Why Granite Bay Homeowners Are Trading Tubs for Luxury Walk-In Showers

The Garden Tub Problem in Granite Bay

If you own a home in Granite Bay built between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, there is a strong chance your master bathroom has a large garden tub sitting in the corner or centered against a wall. These oversized soaking tubs were the defining feature of luxury master bathrooms for two decades. Builders installed them as the centerpiece of the master suite, often alongside a separate small shower stall that was clearly an afterthought.

Here is the reality that Granite Bay homeowners have discovered: the garden tub rarely gets used. Studies show that fewer than 15% of homeowners use their master bath soaking tub regularly. It sits there occupying 25 to 35 square feet of premium bathroom real estate, collecting dust, and requiring cleaning for a feature that gets used once a month at most. Meanwhile, the small shower stall (typically a 36x36-inch or 36x48-inch fiberglass insert) is used twice daily by every member of the household and feels cramped, dated, and completely inadequate for a home valued at $800,000 or more.

This disconnect between how the bathroom space is allocated and how it is actually used drives the single most popular bathroom renovation in Granite Bay: removing the underused garden tub and building a luxurious walk-in shower in its place. The result transforms the daily shower experience from cramped and functional to spacious and spa-quality, while reclaiming wasted floor space that the oversized tub consumed.

Why Walk-In Showers Win

The shift from garden tubs to walk-in showers is not a passing trend. It reflects a fundamental change in how homeowners use their bathrooms. Walk-in showers win over garden tubs on every practical measure:

• Daily use vs. occasional use: You shower every day. You soak in a tub once or twice a month at most. Investing in the feature you use daily delivers dramatically more daily satisfaction than maintaining a feature that sits idle 95% of the time.
• Space efficiency: A garden tub occupies 25-35 square feet of floor space. A walk-in shower in the same footprint feels larger because it is open and usable, while a tub filled with water creates dead space around it. Converting a tub to a shower often makes the entire bathroom feel more spacious.
• Safety and accessibility: Stepping over a high tub wall is a fall risk that increases with age. A curbless or low-curb walk-in shower with a bench seat provides safe, easy access for homeowners of any age or mobility level. This is especially relevant for Granite Bay homeowners planning to age in place in their forever home.
• Cleaning and maintenance: A walk-in shower with frameless glass and quality tile is significantly easier to clean than a garden tub with its wide rim, surrounding deck, and hard-to-reach corners. Less cleaning time for a feature you actually use daily versus more cleaning time for one you rarely use.
• Design impact: A stunning walk-in shower with floor-to-ceiling tile, frameless glass, and premium fixtures is the focal point that defines a luxury bathroom in 2026. A dated garden tub with cultured marble surround signals that the bathroom has not been updated.

The typical Granite Bay garden tub: rarely used, taking up valuable space, and signaling a dated master bathroom

The Conversion Process Explained

A tub-to-shower conversion is a well-established bathroom renovation that an experienced specialist completes routinely. Here is what the process involves in a Granite Bay home:

• Step 1: Demolition (Day 1-2): The existing garden tub, surround, and any surrounding deck or tile are removed. The subfloor beneath the tub is inspected for water damage (common under older tubs). Any deteriorated subfloor is repaired or replaced.
• Step 2: Plumbing modification (Day 2-3): The tub drain is relocated or modified for the new shower configuration. The shower valve position is adjusted if needed. Supply lines are verified and upgraded if necessary. This is the most technically critical phase because it establishes the foundation for proper drainage and water delivery.
• Step 3: Shower pan and waterproofing (Day 3-5): A mortar bed or pre-formed shower pan is installed with proper slope to the drain (minimum 1/4-inch per foot). The entire shower area receives a continuous waterproofing membrane (Schluter Kerdi, Laticrete Hydro Ban, or equivalent) covering the floor, walls, bench, and niches. This is where specialist experience matters most.
• Step 4: Tile installation (Day 5-10): Tile is installed on the shower floor, walls, bench, and niches. Large-format tile requires careful attention to substrate flatness and full mortar coverage. Grout is applied and sealed.
• Step 5: Glass and fixtures (Day 10-14): The frameless glass panel or enclosure is measured, fabricated, and installed. Shower fixtures (valve trim, shower heads, handheld) are installed and tested. Final caulking and finishing details complete the project.

