The steps of a tub to shower conversion, from demolition to the last bead of caulk, plus the plumbing, permit and hidden-damage questions to settle early.
Read the guide
GuideShower Waterproofing: What Goes Behind the Tile
Tile and grout do not stop water. This guide shows the layers behind a tile shower, where leaks start, and how a flood test proves the work.
Read the guide
GuideWalk-In Shower Ideas and What They Cost
Six walk-in shower ideas shown in real tile work, and the 2026 cost ranges by type, tile, glass door and waterproofing.
Read the guide
