J. Perry & Sons rebuilds showers for homeowners in Broward and Palm Beach counties: demolition to the studs and slab, a new pan and drain, a full waterproofing system, and new tile, niche, curb and bench. It is the most common single-room job inside our bathroom renovation work, and the one where the parts you cannot see decide whether the shower lasts. Most calls start with a leak, a cracked pan or tile that has let go; some start with a tub nobody uses. Read the shower demolition and rebuild guide for the sequence, then send photos.
Shower Replacement Cost in South Florida: $7,500–$14,000 for a standard 3x5 shower
| Scope | Typical size | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Demo shower to studs and slab, cap plumbing, haul | 3x5 shower | $900–$1,800 |
| New mortar or pre-formed pan, drain, curb | 3x5 shower | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Wall and pan waterproofing, sheet or liquid system | 3x5 shower, 90–110 sq ft walls | $600–$1,400 |
| Wall tile, owner supplies tile | 90–110 sq ft | $18–$26 per sq ft |
| Floor tile, mosaic or small format | 15–20 sq ft | $25–$40 per sq ft |
| Niche, bench, soap ledge | each | $250–$700 |
| Complete 3x5 shower replacement, demo to tile | standard | $7,500–$14,000 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion, 5 ft tub alcove to shower | standard | $9,000–$16,000 |
| Large or curbless shower with linear drain | 4x6 and up | $14,000–$24,000 |
Ranges cover labor, pan, waterproofing, setting materials, drain and curb, with the owner supplying tile. Valve replacement, moving the drain, glass enclosures, plumbing fixtures and electrical are quoted as separate lines. Large-format and slab walls move to the upper range. See tub-to-shower conversion cost and shower pan replacement cost for the two most common versions.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
Pan, waterproofing and tile options
Traditional mortar pan. A pre-slope, a PVC or CPE liner clamped to the drain, and a mortar bed sloped 1/4 inch per foot to a two-piece clamping drain. Proven, and the right choice when the drain location or shower shape is irregular.
Bonded sheet membrane pan. A pre-sloped foam tray or a mortar slope with a bonded waterproof sheet on top, tied to a bonded-flange drain. The membrane sits directly under the tile, so water never saturates a mortar bed. Faster to build and our default on standard showers.
Liquid-applied waterproofing. Rolled onto cement board or the pan slope in two coats with fabric at the corners and the curb. Good for odd shapes, niches and benches.
Curbless and linear-drain showers. The slab is recessed or the bathroom floor is built up so the shower floor drains to a linear drain at the wall with no curb. Needs a flat slab and planning of the whole bathroom floor. See curbless shower on a Florida slab.
Tile. Porcelain wall tile from 12x24 up to 24x48, porcelain slab for no-grout walls, and a 2x2 or hex mosaic on a sloped floor so the tile follows the pitch. Marble is set with a white thinset and sealed. Grout is a high-performance cement or epoxy grout in every shower we build.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Send a photo of the shower and its rough size and we'll return a range the same day.
How we replace a shower
- Scope and permit. We confirm what stays (valve, drain location, enclosure) and what moves, and pull the plumbing and building permit. In Broward and Palm Beach a pan replacement is permitted work with a pan inspection.
- Protection and demo. Plastic over the door and the vanity. Tile, backer board, the old pan and the curb come out to the studs and slab. Drywall outside the wet area is cut back to sound material.
- Framing and plumbing rough. Rotted bottom plates and studs are replaced, blocking is added for a bench, niche and grab bars, and the plumber sets the new valve and drain. The drain is set to the finished floor height before the pan is built.
- Pan. Pre-slope and liner, or bonded tray and sheet, tied to the drain. The pan is flood-tested for 24 hours and inspected before anything covers it.
- Walls. Cement board or a foam board system is fastened and seams are treated. Niche and bench are framed and boarded.
- Waterproofing. Sheet or liquid membrane on every wall surface inside the wet area, over the curb, into the niche and over the bench. Corners, the curb and the drain flange get the most attention because that is where showers leak.
