A Lakewood Tub-to-Shower Remodel, Before and After

Published July 1, 2026

A homeowner near Woodruff Ave called us about a 1950s bathroom that had not been touched in decades. The cast-iron tub went unused, the surround leaked into the wall, and stepping over the high tub wall was getting harder every year. Here is how that room went from a dated, damp bathroom to a clean walk-in shower, and the details that made the difference.

What We Found Behind the Tile

Once we pulled the old surround, the story was in the wall. The original tile had been set over moisture-resistant gypsum with no membrane, so water had been wicking into the framing for years. A soft bottom plate and a rusted set of supply lines told us the leak was not new. This is the part a surface refresh never fixes, and it is exactly why we open the wall before quoting the real scope.

The Plan We Wrote Up

We swapped the tub for a low-threshold shower, reworked the drain to a shower P-trap, and planned a new anti-scald valve set to a 120 degree limit. The homeowner picked a large-format porcelain for the walls and a slip-resistant mosaic for the floor. Everything went in the written estimate before demo, so there were no surprises once the wall was open. If a full gut makes more sense for your room, our full bathroom remodel covers the same careful approach at a larger scale.

The Waterproofing Nobody Sees

This is the step that makes a shower last. We set cement backer board, applied a bonded Schluter-Kerdi membrane to ANSI A118.10, and flood-tested the pan before a single tile went up. Done right, the waterproofing lives behind the tile, so the finish can be whatever you like without risking another leak. It is the same method behind all of our tile and waterproofing work.

The Before and After

The old bathroom was a boxed-in tub, a leaking surround, and a 90715 home that felt older than it was. The finished room is an open walk-in shower with a frameless glass panel, a tiled niche, and a floor you can step into flat-footed. The homeowner got a bathroom that is easier to use today and ready for aging in place tomorrow.

Thinking About Your Own Remodel?

If your bathroom has a tub you never use or a surround you suspect is leaking, the smart first move is a real in-home measure. It turns guesswork into a plan and surfaces any hidden damage before it costs you. Reach out through our contact us page or call Osmhi at (562) 224-1060 for a free estimate in Lakewood.