Shower Remodeling on the Boise Bench
Tub-to-shower conversions, walk-in shower builds in mid-century Bench ranches — properly waterproofed showers in 60–80-year-old bathrooms with the structural and tile experience these projects require.
Shower remodels are among the most-requested bathroom projects on the Boise Bench, driven by aging-in-place demand and the universal frustration with cramped 50-square-foot mid-century bathrooms whose original 5-foot alcove tubs aren't being used. Building a properly waterproofed walk-in shower in a 60–80-year-old Bench bathroom is technically straightforward (the housing stock is more uniform than North End) but requires specific competence: asbestos abatement of pre-1980 floor tiles and tile setting beds, Schluter Kerdi waterproofing, modern aesthetic that complements mid-century architecture rather than imposing Craftsman-revival looks. Iron Crest builds Bench showers regularly and brings the proper materials, sequencing, and waterproofing rigor.
Shower remodels in Bench bathrooms vary by what era of bathroom you're working in. Original construction methods, existing tub type, and the available wall framing differ across the eras.
1940–1955: Early post-war minimal traditional
Tiny bathrooms (35–50 sq ft) with original cast-iron alcove tubs, hex floor tile, beadboard wainscoting. Original galvanized supply and cast-iron drain. Shower projects almost always require: tub removal, structural assessment of floor (cast iron tubs sometimes sit on reinforced framing), full waterproofing rebuild, plumbing rework.
1955–1965: Classic post-war ranch
5-foot steel alcove tubs (lighter than cast iron) in pink/blue/mint-green tile bathrooms. Plumbing copper supply, cast-iron drains. Wall framing modern stud spacing. Shower projects involve standard demolition, tile-and-mortar removal, and modern build-back. Aesthetics typically favor complete bathroom refresh.
1965–1975: Expanded ranch and split-level
Slightly larger 60–80 sq ft bathrooms with original 5-foot tubs, sometimes tub-shower combinations, earthier tile palettes. Modern mechanical baseline. Shower projects more flexible due to larger footprints.
1985–present: Updated and infill
Modern construction. Standard walk-in shower builds with current materials and methods, no environmental complications.
Bench shower projects fall into recognizable shapes based on what you're starting with and what you're building.
1. The Tub-to-Shower Conversion — primary bath upgrade
Remove the existing tub (steel or cast iron) and replace with a walk-in shower in the same footprint. The most common Bench shower remodel. Standard scope: tub removal, drain location adjustment, Schluter Kerdi waterproofing, large-format porcelain or subway tile walls and mosaic floor, frameless glass enclosure, new thermostatic shower valve.
Target homes: Any Bench bathroom with an existing tub the owner doesn't want to keep. Permit: plumbing permit; building permit if any structural change.
2. The Curbless Walk-In — accessibility and modern aesthetic
Walk-in shower with no curb between bathroom floor and shower floor — floor slopes continuously to a linear drain. Requires careful waterproofing detail and specific drain selection. Floor must drop slightly into shower area to create slope, requiring subfloor adjustment.
Target homes: Bathrooms with floor structure that supports the slight drop; aging-in-place priority. Permit: building and plumbing permits.
3. The New Walk-In in a Remodeled Bathroom — fresh build
Building a walk-in shower as part of a broader bathroom remodel where the bathroom is being gutted to studs anyway. Lower marginal cost than standalone shower remodel.
Target homes: Bench homes doing comprehensive bathroom remodels. Permit: full bath permit suite.
4. The Accessible / ADA-Style Shower — universal design build
Walk-in shower designed for full mobility-impaired access: curbless entry with continuous floor slope, 60″ width minimum, wall-mounted bench at chair-transfer height, blocking installed in walls for current or future grab bars, hand-shower on slide bar, anti-scald thermostatic valve, slip-resistant floor tile.
Target homes: Bench owners 55+ planning to age in place; rental properties. Permit: building and plumbing permits.
5. The Wet-Room — entire bathroom waterproofed
European-style design where entire bathroom is treated as wet area. Tile floor and walls throughout. Requires comprehensive waterproofing, heated floor recommended, careful ventilation. Less common in Bench homes due to small original bathroom footprints.
Target homes: Larger Bench bathrooms (70+ sq ft) where design vision supports wet-room approach. Permit: building and plumbing permits.
The Boise Bench spans roughly two square miles with distinct sub-neighborhoods, each with its own remodeling personality.
Vista
One of the most recognized sub-neighborhoods on the Boise Bench, centered around Vista Avenue between the Boise River and Overland Road. Mostly 1940s–1960s post-war homes on uniform lots with mature street trees and good walkability to local commercial corridors. Heavy concentration of small ranch and minimal-traditional homes that respond extremely well to galley-kitchen open-ups, primary-suite additions, and aesthetic modernization.
