A curbless shower keeps water in with slope, not a curb. The floor tile falls toward the drain, so water runs to the drain before it reaches the entry. In Landford Construction’s San Jose project, where a bathtub became a curbless shower, we made special cuts in the tile and sloped the floor tile toward the drain from every side.
It is a good fit when stepping over a curb is a problem or you want an open look. It takes more planning than a standard shower, because the floor, the drain location, the slope, and the waterproofing all have to work together.
How does the water stay in?
- Slope: the floor falls toward the drain and away from the entry
- Drain: both our San Jose shower and our Campbell shower use a linear drain set into the tiled floor
- Fixture placement: tile-system maker Schluter notes that a rain head keeps water in a more contained area
- Waterproofing: the membrane or system behind and under the tile protects the room, since no curb stops water that gets past the slope
What are the pros?
- No step into the shower
- An open look that can make a small bathroom feel larger
- Easier cleaning in a more open space
- Room for benches and niches in the same open space
What are the cons?
- Water can travel if the floor isn’t planned well
- Less privacy if there’s no door or curtain
- The existing floor and drain location may limit it
- It can add floor and drain work, so compare the scope as well as the finish
Curb or curbless: which should I choose?
Start with who uses the shower every day. Curbless fits when a step is a problem or you want the floor to read as one surface. A curb fits when you’re keeping the existing floor or don’t need a level entry. In our Campbell project, the client chose to keep a curb even with a linear drain and a larger shower, so a modern drain doesn’t decide the entry for you. Our two local examples compare both.
Is a curbless shower good for older homeowners?
It can help, because there’s no step, but the entry alone doesn’t make a shower accessible. A bench and a handheld shower also matter. The walk-in shower in our Saratoga project has a built-in bench and a separate handheld sprayer, though it isn’t described as a curbless design. If you’re planning for a specific mobility need, ask a medical or accessibility professional what you need.
Landford Construction gives seniors 65 and older 5% off, up to $2,500 per project. The terms are on the FAQ page.
Does a curbless shower need a permit in San José?
Usually, because new plumbing work needs a permit. If fixtures stay in the same places and no walls, windows, or framing change, it’s a minor remodel; otherwise it’s a major remodel with plans and plan review. The City’s key requirements for minor bathroom remodels include a shower pan of at least 1,024 square inches and at least 30 inches in any direction, and a shower door with at least a 22-inch opening. Our San José permit guide explains the difference, and our bathroom remodel checklist covers the other decisions.
How Landford Construction approaches a curbless shower
Landford Construction does bathroom remodels in San Jose, the South Bay, and the Peninsula. We first review the floor, drainage, waterproofing requirements, and available space to establish what is practical for your bathroom.
Send photos of your shower and the whole room, and for suitable projects Adam gives a free preliminary price range before a site visit.
The bottom line
A curbless shower works when the slope, the drain, and the waterproofing are planned together, before the first tile is set.
Sources
City requirements come from the City of San José as of November 2026. Product notes come from the manufacturer named. This is general information, not medical advice.
About the author
Adam Tamerlan Yagibekov owns Landford Construction, Inc., a licensed general building contractor based in San Jose, California (CSLB #1160801). With 9 years in construction and remodeling, Adam prepares each estimate and stays the client’s point of contact through the whole project.
See what this looks like in practice.
- Tub-to-Curbless Shower Conversion — San Jose
- Shower Expansion — Campbell
- Glass-Enclosed Shower & Freestanding Tub — Saratoga
Explore the construction scope and completed Landford projects for your type of remodel.
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