Swapping the fixture means moving the plumbing
A shower pan and a garden tub don't share a footprint or a drain location, so converting usually means relocating supply and drain lines, not just picking a new door. Getting the new slope right at the drain matters more than the glass finish on top.
Build a complete scope
- Whether the drain can be relocated within the existing floor framing
- The pan and curb detail, and how the threshold is finished
- Waterproofing behind the surround and its inspection before covering
- Valve replacement and whether the supply layout has to change
- Disposal of the old tub, protection of the route out, and warranty
Cary context
Cary is dominated by planned neighborhoods, late-twentieth-century homes, premium renovations, and continuing infill on Piedmont clay. In many primary-suite bathrooms here, the original builder tub is the largest single fixture in the room and the one most homeowners are ready to give up.