A walk-in shower is the most requested upgrade in the bathrooms we remodel across Palm Beach County. Most people want one of three things: a tub nobody uses gone, an easier step-in for the years ahead, or a primary bath that feels like a spa. Below are the ideas we build most often, with real photos from our Jupiter Farms renovation and what each one costs to get right.
Frameless glass keeps the room open and shows off the tile. A built-in bench, framed and waterproofed with the shower, gives you a place to sit, shave or set things down. Plan for a fully waterproofed bench top that slopes slightly toward the drain.
Two ceiling or wall-mounted rain heads, each with its own handheld wand, make a shared primary shower actually work for two people. This needs separate valves or a diverter system and enough water pressure and volume, which we check during rough-in.
Small pebble or mosaic tile on the shower floor gives more grout lines, which means better grip underfoot, and it follows the slope to the drain naturally. Pair it with large-format wall tile for contrast.
Big porcelain panels that look like marble give you the stone look without the sealing, etching and staining that real marble brings in a humid Florida shower. Fewer grout lines also means less cleaning. See bathroom materials that hold up to South Florida humidity.
A curbless shower has no step at the entry, so it’s safer, wheelchair-friendly and visually seamless. It takes more work because the floor has to be recessed or built up so water flows to a linear drain. It’s easiest in new construction or full-gut remodels. Learn more about aging-in-place remodeling.
Recessed niches built between the studs keep bottles off the floor and out of sight from the door. Plan the niche location around the tile layout, so grout lines meet the niche edges cleanly.
A long linear drain along the back wall or the entry lets the floor slope one way, which allows large-format tile on the floor and is the key to most curbless designs.
Matte black fixtures, like the rain heads and wands in our Jupiter Farms primary bath, are the most popular choice we install right now. Brushed gold is a close second in coastal homes.
In Palm Beach County, a guest bath with a tub-to-shower conversion typically runs $19,500 to $39,500. A primary bath remodel built around a walk-in shower typically runs $23,000 to $45,000, and a luxury primary suite with dual heads, a bench and custom glass usually starts around $49,500. See our tub-to-shower conversion guide or try the cost calculator.
Yes. Moving a drain and installing a new shower valve is plumbing work, which Florida’s new $7,500 exemption doesn’t cover. See HB 803 explained.
Planning one? See bathroom remodeling or find your city: Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter.
For comfort, we aim for at least 36 by 48 inches, and 60 inches wide or more when replacing a standard tub. Doorless designs need extra depth to keep spray inside.
For aging in place and a seamless look, yes. It adds cost because the floor must be recessed or built up for drainage, so it’s most practical during a full-gut remodel.
Porcelain. It absorbs very little water, resists staining and comes in marble-look large formats. Use small mosaic or pebble tile on the floor for grip.
Written by the North2South Renovations team, led by Colby Matheny, Florida Certified Building Contractor CBC1269429, based in Delray Beach. Questions about your project? Call (561) 664-3256 or request a free estimate.