Start with conditions, not a product
Swapping a tub for a shower sounds simple until the valve, drain, and framing behind the old alcove turn out to need work too — common in the compact bathrooms built during the city's postwar ranch boom.
Build a complete scope
- Valve and drain relocation, if needed
- Alcove framing condition
- Surround material and installation method
- Disposal of the old tub and debris
- Warranty and change-order terms
St. Petersburg context
Neighborhoods like Shore Acres, Riviera Bay, and Broadwater were largely built out in the 1950s and 60s on slab foundations, which means the original tub's drain often sits in a fixed spot the new layout has to work around.