Full bathroom & ensuite renovations · Waterproofing & accessible bathrooms · Geelong, Bellarine & Surf Coast · Call (03) 9022 1391
2026 local price guide

Most Geelong walk-in shower conversions cost $8,500 to $28,000

A simple bath-out, shower-in conversion in Geelong is usually $8,500 to $17,500. A safer accessible walk-in conversion with a wider opening, fall correction, grab rails, new screen and AS 3740 waterproofing commonly lands between $16,000 and $28,000.

Walk-in shower conversion estimator

This estimator is for converting an existing bath, shower-over-bath or hob shower into a lower-threshold walk-in shower. It is deliberately separate from the full bathroom renovation cost calculator, because the scope is narrower and the numbers move differently.

Likely extras
Estimated range $8,500 - $17,500

Indicative Geelong 2026 range. Call (03) 9022 1391 for a fixed quote after a site visit.

Real unit rates behind the quote

Walk-in shower pricing is not just a tray and a screen. The labour is in demolition, making the floor fall properly, rebuilding the wet area and tying new waterproofing into old structure without pretending old failed work is still sound.

ItemRealistic 2026 Geelong rateWhat changes it
Bath or hob shower demolition$900 to $2,200 per bayCast iron bath, tight access, second storey, disposal volume
Licensed plumbing alterations$950 to $3,500 per showerDrain location, slab chasing, old galvanised pipe, mixer height
Waterproofing to AS 3740$900 to $1,800 per shower zoneWall lining condition, penetrations, membrane system, cure time
Tiling and screed$160 to $320 per m²Tile size, mitres, falls, niches, old walls out of square
Low-profile shower tray$650 to $1,900 suppliedSize, waste position, acrylic, polymarble, custom tray
Glass screen$900 to $2,800 supplied and fittedFixed panel, return, hinges, channels, custom sizing
Accessible hardware$450 to $1,600Grab rails, rail shower, fold-down seat, wall reinforcement

The four variables that move the price most

Drain position. A timber floor in Newtown, Belmont or Highton is usually easier to alter than a concrete slab in Armstrong Creek or Grovedale. Moving a waste in timber may be a $900 to $1,800 plumbing task. Cutting a slab, reinstating concrete and matching waterproofing can add $2,200 to $4,800.

How much tile must be disturbed. If the original tiles are still available and the wall linings are dry, a shower-only tile repair can work. Most older Geelong bathrooms do not have spare tiles, so a neat conversion often means retiling the full shower alcove or the whole wet wall.

Whether the floor is already wet. A soft bath edge, swelling vanity kicker or musty smell near the shower is a warning that the job is no longer cosmetic. Once timber flooring or bottom plates are damaged, a proper repair is cheaper than hiding the problem under a new tray.

Accessibility requirements. A genuine walk-in conversion for ageing in place needs more than a low lip. It may need reinforced walls for grab rails, a wider clear opening, non-slip floor selection, a handheld rail shower and room for a carer. Our accessible bathroom renovation page explains those choices in more detail.

Worked example: Belmont bath converted to a walk-in shower

A typical local job is a 1970s brick veneer home in Belmont with a bath beside a vanity, original wall tiles to about 1200 mm, and a shower-over-bath that is now awkward to step into. The homeowner wants a fixed glass panel, tiled base, rail shower and two grab rails.

Remove bath, old screen, tiles and waste$1,600
Alter plumbing to suit new shower mixer and waste$2,200
Re-sheet shower walls and reinforce grab rail points$1,400
New screed, waterproofing and cure allowance$1,900
Tile shower floor and walls, 8 m² at $235 per m²$1,880
Fixed glass panel, rail shower, grate, grab rails$3,700
Rubbish, protection, final silicone and commissioning$850
Total realistic quote$13,530

That job does not need a full bathroom renovation if the toilet, vanity, ceiling fan and general floor tiling are still serviceable. If the inspection finds failed waterproofing under the whole floor, we would say so and price a broader full bathroom renovation instead of selling a patch that will fail.

Want the practical answer for your bathroom? Send photos or call and we will tell you whether a conversion is sensible or whether a smaller repair is enough.

☎ Call (03) 9022 1391

When a cheaper option is the right call

You do not need a walk-in conversion just because the shower looks dated. If the shower drains well, the tiles are firm and there is no moisture reading outside the wet area, a regrout, new screen or tapware update may be the honest answer. We do not do loose handrail-only installs or cosmetic silicone-only jobs where the leak is active, because those jobs can give false confidence without fixing the wet area.

For broader planning, compare this page with our bathroom renovation pricing guide, the AS 3740 waterproofing guide and the bathroom waterproofing service. Those pages help separate a contained shower conversion from a room that needs a proper rebuild.

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Price a Geelong walk-in shower conversion

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Walk-in shower cost questions

What does a walk-in shower conversion cost in Geelong?
A straightforward bath or hob shower conversion in Geelong is usually $8,500 to $17,500 in 2026. A larger accessible conversion with new drainage, screen work, grab rails and full waterproofing is commonly $16,000 to $28,000. The biggest cost jumps come from moving the drain, repairing rotten flooring and changing wall tiling beyond the shower bay.
Is this cheaper than a full bathroom renovation?
Yes, if the rest of the bathroom is sound. A conversion that keeps the vanity, toilet, ceiling and most wall tiling can sit $10,000 to $18,000 below a full bathroom strip-out. If the waterproofing has already failed across the floor, the saving can disappear because the room may need to be rebuilt as a wet area.
Can a bath be removed without changing the whole bathroom?
Often yes. In many Geelong homes the bath footprint can become a 1500 mm to 1700 mm shower zone, using a tiled base or low-profile tray. The practical question is whether the existing wall lining and waterproofing can be tied into safely, which a site visit usually answers in 20 to 30 minutes.
Does an accessible shower need a permit?
A like-for-like internal conversion usually does not need a building permit if no structural work is involved. A permit becomes more likely if you alter loadbearing framing, change windows, change the floor structure or do work outside the existing room envelope. Plumbing and waterproofing still need compliant licensed work even when no building permit is needed.
How long is the bathroom out of action?
A tidy shower conversion normally takes 7 to 12 working days on site, with waterproofing cure times controlling the middle of the program. If rotten particleboard flooring, old galvanised pipe or asbestos sheeting is found, allow another 2 to 5 working days. Full room renovations are usually closer to 3 to 4 weeks.
When is a conversion not worth paying for?
Do not pay for a conversion just because the screen is tired or the silicone is mouldy. A screen replacement, regrout or silicone renewal may cost $450 to $1,800 and can be the right call if the floor is dry and falls correctly. Convert the shower when access, leaking, trip risk or layout is the real problem.
Call (03) 9022 1391