In Smithtown, the bathroom people want to leave behind is almost always the same one. It is the original hall bath of a colonial or the primary bath of a house from the seventies and eighties: a bathtub with a sliding glass door, tile in a color that was fashionable once, and a floor that has seen thirty years of wet feet. The family is not going to move, the neighborhood is staying put, and the room is the one thing in the house that feels like it belongs to a different decade.
For those owners, the project is simple to describe and detailed to execute. Take out the tub, build a proper shower, retile, and do it so the work lasts. Some also want the shower to be walk-in or even curbless, for comfort now and for flexibility later.
This guide, written for ZIP 11787, focuses on those decisions. It covers tub-to-shower conversions, curbless options, the kitchen work that often accompanies a bath project, and how grout haze and finishing details separate good work from great. It also explains how larger Smithtown projects are scheduled, permits, timelines and 2026 planning ranges.
Our dedicated guide to tub-to-shower conversion costs, tile and timelines goes into the numbers. Here is how the work unfolds in a typical Smithtown colonial.
A 60-inch tub area becomes a roomy shower, often with a bench and a niche. The vanity and toilet can stay or be upgraded. Because the footprint stays the same, the plumbing change is modest and the conversion is among the better value moves in a bathroom.
A walk-in shower is easier to clean and safer for older family members. If you still want a tub somewhere in the house, keep it in another bath. Buyers often value having one.
Once the tub is out, you can choose how the shower meets the room.
| Option | Look and feel | Build complexity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard curb | Traditional, contains water well | Lower | Budget-conscious conversions |
| Low curb | Easy to step over, still contains spray | Moderate | Most households |
| Curbless | Seamless, accessible, open | Highest | Aging in place, accessibility, design-forward baths |
A shower curb carries water on three sides and a door load on top. Leaks start at corners and at the top edge more often than anywhere else. Our guide on how to waterproof a shower curb shows the detail, and for a curbless build see curbless shower installation.
You have a beautiful new shower. In the afternoon light, there is a cloudy film across the tile. That is grout haze, residue left when grout was not fully cleaned from the surface. Our guide to grout haze removal after tile installation explains the methods; here is the practical overview.
Work in small sections, wipe at the right time, change rinse water often and finish with a clean, damp, well-wrung sponge. Experienced installers treat the cleanup as part of grouting, not an afterthought.
The right method depends on the grout. Cement grout haze often responds to a dedicated haze remover applied according to the manufacturer's instructions, followed by rinsing. Epoxy haze needs specialty products and speed. Strong acids can etch some tile and attack grout, which is why you should confirm the product with the tile and grout manufacturers before applying anything.
Frameless glass looks clean but is custom-fabricated and measured after tile, so it sets the finish date. Semi-frameless panels cost less and can install sooner. Pick valves with a pressure-balancing or thermostatic cartridge for steady temperature, and place the controls so you can reach them without stepping into the spray. A handheld sprayer on a slide bar helps with cleaning and with bathing children or pets. Decide on a bench, a niche and any shower lighting before walls close, since each affects framing and electrical.
A tub-to-shower conversion looks like a weekend project and behaves like a plumbing, framing, waterproofing and tile project all at once. The risk is in what you cannot see: a drain set at the wrong height, a membrane that stops short of a corner, a pan that holds a quarter inch of water because the slope is wrong. These failures hide behind finished tile until they show up as stains on a ceiling or a soft spot in a floor.
A licensed and insured contractor with an in-house design-and-build team removes those risks by running the sequence correctly. We investigate framing, set plumbing, build the pan, waterproof, flood-test, tile, grout and clean with a defined process and written scope. If the plan includes a curbless shower, we coordinate any structural work, engineering and permits.
DIY and handyman attempts commonly fail at the waterproofing and the cleanup. A kit pan without proper integration, a roll-on membrane with gaps, grout cleaned too late: each leaves problems that cost more to correct than to avoid.
N.Y. Renovation Services provides transparent, itemized pricing in a detailed written contract with no hidden fees. We handle permitting and paperwork when you ask us to, and we donate 5% of total project cost to a nonprofit of your choice. Frame a number with our bathroom renovation budget planner, then ask for a written quote.
