Bathroom remodeling and walk-in showers in Starke, FL
Custom tile showers, tub-to-shower conversions, vanities, flooring and the waterproofing behind all of it. We remodel bathrooms across Bradford, Clay, Alachua and Putnam counties, and we build the wet area ourselves rather than handing it to a subcontractor.
Walk-in showers and tub-to-shower conversions
The most common bathroom job we do is taking out a garden tub nobody has used in years and putting a proper walk-in shower in its place. In a primary bathroom it usually buys you a bigger shower without touching a wall, because the tub footprint is already there and already plumbed.
Built properly that means a sloped pan, a bonded waterproof membrane, a niche where you actually reach for the shampoo, and a bench if the space takes one. We tile the walls, the floor and the curb, and we set the glass.
The part you never see is the part that matters
Tile and grout are not waterproof. Grout is porous by design - water passes through it, and what stops that water reaching your framing is the membrane behind the tile. In this humidity, a shower without one finds the studs within a few years, and by the time it shows on the outside of the wall the repair is far bigger than the original job.
We see the consequence often enough in demo: tile set straight onto greenboard in houses built through the eighties and nineties, which was never a waterproof system. If that is what is behind your shower, we would rather tell you before you spend money tiling over it.
What moves the price
We quote a bathroom after we have seen it, because the number depends almost entirely on what is behind the walls and how much has to move.
- Whether fixtures stay where they are, or the shower, toilet or vanity moves
- Slab or crawlspace - moving a drain on a slab means cutting concrete
- A tub-to-shower conversion versus a full gut back to studs
- Tile choice and pattern: a simple subway surround is not a mosaic feature wall
- Glass - a framed door and a frameless panel are very different numbers
- What the demo finds, most often a rotted subfloor at the toilet flange
How long it takes
| Phase | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demo | 1-2 days | Back to studs and subfloor. Surprises turn up here. |
| Plumbing and electrical rough-in | 2-4 days | |
| Inspection | 1-2 days | If permitted, and it must pass before anything is covered. |
| Waterproofing and backer | 2-3 days | The part that decides whether it lasts. |
| Tile and grout | 4-7 days | Set, cure, grout, cure. Cannot be rushed. |
| Paint and trim | 2-3 days | |
| Fixtures, vanity and glass | 1-2 days |
Work we have done
“They walked us through every step and the waterproof tile floor looks incredible. Highly recommend.” – Homeowner, Gainesville
Common questions
How long will I be without the bathroom?
Two to six weeks depending on scope. If it is your only bathroom, plan to be elsewhere from demo until the pan is in - that is the stretch with no shower. With a second bathroom it is livable, though there will be days without hot water while the plumbing is tied in.
Can you convert my garden tub to a walk-in shower?
Yes, and it is the job we are asked for most. The tub footprint is already plumbed and already sized, so you usually get a much larger shower without moving a wall.
Do I need a permit?
Swapping a vanity, toilet or faucet like-for-like generally does not. Moving plumbing or electrical, altering a wall, or replacing a tub or shower generally does, and the line moves between county and city limits. We pull the permits and meet the inspector.
What flooring should go in a bathroom?
Tile or a waterproof rigid-core vinyl, in almost every case. Both handle standing water; the choice is about how you want it to feel and look. We carry both and you can see them at the showroom.
Will you find problems once you open it up?
Sometimes, and we would rather say so upfront than surprise you. Rotted subfloor at the toilet flange is the common one, and cast iron drain lines in the older houses around Starke and Keystone Heights. Anything we find, we show you before we price the fix.
Do you do the tile work yourselves?
Yes. The tile and the waterproofing are ours, which is the answer you want from anyone quoting a bathroom. Ask every contractor you talk to which waterproofing system they use - a vague answer tells you something.
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