Bathroom remodel--shower (subfloor, vinyl, granite, townhouse)

[usedtobeanyer]

My wife & I are considering doing a remodel of the master bathroom in our 10 year old townhouse. One thing we are considering doing relates to the shower. Currently, we have one of those shower/tub insert pieces which was there when we got there. I'd like to remove it entirely, but I'm wondering what is underneath it? I suspect it would just be a large emtpy space with a drain once we take it out. If yes, can we "easily" turn that into just a shower and forget about the tub part? We'd tile the floor and walls.

One concern I have is with waterproofing.

Any thoughts on this? Is it even possible to remove this insert piece?

[Cosmic]

Of course you can remove it.

By some means they just screw into the wall. Probably on a flanged area which might have a covering trim of some sort around the insert. They may even have drywalled over the flange area, lots of ways to hide exactly how the unit is in there.

What you find behind it might be a big mystery up to the point of discovery. Never know what them tricky boys might do. Anything from a type of Durock, greenboard, sheetrock or just plain olde nothing.

Rebuilding as a normal tiled shower is just the standard approach to life with all its many options normally available. Reasonable DIY project with the right prep for many folks.

Lots of ways to water proof a new installation. Good installation should never leak. I like the green board, put a coat of waterproofing tar on that sucker, layer of heavy mil plastic. Layer of Durock, thinset mortar to set the tiles. About as good as it gets. Could also use some Bituthene behind the entire affair. Ain't much water going to go thru it.

Do have to think about where your hot / cold water supplies are now and how that could change and how you might get an emergency access panel into the scheme to access any plumbing once everything gets nice and tiled. Nothing like a new shower for greeting the morning. Can make it as custom as your lil heart desires.

[ShaneSA]

I took out an old tub and tile in a 70 year old house and found a subfloor and wooden walls that I left there and after adding insulation, added the tile and made a shower. Probably, if it holds a tub with a potential to hold a full tub of water, the floor will be strong enough to hold a shower and you can build a shower on the flooring you have under the current tub. it's not hard to do, just make sure you leak proof it.

[rubytue]

Schulter makes a great product for waterproofing showers called Kerdi. They even have a kit with a preformed base that fits tub diminsions. Yes, its not that cheap, but you don't have to deal with building a mud pan. You can also buy a vinyl shower base is 30x60 (tub size), so you would have the vinyl for the floor and could tile the walls. Not as elegant at a tiled floor, but a heck of a lot easier.

[David Clark]

I have a solution that I use to convert tub/showers to showers and its easier than tile. Each wall is 3/8" thick solid surface material looks like granite. the base is made from same material and is solid with drain built in 3 designs to choose from: roll in, low profile, and standard. ***Mod Cut***