Not every bathroom remodel starts with a full gut. On this project in Quincy, the scope stayed on the shower: we removed the old shower and built a new walk-in shower in its place — new framing, cement board, waterproofing, wall tile and shower floor tile — and repaired the walls around the work area.
If you’re thinking about doing the same in your own home, here’s what that kind of project actually involves — step by step, in the order the work happens.
What the Project Included
Every shower replacement is a little different, but this one shows the full scope of a typical old-shower-to-walk-in conversion:
- Removal of the old shower
- New framing for the walk-in shower
- Cement board and waterproofing on the shower walls
- Wall tile and shower floor tile
- A recessed niche in the side wall
- Repair of the walls disturbed by the work
The Work, Step by Step
1. Removing the old shower
The old shower comes out first — the unit itself, and then everything it was hiding. Once the walls are open, you can see the condition of what’s behind them: the framing, the wall surface the old shower was attached to, and how the old drain and water lines were run. Demo is also the point where the footprint of the new walk-in shower gets confirmed against what’s actually there, not just what was drawn on paper.
2. Framing the new shower
A walk-in shower needs wall framing that matches its new shape and size. New framing defines the shower’s footprint and gives the wall boards a solid, flat surface to fasten to.
3. Cement board and waterproofing
Shower walls get cement board, not regular drywall — it’s made to hold up in wet areas and gives tile a stable base. Over the cement board goes a waterproofing layer. This is the most important layer nobody ever sees: once tile goes up, the waterproofing is buried for good. That’s exactly why it has to be complete and correct before a single tile is set. A shower that leaks almost never leaks through the tile — it leaks through the layer behind it.
The shower walls also received moisture protection behind the tile.
4. Wall tile and shower floor tile
With waterproofing in place, the visible work begins: tile on the shower walls, and tile on the shower floor. The shower floor is sloped so water runs to the drain instead of sitting — that slope is built into the base under the tile, and the tile follows it. Wall tile runs from the shower floor up, with the layout planned so cuts land where they’re least noticeable.
5. Niche and Handheld Shower — As Seen in the Finished Shower
In the finished shower, the niche sits on the side wall, across from the handheld shower.
6. Repairing the surrounding walls
Demo and tile work are rough on the walls around the shower — edges get opened, surfaces get scuffed, and transitions need to disappear. The last step was repairing those surrounding walls so the bathroom looked finished, not patched around. When it’s done right, you can’t tell where the new work ends and the existing bathroom begins.
Small Decisions That Shape the Result
Most of what makes a shower replacement turn out well is decided before the tile goes up. Waterproofing has to come before tile, never after — the order isn’t optional. It’s not a glamorous decision, but it’s the reason the finished shower in Quincy looks simple: everything complicated was settled while the walls were still open.
What This Project Didn’t Include
Worth saying plainly: on this project, the scope stayed on the shower and the walls around it. We didn’t rebuild the rest of the bathroom.
Thinking About Replacing Your Shower?
If your shower is the part of the bathroom that’s failing — or you just want a walk-in instead of what you have now — the first step is a look at what’s actually behind and beneath it. We do free on-site estimates: we look at the existing shower, talk through what the replacement would involve in your bathroom, and put the scope in writing.
No pressure, no sales pitch — just a clear picture of the work. (We’re licensed and insured, proof available on request.) Request a free estimate and we’ll schedule a visit.