Central Bench (Curtis & Targee corridor)
The geographic core of the Bench, running along Curtis Road and Targee Street between I-84 and Overland. Mostly 1950s–1970s ranch and split-level homes on 50–75 foot lots with alley access. Solid working-class housing stock that's increasingly being purchased and updated by buyers priced out of the North End. Galley kitchen conversions are the dominant remodeling project type here.
Eastern Bench / Overland
The eastern edge of the Bench around Overland Road, with a mix of 1960s and 1970s homes including more split-levels and larger ranches than the central or western Bench. Lots tend to be slightly larger. Closer to mall-adjacent commercial corridors and major transit routes.
Western Bench / Roosevelt Market area
The western edge of the Bench near the Roosevelt Market and Capitol corridor. Some of the older Bench housing stock here — 1940s minimal traditional homes with steeper roof pitches and smaller footprints than the post-war ranches. Closer to downtown amenities, walkable, increasingly desirable.
Greenbelt-adjacent Bench
Bench properties along the elevated edges of the Boise River bluff with views down to the Greenbelt and the river. Smaller subset of homes commanding a premium for the view orientation. Frequently subject to view-preserving design considerations during exterior work — though without formal Historic District constraints.
Lower Bench (I-84 frontage)
The southern edge of the Bench close to I-84. Original housing stock from the 1950s–1960s on smaller lots, often more traffic noise from the freeway. The most affordable Bench properties — excellent value for buyers willing to invest in modernization. Common to combine kitchen, bathroom, and primary-suite remodels into a single comprehensive scope.
Shower remodel pricing on the Bench reflects waterproofing rigor, demolition complexity in older homes, and tile labor for modern patterns.
Boise Bench shower remodeling ranges
New shower in remodeled bathroom (incremental) (marginal cost above bathroom remodel base): $14,000–$24,000 / aligned with bath remodel
Standard tub-to-shower conversion (tub removal, traditional curbed walk-in shower with tile and glass enclosure): $22,000–$32,000 / 5–7 weeks
Curbless walk-in conversion (tub removal, floor restructured for slope, curbless entry, linear drain, frameless glass): $26,000–$38,000 / 6–8 weeks
Accessible / aging-in-place (curbless, blocking for grab bars, bench, hand-shower, ADA-compliant fixtures): $28,000–$42,000 / 6–9 weeks
Wet-room conversion (entire bathroom waterproofed, heated floor, fully tiled walls): $32,000–$42,000 / 7–10 weeks
Pricing assumes Iron Crest's standard scope: full City of Boise plumbing/building permits, environmental testing and required abatement, EPA RRP-certified work practices for pre-1978 homes, professional Schluter Kerdi waterproofing, porcelain or ceramic tile install, frameless glass enclosure, new thermostatic shower valve and fixtures, and a 5-year workmanship warranty. Contingency budget of 12–15% above contract value for older-home discovery.
Unlike the North End, the Boise Bench is not within a Historic District. There is no Historic Preservation Commission review for exterior modifications, so siding changes, window replacements, additions, and exterior color changes don't trigger the lengthy Certificate of Appropriateness process that constrains North End projects. This makes Bench projects significantly faster from contract signing to construction start (typically 6–10 weeks vs 14–22 weeks for comparable North End scope).
City of Boise standard permits still apply for any work involving electrical, plumbing, structural changes, or mechanical systems. A scope that includes new circuit additions, moving a gas line, or removing a load-bearing wall requires a building permit from City of Boise Planning and Development Services. Permit processing for Bench projects typically runs 2–4 weeks for over-the-counter work and 3–5 weeks for full plan review with structural drawings — meaningfully faster than North End due to no historic review overlay.
Asbestos and lead paint remain serious considerations on the Bench, despite the absence of Historic District review. Pre-1980 Bench homes (which is most of the housing stock) almost universally contain asbestos in floor tiles, joint compound, and sometimes pipe insulation. Idaho DEQ requires asbestos abatement by a licensed contractor before any disturbance of suspect materials. Pre-1978 Bench homes contain lead paint. The EPA RRP rule requires lead-safe work practices for any renovation in lead-paint homes — including containment, specialized HEPA vacuuming, and proper disposal. Iron Crest is EPA RRP certified and incorporates these practices into the standard scope on every pre-1980 Bench project.
