Marion · Tub-To-Shower
Ready to pull an old tub out of a Marion bathroom? See what prewar and mid-century houses tend to hide, then call or send a request to reach an independent local remodeler.
Marion, Massachusetts
Marion's housing splits into two eras that matter for a tub conversion. Roughly a third of the town's homes went up before 1940, and the median house dates to 1962, so the tub you want gone is often either a heavy cast iron piece in a prewar bath or a mid-century tub set into tile on a thick mortar bed. Each comes out differently, and each leaves different questions behind it.
Under an old tub you may find a lead or cast iron drain connection, a floor that has been patched more than once, or a supply valve that won't work with a modern shower trim. A conversion keeps the footprint, but the plumbing behind it usually needs updating before the new shower base goes in.
We don't pull tubs or set tile at South Shore Bathroom Remodeling Finder; we refer Marion homeowners to independent remodelers who serve the town.
Chips and rust spots on an old cast iron tub can be refinished, but if nobody bathes in it, replacing it with a shower may be the better use of the money.
An aging two-handle or three-handle valve is a common reason to open the wall anyway. A new pressure-balancing valve can go in during the conversion.
Tapping that sounds dull or hollow can mean the tile has let go of the wall behind it, often because water got in. That surround usually comes out with the tub.
If a second bathroom keeps a tub for children or resale, converting the main bath to a shower costs you little flexibility.
Local knowledge
House age and permitting set the scope for most conversions in Marion.
Two Housing Eras
Census estimates give Marion a median build year of 1962, with 47.9% of homes built before 1960. Mid-century bathrooms often have tile set in mortar, which is heavy to remove and can hide cracked subfloor beneath.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS
Separate Trade Permits
Marion requires electrical, plumbing, and gas permits to be pulled separately from a building permit when that work is part of a project. A conversion that replaces the valve and drain needs the plumber's own permit.
Source: Town of Marion
Online Filing
The Building Department accepts building permit applications through the town's online permitting portal. Ask the remodeler for the permit number so you can follow its status.
Source: Town of Marion
Right now
These checks help a remodeler size the job on the first visit.
Note the tub length and width and the height of the window, if there is one in the wall. A window in the wet zone needs a waterproofing plan or a change.
Look for a panel behind the tub valve in a closet or hallway. If there isn't one, the remodeler will plan to work from the bathroom side.
Marion homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on trim and walls. Ask any remodeler how they'll contain dust when old surfaces are cut or sanded.
Decide whether you want a tiled floor or a prefabricated pan. That choice changes the drain work and the schedule more than most finishes do.
What to expect
Removal comes first, and cast iron tubs are often broken up in place to get them out of a narrow old bathroom. Then the remodeler and plumber look at what's underneath: the drain line, the trap, the subfloor, and the joists. Expect a conversation about anything that should be replaced while it's exposed.
The plumber pulls a plumbing permit from Marion's Building Department, and the valve and drain are inspected before the new walls go up. Inspection days are limited, so the order of work matters; ask how the remodeler sequences demolition, rough-in, inspection, and waterproofing.
After waterproofing and a water test, the walls are tiled or paneled, the trim and glass are set, and the shower is ready once grout and sealants cure.
Hire smart
In Massachusetts, contractors who remodel an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units must be registered Home Improvement Contractors, and the plumbing and electrical parts of the job must be done by a plumber and an electrician who hold Massachusetts licenses, under permits.
Ask how each remodeler handles a corroded drain or a lead connection found under the tub, and whether that work is priced up front or as a change order.
Confirm the contractor's Home Improvement Contractor registration on the state's search tool before paying a deposit.
The valve and drain must be handled by a plumber with a Massachusetts license. Ask who that is and check the license yourself.
Make sure each bid covers the same base, wall material, valve, and glass. Otherwise the cheaper-looking number may be a smaller job.
Costs
What sits under the tub drives the biggest differences. Replacing old drain pipe, repairing subfloor, or leveling a sagging floor adds labor, and mortar-bed tile takes longer to remove than drywall. A valve that can stay is simpler than one that has to be replaced.
Your own choices fill in the rest: a prefabricated pan versus a tiled floor, tile versus panels on the walls, and the type of glass. Ask for an itemized written estimate and for the remodeler's approach to pricing anything hidden that turns up during removal.
More help in Marion
Every page below is written for Marion homes. Or start from the Marion bathroom remodeling guide.
Learning Center
Massachusetts gives homeowners real protections on remodeling jobs, but only if the contractor is registered and the contract follows the law. Here is what to check before you hand over a deposit.
Read the guide
The decisions you make before demolition shape the cost, the schedule, and how the room works for the next twenty years. Here's what to settle first.
Read the guideQuestions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
If the valve, drain, or supply piping changes, the plumber needs a plumbing permit from Marion's Building Department, separate from any building permit. Ask the remodeler to list the permits in the contract.
Usually. Most conversions use the same alcove and the same general drain location. A remodeler may need to move the drain a few inches to suit the new base.
Remodelers commonly break it into pieces in the room to carry it out. Ask how they'll protect floors and stairs along the way and how the debris will be hauled.
Many owners do, especially with young children or plans to sell. If this is your only tub, think about who will use the house in the coming years before you remove it.
Get connected
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