Full conversion
The tub comes out. A pan, a valve, and a finished wall go in.
Encinitas, California
Tub to shower conversion in Encinitas
For a full conversion of a bathtub into a shower. A new valve alone is a different job. A low curb can make entry easier. It is not a medical device and it is not a one visit promise.
This is an independent referral guide. It connects homeowners with independent providers and may receive compensation. It is not a licensed contractor and it does not do the work.
The waterproofing is the project
Encinitas includes the cottages along Highway 101 in Leucadia and Cardiff by the Sea, the later tracts of New Encinitas, and the larger lots of Olivenhain. A tub in a 1950s bath and a tub in a 1990s master bath do not convert the same way.
Moving the drain, changing the valve, and building a shower pan are plumbing and building work. The City of Encinitas Building Division says a permit is required for alterations of plumbing, electrical, and walls. Interior work on an existing house is often outside a coastal development permit, unless the lot is in the Coastal Bluff Overlay. Confirm both. This site cannot tell you the permit is already approved.
Threshold
A curb, a low curb, or no curb. Each one changes the pan and the entry.
Moisture
Marine air and a small bath make the waterproof layer the part that matters.
Communities
Leucadia, Cardiff, Olivenhain, and New Encinitas are not one floor plan.
Shower work this guide covers
Full tub to shower conversion
Remove the tub and build a shower in that footprint, or adjust the layout if the room allows.
Read this serviceCurbless and low threshold
A standard curb, a low curb, or a flush entry. The pan and the floor outside the shower have to agree.
Read this serviceWaterproofing and coastal moisture
Salt air and a tight bath punish a thin coat of paint. The waterproof layer is the part that keeps the wall dry.
Read this serviceWhere the details change
Encinitas is one city with several communities. Each has its own page.
Neighborhood notesLeucadia, Cardiff by the Sea, Olivenhain, and New Encinitas.LeucadiaNorth Encinitas cottages along Highway 101.Cardiff by the SeaSouth coast baths, and a bluff question on some lots.OlivenhainInland estate lots, larger baths, still Encinitas.New EncinitasLater neighborhoods east of El Camino Real.Local guidePermits and what to confirm.Common questionsScope, cost factors, and limits of this guide.
A sensible order
Measure the bath
Tub size, door swing, and whether a person needs a lower step.
Ask about the permit
Plumbing changes are a Building Division question. Coastal bluff lots are a second question.
Call or text
The form opens a text. This site does not store it.
Hire on a written scope
Demo, pan, waterproofing, valve, and glass belong in the bid.
Questions people ask first
Is this a bathroom company?
No. Encinitas Shower Guide is an independent referral site. It may be paid for an introduction. It does not remodel bathrooms.
Is a curbless shower required for aging in place?
No. A lower threshold can make entry easier for some people. Grab bars are a separate choice. This page is not a medical recommendation and it does not certify the bathroom.
Does every Encinitas conversion need a coastal permit?
Not as a rule. Interior improvements to an existing single family house are often exempt from a coastal development permit. Lots in the Coastal Bluff Overlay are the exception to check. The building permit for plumbing is a different question.
Will it be done in a day?
This site will not promise a schedule. Access, the pan, and tile or wall panels change the time. Ask the provider.
Describe the bath
Say Leucadia, Cardiff, Olivenhain, or New Encinitas, and whether you want a curb.