Bathroom Remodeling in Waxhaw NC: Garden Tubs and Builder Grade Baths
Most Waxhaw bathrooms we remodel were built between 2000 and 2020, and most have the same two problems: a garden tub nobody uses and a hall bath that never got past builder grade. Here is how to fix both, what it typically costs and how long it takes.
Drive through Cureton, Millbridge or Lawson and you can almost picture the primary bathroom before you walk in. A big corner garden tub under a window, a small fiberglass shower beside it, a double vanity with a plate mirror and almond colored tile. In the hall bath upstairs, a fiberglass tub and shower combo that the kids have been using for fifteen years.
Those homes were built well, and the bathrooms work. They just were not built for how people use them now. The garden tub collects towels, the shower is too small for two, and the hall bath shows its age the moment you pull back the curtain.
Waxhaw also has the older homes around the historic downtown, where bathrooms are smaller and the plumbing behind the walls can be decades old. Those need a different plan. Here is how we approach bathroom remodeling in Waxhaw NC for both kinds of homes, with typical costs and timelines.
1The Garden Tub to Walk-In Shower Swap
This is the most requested bathroom project we do in Waxhaw. The garden tub and the small shower come out, and the combined space becomes one large walk-in shower, often with a bench, a niche and a glass panel instead of a full enclosure. The room immediately feels bigger.
A few things decide how smooth it goes. The tub area usually sits on a raised deck, so the floor beneath needs to be checked and leveled. The window that sat over the tub may now be inside the shower, which means it needs to be replaced with a tempered, water resistant unit or framed in. And the drain usually moves, which is easy on a crawl space and more involved on a slab.
If someone in the house still wants a soaking tub, a freestanding tub in the corner with a curbless shower beside it is the common compromise. It needs more floor space, so we measure before you fall in love with the idea.
2Typical Bathroom Remodeling Costs in Waxhaw
These are typical market ranges for Union County, for planning only. They are not quotes. Tile choice, glass, plumbing moves and what we find behind the walls set the final number.
| Project | What it usually includes | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Hall bath refresh | New vanity, top, fixtures, lighting, flooring, paint | $8,000 to $15,000 |
| Hall bath tub to tile | Tub and surround replaced with tile, new valve, glass or curtain | $12,000 to $22,000 |
| Primary bath, garden tub to shower | Tub removed, large tiled shower, glass, new floor and vanity | $28,000 to $50,000 |
| Full primary bath with layout change | Moved plumbing, freestanding tub, double vanity, heated floor | $45,000 to $75,000 and up |
Good reasons to remodel now
Check these before you start
Almost every primary bath we open up in Waxhaw has the same garden tub. Once it comes out and the shower takes its place, owners tell us it feels like a different house. The trick is planning the drain, the window and the waterproofing before anyone picks tile.
Gustavo Abreu · Owner, Bella Construction LLC
Planning a bathroom remodel in Waxhaw?
Send us a few photos of the bathroom and tell us what bothers you most about it. We will come out, measure, look at the plumbing and give you a written scope and estimate.
3Choices That Make the Biggest Difference
Shower size and entry
A 60 inch wide shower with a low curb or curbless entry is the most comfortable size for most primary baths. It also ages well if you plan to stay.
Tile and grout
Large format porcelain on the floor means fewer grout lines to clean. Use a smaller tile or mosaic on the shower floor for grip and proper slope to the drain.
Vanity and storage
A furniture style vanity with drawers stores more than a sink base with doors. Wall niches in the shower replace the plastic caddy.
Lighting and ventilation
A vented fan sized for the room, a light in the shower and good vanity lighting. Steam and poor light are why so many builder grade baths feel tired.
4How a Waxhaw Bathroom Remodel Runs
Walkthrough and design
We measure, check the subfloor and plumbing, and help you choose the layout, tile, vanity and glass.
Permits
Plumbing and electrical changes need a permit through Union County. We file it and schedule the inspections.
Build
Old fixtures and tile come out, plumbing is adjusted, the shower is waterproofed and tiled, and the vanity, glass and fixtures go in.
Final walkthrough
We test every fixture with you, close a written punch list and clean up before we leave.
5Choosing a Bathroom Remodeler in Waxhaw
Ask how the shower will be waterproofed, who pulls the permit, and how the crew protects the rest of the house. Ask for a written scope that lists the tile, the vanity and the glass, so you are comparing the same project between quotes. If you are weighing the hall bath first, tub to shower conversions in Indian Trail covers the same homes next door, and bathroom upgrades that add value helps you decide what to spend on.
You can see more on our bathroom remodeling in Waxhaw page, our bathroom remodeling services, and the rest of what we do in town on the Waxhaw service area page.
6FAQ
How much does it cost to replace a garden tub with a shower in Waxhaw?
Most garden tub to walk-in shower projects fall between $28,000 and $50,000 as part of a primary bath remodel, depending on tile, glass and whether the drain moves. We give you a written estimate after seeing the room.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Waxhaw?
If plumbing or electrical changes, yes, through Union County. Replacing a vanity, flooring or paint alone usually does not. We handle the permit when it is needed.
How long will I be without my bathroom?
A hall bath tub to tile update is usually one to two weeks on site. A full primary bath is usually three to five weeks once materials are on hand. We order long lead items before we start so the room is not open longer than it needs to be.
Will removing the garden tub hurt resale value?
Not in most Waxhaw homes, as long as there is a tub somewhere else in the house for families with small children. Buyers today ask for a large walk-in shower more than a garden tub.
What happens to the old tub and tile?
We remove and haul away the old tub, tile and fixtures as part of the job. Taking out the old materials is the only demolition most bathroom remodels need, and we protect the floors and hallways while we do it.
Hello, we are Bella Construction LLC.
We are a family owned flooring and remodeling company serving Charlotte and the surrounding areas. Seven years, hundreds of homes, and a BBB A+ rating built one project at a time.
Every crew is background checked, fully insured, and trained to leave your home cleaner than we found it. Ask us anything before you commit to anything.
Bella Construction LLC · 4109 Edgeview Dr, Indian Trail, NC 28079 · Serving Waxhaw, Marvin, Weddington, Wesley Chapel, Indian Trail, Monroe and the surrounding metro.
