RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a flooring and bathroom remodeling company in Phoenix, Arizona, that builds tile showers from its Bell Rd showroom. Curbless work runs through our walk-in shower installation in Phoenix. This page covers the one question a slab home raises: whether the concrete allows a level entry.
Key takeaways
- A curbless shower can be built on a standard concrete slab: RDC cuts and recesses the concrete so the shower floor sits lower.
- A post-tension slab should not be cut; RDC generally does not offer curbless on one.
- At RDC, a curbless entry usually costs about $3,000 more than a curb, on top of a $9,000 to $14,000 tiled conversion.
- A curbless shower takes about a week to a week and a half at RDC. Moving a drain needs a permit in Phoenix.
Quick answers
Can you do a curbless shower on a concrete slab? Yes, on a standard slab. RDC cuts and recesses the concrete so the shower floor can slope to the drain while the entry stays level.
How much more does a curbless shower cost? At RDC, a curbless entry usually costs about $3,000 more than a curbed shower, depending on the existing floor and drain. On a $9,000 to $14,000 tiled conversion, that comes to about $12,000 to $17,000.
Can you cut a post-tension slab for a shower? RDC does not cut one, and generally does not offer curbless on a post-tension slab. The Concrete Network warns not to cut or drill into post-tensioned slabs.
What "curbless on a slab" means: a curbless shower has no step at the entry, so the bathroom floor runs straight into the shower. A slab is the concrete floor a house sits on, with no crawl space or basement under it. The water still has to run to a drain, so the shower floor must end up lower than the room.
Can You Do a Curbless Shower on a Concrete Slab?
You can do a curbless shower on a concrete slab by recessing the shower area. RDC does this on standard slabs in Phoenix-area homes. The concrete is cut lower so the floor can slope to the drain while the entry stays level. The price is usually about $3,000 more than a curbed shower.
A wood-framed floor gets the same result by changing the framing. A slab has no framing to change, so the depth has to come out of the concrete. That is why this question matters in a slab home.
How Do You Build a Curbless Shower on a Concrete Slab?
A curbless shower on a concrete slab is built from the concrete up, in the order below. RDC checks the slab and the drain location on site before the layout is final. Each step depends on the one before it, so the order cannot change.
- Check the slab. RDC looks at the slab type and the drain location on site. A post-tension slab stops the plan here.
- Cut and recess the concrete. The shower area is cut lower than the bathroom floor.
- Set the drain. A linear drain is a common choice, and the drain often moves as well.
- Build the slope. The base slopes to the drain, about 1/4 inch per foot.
- Waterproof. The membrane goes on at the lower level before any tile.
- Tile, then glass. Tile is set and grouted, and the glass is measured after the tile is in.
The floor has to do the work a curb used to do. The Schluter shower installation handbook (April 2026) says curbless tiled showers "rely on the slope of the floor to effectively contain water". A glass panel or a splash profile at the entry helps too.
A curbless shower RDC built in Scottsdale, with a flat entry beside a freestanding tub.
What If Your Slab Is Post-Tensioned?
If your slab is post-tensioned, a curbless shower is generally off the table, because that concrete should not be cut. Steel cables under tension run through it. The Concrete Network warns "not to cut or drill into post-tensioned concrete slabs", and RDC does not offer curbless on one.
The same source says many post-tensioned slabs "will be stamped to alert the owner and any renovation contractors". Look for a stamp in the concrete, and check your builder's papers. RDC looks at the slab before writing the estimate.
If you still want a level entry on one of these slabs, tell RDC. We look at that specific house for what could work, and no method is promised in advance. A low curb is one alternative.
| Your floor | Curbless at RDC? | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Standard concrete slab | Yes | The concrete is cut and recessed for the shower floor |
| Post-tension slab | Generally not offered | The slab is not cut; a low curb is one alternative |
| Post-tension slab, customer insists | Case by case | RDC looks at that house; no method promised |
How Much Does a Curbless Shower on a Slab Cost?
A curbless shower on a slab at RDC usually costs about $3,000 more than a curbed one, depending on the existing floor and drain. A tiled tub-to-shower conversion runs $9,000 to $14,000, so a curbless version comes to about $12,000 to $17,000. A primary bathroom remodel starts at $18,000.
Worked example at RDC's published numbers:
- Tiled tub-to-shower conversion: $9,000 to $14,000
- Curbless entry: about $3,000 more
- Together: about $12,000 to $17,000
- Garden tub plus corner shower merged into one: add about $3,000 to $5,000 to the conversion
RDC confirms the exact difference after measuring your floor and drain. Other bathroom prices are in the Phoenix bathroom remodel cost guide.
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on their specific project, after a free measure and a written estimate.
How Long Does a Curbless Shower Take to Build?
A curbless shower takes about a week to a week and a half at RDC. The free measure confirms the schedule for your home. The frameless glass goes in about a week after the tile is set. A primary bathroom takes one to two weeks.
Do You Need a Permit for a Curbless Shower in Arizona?
You need a permit for a curbless shower in Phoenix when the drain or valve moves. The city requires one to relocate pipes or fixtures. Rules differ by city. The city-by-city wording is on do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Arizona.
Curbless Showers Across Arizona
Across Arizona, access is one strong reason to go curbless. AARP reports that more than 10 percent of adults 65 and older have injury falls each year. It adds that falls happen mostly at home and mainly in the bathroom. A level entry removes the step, as the guide to aging-in-place walk-in showers in Phoenix explains.
“RDC did our tile installation and bathroom remodel in Scottsdale.”
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RDC did our tile installation and bathroom remodel in Scottsdale. Very professional team, fair pricing, and beautiful results.
Can You Build a Curbless Shower on a Slab in Phoenix?
In Phoenix, a curbless shower on a slab is possible once RDC confirms the slab can be cut. The median Phoenix home was built in 1985, per the American Community Survey 2020-2024. Check your home's own papers rather than guess from its age. The first step is a free in-home measure.
- Hard water. Phoenix water runs 10 to 17.6 grains per gallon, and RDC chooses the grout with that in mind.
- The drain. It often moves in a curbless job, and moving it needs a permit in Phoenix.
- The rest of the floor. A level entry works best when the bathroom floor is flat, so RDC looks at the full room.
RDC is fully insured, and each project comes with its 1-year workmanship warranty. Call or text (602) 788-1446 to book the measure. To see tile before you commit, visit the Bell Rd showroom, Suite 101 in North Phoenix, Sunday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Curbless Showers in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa and Peoria
The slab question is the same across the Valley, and the answer always comes from that house. Prices come from one list. Here is what RDC sees in each city.
- Scottsdale. RDC has built a curbless shower with a linear drain in a Scottsdale home. See Scottsdale bathroom remodeling.
- Paradise Valley. A curbless entry can be part of a larger primary bath. See luxury bathroom features in Paradise Valley.
- Mesa. See Mesa bathroom remodeling for what RDC has built there.
- Peoria. Lowering the shower step or curb is the most common request RDC gets in Peoria. See tile and walk-in showers in Peoria.
One alternative: a low curb, a bench and a grab bar in a Phoenix shower.
Sources
- The Concrete Network, How to Install Post-Tensioning.
- Schluter shower installation handbook (April 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates, table B25035.
- City of Phoenix 2025 Water Quality Report; AARP, August 31, 2023.