Shower or tub is the first big decision in most bathroom remodels, and it shapes nearly everything that follows: the layout, the plumbing work, the tile scope, and the permit tier. It is worth settling before you call, because the answer changes what the estimate needs to cover. Here is how to think it through.
Start with how you actually use the bathroom
The right answer begins with your routine, not with trends. If everyone in the household showers and the tub sits unused, that square footage is working against you. If there are small children, or soaking is a genuine habit rather than an aspiration, the tub earns its place. Be honest about the last year, not the next fantasy renovation — the fixture should match the life lived in the room.
Keeping what you have
The simplest path is also the smallest scope: a tub stays a tub, a shower stays a shower, in the same footprint. You still get the full visual transformation — new fixtures, new tile, new glass or surround, better lighting — but the drain stays where it is and the plumbing scope stays minimal. This is the route that keeps the most projects closest to the cosmetic tier, because the wet plumbing barely changes.
Switching a tub to a shower
Tub-to-shower conversions are one of the most common bathroom requests, and for good reason: they open up the room and make daily use easier. The drain location usually needs attention, the shower needs proper waterproofing and a new valve, and the tile scope grows. None of that is exotic work — it is everyday remodel plumbing — but it does mean the plumbing scope is real, and the permit tier follows the scope: new plumbing work moves the project into the minor-permit tier even when the fixture count and locations are otherwise unchanged.
Switching a shower to a tub
Going the other direction — shower to tub — raises the same questions in reverse. The drain and water lines need to serve the new fixture location, the floor needs to support it, and the surrounding tile and waterproofing change. It is completely doable, but it is not a surface swap: plan for real plumbing work and the inspections that come with it.
What the plumbing and electrical changes mean for permits
San Jose’s three tiers apply here exactly as they do elsewhere:
- Cosmetic / surface work — usually no permit. Fixture-for-fixture swaps with no new plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work typically land here.
- Minor work — permit + inspection. Even with no structural change and the same fixture count in the same locations, a permit and inspection are needed when new electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work is involved — for example moving a drain or adding a shower valve. These go through SJPermits.org. City: minor permits
- Major / structural work — plan review as a major remodel. Moving walls or altering structure lands here. City: major remodel
Your free estimate confirms the tier for your scope — and includes a timeline for it, since timing depends on scope, permit type, and inspections. For the full picture on what drives bathroom cost and timelines, see our guide to bathroom remodel cost, timeline, and permits in San Jose.
Related guides
- Bathroom Remodeling in San Jose
- Bathroom Remodeling in Willow Glen
- Bathroom remodel cost, timeline, and permits
- Small bathroom layout ideas
How to get started
Free estimate — call now: +1 (323) 328-8334. We take calls Monday–Saturday 9–5 and Sunday 10–4. No qualifying questions before the call — just tell us about your bathroom. You can also reach us through our contact page.