Bench-specific permit consideration: setbacks and lot coverage. Many Bench lots are smaller than North End lots (typical 50' frontage with shorter depths), and additions or detached structures must navigate side and rear setbacks carefully. Zoning verification during initial design is critical to avoid late-stage redesigns. The City of Boise online permit portal has dramatically improved processing speed since 2022, but careful zoning analysis upfront prevents schedule surprises.
Shower material selection for Bench bathrooms emphasizes clean modern lines that complement mid-century architecture. Modern engineering meets contemporary aesthetic.
Waterproofing membrane
Schluter Kerdi (orange polyethylene fabric bonded to substrate with thinset) is our standard for shower waterproofing. Industry-leading performance. Avoid: cement-board-only construction without a separate membrane (the 1990s standard that fails 10–15 years later).
Wall tile
Subway tile in 3x6 or 4x12 with thin sanded grout joints is the period-correct choice. Matte finish reads more contemporary than glossy. Stack pattern is the modern choice. For more design statement, large-format porcelain (12x24, 24x24) in stone-look provides modern aesthetic. Avoid: small-format colored tile (recreates the pink-tile look you're escaping).
Floor tile and slope
Mosaic tile (1″–2″) is required for shower floor — small grout joints provide slip resistance. White hex mosaic or penny round mosaic in white or matte grey. Floor slope minimum 1/4 inch per foot to drain location. For curbless designs, slope must be achieved within the bathroom floor itself.
Drain selection
Standard center drain (round, 4″) for traditional curbed showers. Linear drain (Schluter Kerdi-Line, Infinity Drain) for curbless designs — typically positioned along the wall opposite the shower head. Linear drain costs $400–$1,200 above standard drain.
Glass enclosure
Frameless 3/8″ tempered glass is the modern standard — minimal hardware, clean aesthetic, durable. Single fixed panel, single fixed plus pivot door, or full enclosure depending on layout. Brushed nickel, polished chrome, or matte black hinges and clips depending on bathroom finish family.
Fixtures
Thermostatic shower valve (vs pressure-balance) is the higher-quality choice. Rain shower head (8″–12″ ceiling-mount or wall-mount) plus hand-shower on slide bar is the modern standard. Brushed-nickel or polished-chrome finish; match to other bathroom finishes.
Shower remodels in older Bench bathrooms surface specific discovery items related to existing tub installation, plumbing condition, and floor structure.
- •Steel tub removal — easier than cast iron but still requires careful handling. Original steel tubs weigh 60–80 pounds. Removal is straightforward; tub disposal requires proper waste handling. $100–$300 above standard.
- •Cast iron tub heavier than expected — requires more removal labor. Original cast iron alcove tubs in early Bench homes weigh 250–350 pounds. Removal requires careful lifting with multiple workers or breaking the tub in place. $200–$500 above standard.
- •Galvanized supply lines that fail when disturbed. Existing galvanized supply lines feeding tub valve are 60–80 years old and often fail at fittings during demolition. Replacement of nearby supply runs: $400–$1,500.
- •Drain location requiring subfloor adjustment. Tub drains are offset; shower drains typically centered. Moving drain location requires subfloor cutting, drain rerouting through joist bays, structural adjustment. $400–$1,500.
- •Failed waterproofing under existing tub or shower. Subfloor and joist damage from long-term water leaks. Patch repair: $400–$1,500. Joist sister or replacement: $800–$2,500.
- •Existing shower valve and rough-in non-compliant with current code. Pre-1990s shower valves often lack anti-scald protection. Existing valve must be replaced. $400–$1,200 above standard.
- •Asbestos in existing tile mortar bed. Pre-1980 mortar beds and tile backing materials sometimes contain asbestos. Required testing identifies. Abatement: $1,200–$3,500.
- •Lead paint on bathroom walls disturbed during shower wall demo. Universal in pre-1978 homes. EPA RRP-certified work practices. Built into Iron Crest's labor pricing.
- •Floor structure inadequate for curbless slope requirement. Achieving curbless slope sometimes requires subfloor depression. Older homes occasionally have inadequate joist depth. Engineering review and joist reinforcement: $1,500–$4,000.
Consultation and assessment (Week 1)
In-home walkthrough, measurement of bathroom and existing tub, identification of mechanical concerns, discussion of shower shape and feature priorities.
Environmental testing (Week 1–2)
Asbestos and lead testing on suspect materials. Results in 5–7 business days.
Design and material selection (Week 2)
Tile selections, glass enclosure layout, fixture and valve selections, drain placement. Detailed line-item estimate.
Permitting and material ordering (Weeks 2–3)
Plumbing and building permits to City of Boise. Tile, fixtures, valve, waterproofing materials ordered.
