Shower Remodel in Jupiter, FL

What this service covers

A shower remodel replaces your existing shower enclosure, base, and fixtures with a new system — whether that's a prefabricated unit, a custom tile shower, or a walk-in design with frameless glass. We handle the demolition, waterproofing, plumbing adjustments, and installation so your new shower is built right the first time.

What This Service Involves

A shower remodel starts with removing the old shower — enclosure, base, wall surround, and sometimes the wall material behind it if the waterproofing has failed. From there we inspect the framing and subfloor for damage, repair anything that needs it, install new cement board or moisture-resistant backing, apply waterproofing membrane, and build the new shower. That can mean a prefabricated acrylic or fiberglass shower system, a custom tile shower with a mortar bed pan, or a hybrid — prefab base with custom tile walls.

The shower base is the most failure-prone part of any shower. We install either a prefab acrylic base (durable, low-maintenance, fast to install) or a custom tile pan with a sloped mortar bed and linear or center drain. Every shower base gets a waterproofing membrane — hot-mopped, sheet-applied, or liquid-applied depending on the system. This is where most shower leaks start, so we don't cut corners here.

Glass enclosures, fixtures, and finishing complete the project. Frameless glass gives a clean, modern look and makes a small bathroom feel larger. Fixtures range from basic showerheads to rain heads, handheld sprays, body jets, and thermostatic valves. We also install built-in niches, benches, and grab bars if you want them — adding accessibility features during a remodel is much easier and cheaper than retrofitting later.

When You Need a Shower Remodel

Cracked shower pan is the most urgent sign. If you see a crack in the floor of your shower — even a hairline one — water is getting underneath. Left alone, it rots the subfloor and framing, and what could have been a shower replacement becomes a structural repair. Leaking grout is another red flag. When grout lines start crumbling, water penetrates behind the tile. If you see mold on grout that returns after cleaning, or if the grout feels soft, the waterproofing behind it has likely failed.

Fiberglass shower units that have yellowed, stained, or developed surface cracks are common in older Jupiter homes. The gelcoat on fiberglass degrades in Florida's humidity, and once it's gone, the fiberglass underneath absorbs water and weakens. A 20-year-old fiberglass surround that looks bad is probably also leaking, even if you can't see it.

Many homeowners in the Jupiter area remodel their shower for accessibility. Stepping over a 6-inch tub edge or shower curb becomes a fall risk as you age, and a walk-in shower with a low or zero-threshold entry is safer and easier to use. If you or a family member is having trouble getting in and out of the shower, a remodel with a curbless entry, grab bars, and a built-in bench is worth doing before a fall happens, not after.

Why Problems Happen

Failed waterproofing is the root cause behind most shower failures we see in Jupiter homes. The waterproofing membrane behind the tile is what actually keeps water out of your walls — the tile and grout are decorative, not waterproof. If the membrane was installed incorrectly, omitted entirely, or has degraded with age, water gets into the framing. You won't see it until it's caused enough damage to show through — a bulging wall, a soft floor, or a stain on the ceiling below.

Florida's hard water accelerates shower deterioration. Mineral deposits build up in grout lines and on fixtures, and over time they etch the surface, making it easier for mold and mildew to grab hold. Grout that's been etched by hard water can't be sealed effectively — it keeps absorbing water, which feeds mold behind the tile. A shower that's 15 years old with original grout is probably past the point where cleaning and sealing will save it.

DIY shower installs are another common source of problems. We've found showers where the pan was installed without a pre-slope, where the backer board was butted tight against the floor with no gap, where the drain wasn't properly connected to the pan membrane. These showers looked fine when they were new and started leaking within a few years. Proper shower construction is exacting work — small errors lead to big water damage.

What Affects Cost

The biggest price spread is between a prefabricated shower system and a custom tile shower. A prefab acrylic or fiberglass unit — base, walls, and basic fixtures — is significantly less expensive than a custom tile shower with a mortar bed pan, tile walls, niche, and frameless glass enclosure. Prefab systems have improved a lot in recent years and some look quite good; custom tile gives you unlimited design flexibility and tends to add more value to the home.

Glass enclosure type moves the budget substantially. A framed shower door is the most affordable option. A semi-frameless door costs a bit more. A full frameless glass enclosure — heavy 3/8-inch glass, no metal frame, custom-cut to your opening — is the premium choice and transforms the look of the bathroom. Many homeowners save on other parts of the bathroom to invest in frameless glass because it has the biggest visual impact.

Plumbing relocation, fixture upgrades, and accessibility features add to the cost. Moving the shower drain to change the shower's footprint requires permits and concrete work. Adding body sprays or a rain head may require upgrading the supply lines. A curbless entry needs a depressed subfloor or trench drain, which is more complex than a standard curb. We itemize every option in your estimate so you can choose where to invest.

Repair vs. Replacement

Regrouting and sealing can extend the life of a tile shower if the waterproofing underneath is still sound. If the grout is stained but the tiles are firmly attached, the wall behind isn't soft, and there are no signs of leaking, a professional regrout is a fraction of the cost of a full replacement. Caulking replacement around the shower base and fixtures is another cheap fix that addresses minor leaks.

Replacement is the right call when the shower is leaking, the pan is cracked, the waterproofing has failed, or the layout doesn't work for you anymore. A leaking shower that's repaired with a regrout is going to keep leaking if the problem is behind the tile. We inspect the shower's structure before recommending a repair — if the framing or subfloor is compromised, a full replacement is the only option that addresses the actual problem.

For fiberglass units that are stained or cracked, repair kits exist but they rarely match the original surface and the repair is visible. A 20-year-old fiberglass surround that's failing is at the end of its life — patching it buys you months, not years. A replacement with a modern prefab system or custom tile shower is the better long-term investment.