Colonials often have a formal separation between kitchen and dining room. Many owners want a wider opening, a larger island and better storage. That calls for a structural check and often engineered plans.
A large lot often means a deck, patio or yard that the kitchen should connect to. Sliding or French doors, durable flooring at the threshold and a layout that places the cooking zone near the door make entertaining easier.
Backsplash tile typically runs $30 to $90 per square foot as a 2026 planning range, and installed floor tile $20 to $45 per square foot. Our tile installation guide explains how substrate, thinset and grout choices affect results.
Modern kitchens draw more power than those built in earlier decades. Verify panel capacity, plan the hood duct route and decide between gas and electric cooking before cabinet orders.
Smithtown sits at the outer edge of our coverage. We are direct about that. Larger kitchen and bath projects here are taken by arrangement. We plan crews, deliveries and site visits around your job and do not promise next-day availability.
For owners, the practical effects are positive. A planned start date, a single mobilization and a clear sequence suit projects of this size. Smaller repairs and one-day tasks are better handled by a local tradesperson, and we will tell you if that is the better fit.
To see how our coverage is organized, visit our Long Island renovation services overview. Neighboring towns have different considerations, from village rules in Garden City to multifamily homes in Hempstead.
Building permits on Long Island come from the local building department, which for Smithtown addresses is the Town of Smithtown. Requirements vary by scope, so confirm before design is final.
Our guide on whether you need a permit explains the thinking, though it focuses on New York City.
Nassau and Suffolk counties require home improvement contractor licensing through county consumer affairs. Suffolk County is the right place to verify credentials. Ask for license details and proof of insurance.
Many Smithtown homes were built before 1978. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires certified firms and lead-safe practices when paid contractors disturb paint in those homes.
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Site visit, design, selections | 1-4 weeks |
| Permit review, where required | Weeks, scope dependent |
| Ordering tile, glass, fixtures | 2-8 weeks |
| Demolition and haul-away | 2-5 days |
| Repairs and rough plumbing | 3-7 days |
| Pan, waterproofing, flood test, cure | 3-6 days |
| Tile, grout, cleanup | 4-8 days |
| Glass, fixtures, punch list | 3-5 days |
| Typical on-site total | Bath 3-6 weeks, kitchen 6-12 weeks |
Frameless glass is usually measured after tile is set and fabricated afterward, which creates a gap before the final install. Plan on it.
These are typical 2026 planning ranges for the New York metro area as of October 2026, not quotes. Building rules, access, hazardous materials, finishes and scope move prices, and a written itemized quote governs.
| Item | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
| Full bathroom renovation | $30,000-$60,000+ |
| Full kitchen renovation | $25,000-$85,000+ |
| Shower and bath wall tile | $30-$80 per sq ft |
| Installed floor tile | $20-$45 per sq ft |
| Backsplash tile | $30-$90 per sq ft |
| Waterproofing membrane | $3-$10 per sq ft |
| Subfloor prep and leveling | $2-$8 per sq ft |
| Selective demolition and haul-away | $8-$30 per sq ft |
Our renovation cost guide shows how scope and finishes shift totals. Curbless builds, large-format tile and natural stone push toward the upper end.
We serve the Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County, ZIP 11787, by arrangement for larger projects.
Local housing leans toward colonials on large lots. Long driveways make deliveries and dumpsters easier, though crew parking and site access still deserve planning. Larger lots may mean septic systems or well water in some parts of town, so confirm what serves your house before moving plumbing fixtures. Basements and garages often serve as staging space during longer projects.
Our process is simple to describe and strict to follow.
Because tile, flooring and interior painting are core services, finishes follow the same plan. If something unexpected appears behind the tub wall, we show you, explain the options and price any change in writing before work proceeds. One team and one contract mean one place to call if you have a question six months later.
If you are ready to replace an old tub with a shower you will enjoy, or to rethink a colonial kitchen, tell us what you have and what you want. We will help you choose between a standard curb, a low curb and a curbless design, and show you where the money goes.
You can request your free estimate online, call (347) 455-1741 or send a text. Include photos, measurements, the age of the house and any known leaks. We are open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Smithtown projects are scheduled by arrangement.