Demolition (Week 3–4)
Tub or existing shower removal. Tile and substrate removal. Subfloor inspection and repair if needed.
Plumbing rough-in (Week 4)
Drain location adjustment, supply line modifications, new shower valve set, anti-scald thermostatic mixing valve. City of Boise plumbing rough-in inspection.
Waterproofing and substrate (Week 4–5)
Cement board on shower walls. Schluter Kerdi membrane install across all wet areas. Pre-slope mortar bed. Curb construction if curbed design.
Tile install (Weeks 5–7)
Wall tile install with thin grout joints. Floor tile install on properly sloped substrate. Grout install. Sealer application.
Glass enclosure, fixtures, final inspection (Weeks 7–9)
Glass enclosure templated and installed. Shower head, hand-shower, valve trim. Final inspections. Punch-list. 5-year workmanship warranty begins.
Shower waterproofing is the highest-stakes detail in any bathroom — failure means hidden water damage, joist rot, mold, and tens of thousands of dollars of repair work years later.
- City of Boise Planning & Development Services — Building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Online portal and in-person plan check.
- Idaho DEQ Air Quality (Asbestos) — Testing and abatement guidance for pre-1980 homes via the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
- EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program — Required certification and work practices for renovation in pre-1978 lead-paint homes.
- Idaho Power Energy Efficiency Programs — Rebates and incentives for insulation, window replacement, and HVAC upgrades — relevant for Bench homes that often need substantial energy retrofitting.
- Idaho Division of Building Safety — Contractor Search — Verify any contractor's RCE license, bonding, and insurance through the official Idaho database.
How long does a Bench tub-to-shower conversion take?
5–7 weeks from contract signing to final walkthrough for standard tub-to-shower conversion. Breakdown: 1 week design and material selection, 2 weeks permit + environmental testing + material ordering (concurrent), 1 week demolition + plumbing rough-in, 1 week waterproofing + substrate, 2 weeks tile install (including grout cure), 1 week glass enclosure templating and install plus final inspections.
What waterproofing system do you use?
Schluter Kerdi membrane on all wet areas — orange polyethylene fabric bonded to substrate with thin-set mortar that creates a fully waterproof barrier behind the tile. We're certified Schluter installers. The Kerdi system far outperforms older vinyl-and-felt or cement-board-only methods. For curbless designs, we use Schluter Kerdi-Line linear drains.
Can you do a curbless walk-in shower in my Bench bathroom?
Usually yes, but requires structural assessment. Curbless showers need bathroom floor itself to slope toward drain — typically requires depressing subfloor in shower area. Older homes have variable joist depths and sometimes inadequate clearance. Iron Crest assesses feasibility during consultation, including subfloor inspection and structural review if needed.
What does a Bench tub-to-shower conversion cost?
$22,000–$36,000 typical range. Lower end: tub removal, traditional curbed walk-in shower with subway tile and frameless glass enclosure. Higher end: curbless walk-in with custom tile pattern, premium fixtures, larger glass enclosure, structural work for older-home discovery.
How do you handle the 60-year-old plumbing in a Bench shower remodel?
We assume galvanized supply lines and original cast-iron drains in any pre-1965 Bench bathroom and budget for replacement of supply runs feeding the shower valve. New supply: PEX or copper from main shutoff or branch tap to new valve. New drain: PVC from shower drain back to existing main drain stack. Standard scope, not a surprise change order.
What about asbestos in the existing tile setting bed?
Pre-1980 ceramic tile in Bench bathrooms sometimes has asbestos in the mortar bed under the tile. Required testing identifies. If positive, abatement before tile removal: $800–$2,500 incremental.
Can you preserve any of the original Bench bathroom?
Sometimes. Original hex mosaic floor tile in earlier Bench bathrooms (1940s–early 1950s) can occasionally be preserved when the shower work is contained to the tub alcove. Original colored wall tile (pink, blue, mint green) is rarely preserved by choice — usually fully replaced. We discuss preservation goals during consultation.
What about glass enclosure cleaning in Boise's hard water?
Boise's hard water (12–17 grains per gallon) leaves visible mineral deposits on glass enclosures. Application of a hydrophobic glass coating (EnduroShield or ShowerGuard) at install time substantially reduces deposit accumulation. Adds $200–$400 to install cost. Without coating, weekly squeegee after each use plus monthly deep clean is the maintenance routine.
Ready to start your Boise Bench shower remodeling project?
Free in-home consultation, honest contingency-based budgeting, and the experience these older Boise homes require. Iron Crest Remodel — Idaho RCE #6681702, EPA RRP lead-safe certified, $2M general liability, 5-year workmanship warranty.
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