- Tile. Walls are laid out from a level line so cuts land at the floor and in the corners, not at eye level. Floor mosaic follows the slope. Full thinset coverage is checked.
- Grout, caulk, enclosure. Grout cures 72 hours. Silicone at every change of plane. The glass enclosure is measured after tile and installed by our glass partner. The permit is closed after final inspection.
Showers in South Florida: slabs, humidity and old pans
Slab-on-grade. Most Broward and Palm Beach homes have a shower drain set in the slab. Moving a drain means cutting concrete, which we do, but a shower that keeps the drain where it is stays in the lower part of the range.
Failed pans. A shower built in the 1980s or 1990s with a mortar bed and no pre-slope holds water in the mortar for years before it shows up as a stain on the ceiling below or a soft spot on the wall outside the shower. By the time the tile cracks, the framing behind it is often wet. We open walls carefully and price the framing repair after demo rather than guessing.
Humidity and mildew. A South Florida shower dries slowly. Epoxy or high-performance grout, silicone corners and a working exhaust fan keep the finish clean; a fan that vents into the attic does not count and we flag it.
Condos. Pan replacement in a condo needs a permit and often the association's plumber review, because a leak lands in the unit below. We schedule demo and the flood test around the building's hours and give the association the permit documents.
Permits. Any shower rebuild that replaces the pan or touches the valve or drain is permitted in Broward and Palm Beach. Permit fees typically run $150–$400. We pull it and meet the inspections.
Related shower and bathroom services
- Shower tile installation: tile choices, layouts and slab walls for the finished shower.
- Tile repair and regrout: when the pan is sound and the problem is grout or a few tiles.
- Bathroom renovation: full bathroom scope when the vanity, floor and fixtures go at the same time.
- Tile removal and demolition: shower and bathroom demo with dust control.
- Stone slab installation: porcelain and quartz slab shower walls and curbs.
What a shower replacement estimate includes
- Shower dimensions and whether the drain and valve stay or move
- Demo to studs and slab, haul-away
- Framing repair allowance, with the note that hidden rot is priced after demo
- Pan system, drain type and flood test
- Wall board and waterproofing system by product
- Curb, niche, bench and blocking for grab bars
- Wall and floor tile by size, with layout notes
- Grout type and silicone joints
- Plumbing fixtures, valve and glass enclosure as separate lines
- Permit, inspections and schedule
Shower replacement by city
Bathroom renovation in Fort Lauderdale · Bathroom renovation in Miami · Bathroom renovation in Boca Raton · Bathroom renovation in West Palm Beach · Bathroom renovation in Weston · Bathroom renovation in Delray Beach · Bathroom renovation in Parkland · Bathroom renovation in Wellington
Planning guides: Shower demolition and rebuild: step by step · Tub-to-shower conversion cost · Shower pan replacement cost · Shower renovation and installation · Cost to tile a bathroom
Shower replacement — FAQ
How much does it cost to replace a shower in South Florida? $7,500–$14,000 for a standard 3x5 shower from demo through tile, with the owner supplying tile. A tub-to-shower conversion runs $9,000–$16,000 and a large or curbless shower $14,000–$24,000. Fixtures and glass are extra.
How do I know if my shower pan has failed? Water stains on the ceiling below, a soft or discolored wall outside the shower, loose tile at the bottom row, or a musty smell that cleaning does not fix. A 24-hour flood test confirms it.
Can you replace the pan and keep the wall tile? Rarely. The pan liner has to run up the wall behind the first rows of tile, and matching old tile at the cut line is seldom clean. In most cases replacing the walls with the pan costs less than it sounds and gives a continuous waterproofing system.
How long does a shower replacement take? Seven to ten working days: demo and rough plumbing, pan and flood test, inspection, board and waterproofing, tile over two or three days, grout cure, then glass measured and installed one to two weeks later.
Do I need a permit to replace a shower? Yes, in Broward and Palm Beach counties whenever the pan, drain or valve is replaced. We pull it, schedule the pan inspection and close the permit at final.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with photos and rough dimensions. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.