Sharon · Tub-To-Shower
Ready to replace an old tub in your Sharon home with a shower? Learn what mid-century bathrooms hide and which tub to keep, then connect with an independent local remodeler.
Sharon, Massachusetts
About one in five Sharon homes went up in the 1950s, and a lot of them still have the bathroom layout of that decade: a five-foot tub tucked into a three-wall alcove, a showerhead above it, and tile that has been regrouted more times than anyone remembers. Converting that tub to a shower keeps the footprint, the toilet, and the vanity where they are, which is why it's one of the most common bathroom projects in town.
The catch is what's under the tub. Sixty or seventy years of small leaks around the drain and overflow can soften the subfloor, and old supply piping may not be worth reconnecting. Planning for that before demolition keeps the project calm.
This site is a referral service, not a contractor. We help Sharon homeowners reach independent remodelers who serve the town and share guidance so the first conversation is a productive one.
Chips and rust spots on an old steel or cast iron tub are hard to repair well. Replacing the tub with a shower solves it for good.
Tile that sounds hollow or moves when pressed usually means water has gotten behind it. The wall will need to come out regardless of what goes back in.
If nobody in the house takes baths, a shower with a wider entry and a seat makes better use of the same five feet.
A low threshold and a handheld shower are easier on knees and backs than stepping over a high tub wall.
Local knowledge
The age and type of Sharon homes shape both the work and the decision to remove a tub.
The 1950s Boom
Census estimates put 20.8% of Sharon housing units in that single decade. Bathrooms of that era often have a tub set on a mortar bed and drain parts that are hard to reuse, so plan on new drain fittings.
Mostly Single Homes
With most homes being single-family houses, a household often has one or two full baths. If you're converting the only tub in the house, think about young children, pets, and future buyers before you commit.
Source: Census Reporter
Permit Office
Removing a tub and installing a shower valve is plumbing work that the Building Division permits and inspects. Inspections are by appointment, so ask the remodeler to book one as soon as the rough work is ready.
Source: Town of Sharon Building Division
Right now
A few decisions made early prevent change orders later.
Decide whether at least one tub stays in the house. Many families with small children or plans to sell want one, while others are happy without.
Look for stains on the ceiling under the bathroom. They hint at past leaks the remodeler should plan to repair.
If your home predates 1978, tell the remodeler. Federal rules require lead-safe practices when renovating painted surfaces in older homes, and the contractor should explain how they'll handle it.
Solid-surface panels go in quickly with few seams, while tile allows more design choices. Ask each remodeler to price both if you're undecided.
What to expect
Demolition comes first: the tub, the surrounding tile or panels, and often the wallboard down to the studs. In an older Sharon home this is when the remodeler finds out whether the subfloor, the drain line, and the valve can be reused or need replacement.
A plumber who holds a Massachusetts license then sets a new shower valve and adapts the drain, working under a plumbing permit from the Building Division, and the rough plumbing is inspected before the walls close. A shower base or a waterproofed mortar pan goes in, followed by the wall surround.
Glass doors and accessories are installed last. Ask your remodeler how many days the bathroom will be out of use and whether another bathroom in the house can cover the gap.
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.
Remodeling an owner-occupied home in Massachusetts requires a registered Home Improvement Contractor. Search the name on the state's registration lookup.
A good estimate says how subfloor damage, an old drain, or a corroded valve would be handled and priced.
For pre-1978 homes, ask how the crew will contain dust and clean up, and keep the answer in the contract.
Get the name of the plumber who will set the valve and check that the license is current on the state's lookup.
Costs
The biggest swing comes from what demolition reveals. A dry, solid subfloor and a reusable drain keep the job simple, while rot under a mid-century tub adds carpentry before any shower goes in.
Material choices add to that: a molded base and panels, a tiled floor and walls, sliding versus hinged glass, and extras like a bench or a niche. Ask for an itemized written estimate from each remodeler that covers permits, disposal of the old tub, and an allowance for hidden repairs, and compare bids built on the same assumptions.
More help in Sharon
Every page below is written for Sharon homes. Or start from the Sharon 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.
It depends on who lives there and your plans to sell. In a town of mostly single-family homes, some buyers expect a tub, so many owners convert one bath and leave another tub in place.
Yes, replacing the valve and changing the drain is plumbing work. The plumber files with Sharon's Building Division and the rough work is inspected before the walls are closed.
Tell the remodeler. Renovating painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes calls for lead-safe work practices under federal rules, and the contractor should explain dust control and cleanup.
Often it's broken up in place because it's heavy and the doorways are narrow. Ask the remodeler how they'll remove it and protect floors and stairs on the way out.
Get connected
Share a few details and an independent local bathroom remodeler who serves your town can follow up about the job. There’s no charge to use this site, and you decide whether to hire anyone.
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