Custom Tiled Walk-In Showers
Built on site with glass doors, niches, and benches; pair them with new bathroom tile for a cohesive look.
Shower and bathtub installation is the fastest way to transform how your bathroom looks and works. CJM Builders installs tub-to-shower conversions, custom tiled walk-in showers, and deep soaking tubs throughout North Reading, MA and the surrounding towns, and we have been doing it since 1992.
A new shower or tub is also where most bathroom problems start and end: leaks, mold, cracked surrounds, and grime that no amount of scrubbing fixes. Replacing the wet area correctly, with proper waterproofing behind the walls, solves those problems for decades, not seasons.
Why Replace Your Tub or Shower?
Replace your tub or shower when cleaning no longer helps. Fiberglass surrounds from the 1980s and ’90s yellow, crack, and flex underfoot. Grout and caulk joints fail and let water reach the framing. Original cast-iron tubs in older colonials are durable, but their glaze wears through and their high sides get harder to step over every year.
There is also the simple matter of how you live. If nobody has taken a bath in five years, that tub is costing you a roomier, safer shower. And if you soak to unwind, a modern soaking tub does it far better than a builder-grade unit from decades ago. This work is one piece of our complete bathroom remodeling services in North Reading.
Tub-to-Shower Conversions
A tub-to-shower conversion removes the old bathtub and replaces it with a full-size shower in the same footprint. It is one of the most popular projects we do in North Reading’s mid-century capes and ranches, where the only full bath is small and the tub eats a third of the room.
Done right, a conversion involves more than swapping fixtures. We check the drain location, update shutoff valves, install a proper shower pan and waterproofing membrane, and tile or panel the walls to your spec. In Massachusetts, the plumbing portion must be performed by a licensed plumber — ours pull the permit and handle the inspection.
Walk-In Showers, Soaking Tubs, and Everything Between
Every household uses a bathroom differently, so we install the full range:
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Curbless (Zero-Threshold) Showers
A clean look that also works beautifully for aging in place.
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Acrylic and Composite Shower Systems
Durable, low-maintenance wall panels installed over proper backing.
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Soaking and Freestanding Tubs
A spa centerpiece for a primary bath.
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Tub and Surround Replacements
A like-for-like swap that makes the whole room feel new.
Not sure which direction fits your home and budget? Visit our Design Center & Showroom on Main Street in North Reading to see and touch the options before you decide.
What to Expect During Installation
Most shower or tub replacements take several days to two weeks, depending on whether we are setting an acrylic system or building a fully tiled shower. Tub-to-shower conversions usually land in the one-to-two-week range once materials are on hand. We follow our White Glove Five-Step Process™ on every job:
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Step 1: Survey
We survey the existing wet area — checking the drain location, the framing behind the surround, and how the space is used.
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Step 2: Strategize
We design the new shower or tub with you, with samples in hand at our North Reading showroom so you can compare tile and acrylic in person.
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Step 3: Solidify
We lock the estimate and schedule in writing before any demolition begins.
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Step 4: Secure
We pull the plumbing permit, perform the licensed trade work, and waterproof correctly behind the walls.
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Step 5: Showcase
We test the finished shower or tub with you at a final walkthrough.
If your project grows into a bigger transformation, our full bathroom renovations cover the entire room.
Built for North Reading Homes
Local homes shape how we work. Second-floor baths in older colonials often mean carrying a 300-pound cast-iron tub down a narrow staircase — we plan for that. Mid-century homes around Martins Pond frequently hide undersized drains and corroded shutoffs behind the tub apron, so we open the wall expecting surprises rather than charging you for them mid-project as a shock.
Massachusetts winters matter too. When a shower sits against an exterior wall, we insulate and air-seal behind the new unit so pipes stay warm and the first shower of a January morning isn’t a cold one. CJM Builders is licensed and insured, and we serve Andover, Middleton, North Reading, Reading, Wakefield, Wilmington, and surrounding towns.
Get a Free Shower or Bathtub Installation Estimate
Stop wrestling with a cramped, worn-out tub or shower. Schedule a free, no-obligation estimate with CJM Builders, or call (978) 649-7300 to talk through your project. Ask about 0% interest for 21 months (opens in a new tab) through our financing partner, Hearth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will converting my tub to a shower hurt my home's resale value?
Not if your home keeps at least one bathtub. Real estate professionals generally agree a tub-to-shower conversion is neutral to positive when another tub remains, since many buyers now prefer a roomy walk-in shower. If it's your only tub, we'll talk through the trade-offs before you commit.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
Most tub-to-shower conversions take one to two weeks once materials arrive. Acrylic wall systems install faster; fully tiled showers take longer because waterproofing, tile, and grout each need proper cure time. We give you a written schedule before demolition starts.
Should I choose a tiled shower or an acrylic surround?
It depends on what you value. A tiled shower is fully custom and built to last decades when waterproofed correctly, while a quality acrylic system installs faster and is easier to clean. We install both, and we'll show you samples of each at our North Reading showroom so you can compare in person.
Do I need a permit to replace a tub or shower in Massachusetts?
Usually, yes. Even a like-for-like swap involves plumbing connections that Massachusetts requires a licensed plumber to perform, and moving or altering plumbing triggers a permit. CJM Builders pulls all required permits through the North Reading building department and schedules the inspections for you.