Design Options for Granite Bay Homes

Granite Bay homeowners expect luxury, and the tub-to-shower conversion is an opportunity to create a truly exceptional shower. The most popular design configurations for Granite Bay conversions include:

• Curbless walk-in with fixed glass panel: The premium option for Granite Bay homes. A curbless (barrier-free) entry with a single large glass panel creates a seamless, open feel. Requires careful floor engineering to contain water without a curb. This design delivers the most dramatic visual impact and the best accessibility.
• Low-curb walk-in with frameless enclosure: A 2-3 inch curb provides positive water containment while remaining easy to step over. Combined with a frameless glass door and fixed panel, this is the most popular configuration for Granite Bay conversions because it balances luxury aesthetics with practical water management.
• Double shower head configuration: A ceiling-mounted rain head (10-12 inch diameter) paired with a wall-mounted handheld on a slide bar gives Granite Bay homeowners versatile shower options. Add a thermostatic valve for precise temperature control across both heads.
• Built-in bench and niches: A tiled bench seat (typically 17 inches high, 15 inches deep) adds comfort and style. Two or three recessed niches at different heights accommodate all shower products without cluttering the space with hanging caddies.

Frameless glass showcases the tile work and creates an open, luxury feel in a Granite Bay walk-in shower conversion

Costs: What to Expect

Granite Bay tub-to-shower conversions tend toward the higher end of the pricing spectrum because homeowner expectations for materials and finishes match the luxury character of the community. Here is what Granite Bay homeowners invest:

Most Granite Bay tub-to-shower conversions fall in the $14,000-$22,000 luxury tier because homeowners want the quality level that matches their property and neighborhood. At this price point, you get a shower that genuinely feels like a spa experience with materials and craftsmanship built to last 25+ years.

Resale Value Impact

In Granite Bay's real estate market, where homes routinely sell for $800,000 to $1.5 million and above, the master bathroom is one of the most scrutinized rooms during home showings. An updated master shower can be the feature that seals the deal.

The important rule for Granite Bay homeowners is simple: keep at least one bathtub in the home. If your hall bathroom or guest bathroom has a tub, you are free to convert the master bath tub to a walk-in shower without any resale concern. Granite Bay buyers overwhelmingly prefer a luxury walk-in shower in the master suite paired with a standard tub in a secondary bathroom.

A quality tub-to-shower conversion in Granite Bay typically recoups 65-75% of its cost at resale, which is above the national average for bathroom improvements. The premium ROI reflects Granite Bay's luxury market positioning and buyer expectations for updated master bathroom features.

Aging-in-Place Benefits

Many Granite Bay homeowners are established residents who plan to stay in their homes long-term. A walk-in shower conversion is one of the most impactful aging-in-place improvements you can make:

• Curbless entry eliminates the trip hazard of stepping over a tub wall or high shower curb.
• Built-in bench seat provides a safe, comfortable place to sit while showering.
• Handheld shower head on a slide bar accommodates seated and standing shower positions.
• Grab bars can be integrated into the design discreetly, matching the fixture finish and appearing as towel bars or accent hardware rather than institutional safety equipment.
• Non-slip tile on the shower floor (matte finish with appropriate coefficient of friction) reduces slip risk without compromising the luxury aesthetic.

The beauty of designing for aging-in-place during a tub-to-shower conversion is that all of these features improve the shower experience for users of any age. A bench seat is luxurious at 40 and essential at 80. A handheld shower is convenient at any age. These are not compromises. They are design improvements that happen to also provide safety as you age.

Ready to Replace Your Granite Bay Garden Tub?

Your garden tub served its purpose, but your daily shower deserves the space and luxury that a walk-in shower delivers. A specialist-quality tub-to-shower conversion transforms the feature you use most while adding real value to your Granite Bay home.

Oakwood Remodeling Group specializes exclusively in bathroom remodeling, including tub-to-shower conversions, walk-in shower installations, and master bathroom renovations throughout Granite Bay and the greater Placer County area. Every conversion we build features proper waterproofing, expert tile craftsmanship, and premium glass that matches the luxury standard Granite Bay homeowners expect.