THE ESTIMATING ANSWER
For one existing bath alcove, start with a defined scope and measurement basis. Measure the finished alcove on three sides, the wet-wall area and the drain location before selecting the base. Keep the shower base, screen and finish tile as named allowances until the products are selected. Price the listed tasks separately and state the condition that would require a revision: Rot behind the surround or a drain that cannot align with the chosen base changes the work.
This guide uses a fictional project in Toronto, Ontario: One existing bath alcove. Its matching estimate and PDF give each scope decision a visible CAD cost line. Use the document to understand the structure; verify the actual building, product schedule, labour and supplier inputs before preparing a client quote.
1. Define the measured job
Remove one bathtub and fit a shower in the same alcove, with a new base, wall finish, valve trim and screen allowance. Existing supply and drain positions remain. Measure the finished alcove on three sides, the wet-wall area and the drain location before selecting the base. Record the measurements and existing condition in the estimate before turning quantities into line items. The scope should make clear why this is a separate project from a broader renovation or maintenance quote.
Measurement basis: Measure the finished alcove on three sides, the wet-wall area and the drain location before selecting the base.
2. Build a product and labour schedule
Keep the shower base, screen and finish tile as named allowances until the products are selected. This example has 7 distinct lines, including dust protection, tub and surround removal, shower base allowance. Use actual supplier prices and labour inputs for a customer job; the displayed amounts are fictional document inputs.
Selections to confirm: Keep the shower base, screen and finish tile as named allowances until the products are selected.
3. Sequence the work and handoffs
Confirm water shutoff, demolition, waterproofing inspection and curing time before promising a handoff date. Show which task depends on access, a selected product or another trade. If that dependency is still open, label the price preliminary and identify the information needed before a firm quote.
Work sequence: Confirm water shutoff, demolition, waterproofing inspection and curing time before promising a handoff date.
4. Set a change boundary
Rot behind the surround or a drain that cannot align with the chosen base changes the work. The example excludes bathroom layout change, concealed structural repair or whole-room repainting. Record the discovery, agree the revised work and update the estimate before adding it to the job.
If the job changes: Rot behind the surround or a drain that cannot align with the chosen base changes the work.
Review the Canadian job address
Verify the existing water, waste and fixture connections on site. Confirm who handles any required trade work, approvals and inspections for this address; this fictional document does not decide them.
The wet-wall preparation and waterproofing line uses 75 sq. ft., approximately 6.97 m². Keep the actual site measurement and the supplier’s selling unit together when you replace this quantity. The example amounts are fictional CAD document inputs, not current rates for Toronto, Ontario or another community. A site visit and current supplier information are needed to replace them.
Work through the itemized calculation
Check each extension of quantity and rate in the paired PDF. Two lines from this project are:
- Shower base allowance: 1 each × C$950.00 = C$950.00.
- Wet-wall preparation and waterproofing: 75 sq. ft. × C$23.00 = C$1,725.00.
Adding all 7 rounded line amounts gives C$7,120.00. The PDF shows 0% tax and the same total before any markup. The sample shows 0% tax only to make the arithmetic visible. Determine any applicable GST, HST or PST and markup for the actual work before sharing a quote.
| Work item | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust protection | 1 job | C$205.00 | C$205.00 |
| Tub and surround removal | 1 job | C$525.00 | C$525.00 |
| Shower base allowance | 1 each | C$950.00 | C$950.00 |
| Wet-wall preparation and waterproofing | 75 sq. ft. | C$23.00 | C$1,725.00 |
| Wall finish installation | 75 sq. ft. | C$30.00 | C$2,250.00 |
| Valve trim and screen allowance | 1 set | C$1,225.00 | C$1,225.00 |
| Disposal and final seal | 1 job | C$240.00 | C$240.00 |
| Illustrative subtotal | C$7,120.00 | ||
Scope and pricing boundaries
Remove one bathtub and fit a shower in the same alcove, with a new base, wall finish, valve trim and screen allowance. Existing supply and drain positions remain.
Outside this example: No bathroom layout change, concealed structural repair or whole-room repainting.
Keep the product allowance, installation work and any unresolved condition visible as separate decisions. If access or the selected product changes, update the affected quantity or rate and explain the revision before the client relies on the estimate.
Before you send the estimate
- Measure the finished alcove on three sides, the wet-wall area and the drain location before selecting the base.
- Keep the shower base, screen and finish tile as named allowances until the products are selected.
- Confirm water shutoff, demolition, waterproofing inspection and curing time before promising a handoff date.
- Rot behind the surround or a drain that cannot align with the chosen base changes the work.
Check the business, client, property, dates, line extensions and notes. The bathtub to shower conversion PDF example shows one way to present them. Its short PDF note lists the brief's scope exclusions; the fuller project limits above should guide your own scope.
Questions about this estimate
Which quantity controls this bathtub to shower conversion estimate?
Measure the finished alcove on three sides, the wet-wall area and the drain location before selecting the base.
When should this bathtub to shower conversion quote be revised?
Rot behind the surround or a drain that cannot align with the chosen base changes the work. No bathroom layout change, concealed structural repair or whole-room repainting.
MAKE THE NEXT ESTIMATE YOUR OWN
Build a bathtub to shower conversion estimate.
Enter the job scope in Estimates on iPhone or Android or start from an AI-assisted draft. Check every quantity, rate, allowance, client detail and note before exporting the PDF. Some app features may require an in-app purchase.
