Kohler LuxStone, Jacuzzi, Re-Bath, and Home Depot kits cost $2,500 to $14,000 installed and finish in one to three days. Custom tile runs $9,000 to $35,000 and takes one to four weeks. Here is how to decide which is right for your Twin Cities home.
When a Minnesota homeowner decides to remove a tub and put in a shower, there are two fundamentally different products on the market. The first is a prefabricated acrylic or composite wall-surround kit sold under brand names like Kohler LuxStone, Jacuzzi, Bath Fitter, and Re-Bath, or through home-improvement retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's. The second is a custom tile installation built from a waterproofed substrate up, with grout lines, natural or porcelain tile, and custom glass. Each approach solves the same problem, but they differ on cost, timeline, longevity, and what buyers expect when you sell.
Brand-name systems like Kohler LuxStone, Jacuzzi shower surrounds, and Re-Bath acrylic panels are factory-molded wall panels that install directly over your existing tub alcove or over new cement board. The installer measures, orders panels cut to your dimensions, and fits them on-site in one or two days. Bath Fitter takes a similar approach but installs a new acrylic liner over your existing tub walls rather than replacing them.
Home Depot sells the MAAX and Dreamline surround kits as a supply-only product: you buy the panels and either hire your own installer or the store's installation service. Lowe's carries comparable kits from Sterling and American Standard. Supply-only pricing runs lower than a full dealer installation, but the installation cost depends on the contractor you hire.
Kohler LuxStone is a cast polymer composite, not acrylic. The panels are thicker and heavier than standard acrylic surrounds, with a low-gloss stone-like surface that resists some of the scratch issues common to thinner materials. Kohler markets a lifetime limited warranty for the original owner. Independent plumbing and remodeling forums, including discussions on the National Kitchen and Bath Association resource board, note that the product itself holds up well; most complaints center on installation quality and dealer responsiveness rather than the panels failing.
In the Twin Cities, Kohler LuxStone is sold through authorized dealers, not through big-box stores. The dealer manages design, measurement, and installation. This matters because a Kohler LuxStone project in a Minneapolis rambler depends heavily on who installs it, not just what the panels are made of.
Costs vary by scope and product tier, but here is a reasonable range for the Minneapolis metro based on typical project sizes (a 60-inch alcove conversion, standard plumbing, no structural changes):
| Option | Installed Range (MN) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Home Depot / Lowe's kit + local install | $2,500 to $5,500 | 2 to 4 days |
| Bath Fitter (liner over existing) | $3,000 to $6,500 | 1 to 2 days |
| Re-Bath dealer system | $5,000 to $10,000 | 1 to 3 days |
| Kohler LuxStone (dealer-installed) | $7,000 to $14,000 | 1 to 2 days |
| Jacuzzi acrylic surround system | $5,500 to $12,000 | 1 to 3 days |
| Custom tile (mid-range, no layout changes) | $9,000 to $20,000 | 7 to 14 days |
| Custom tile (full gut, curbless, premium) | $18,000 to $35,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
These are installed project totals and include labor, materials, and basic fixture replacement. They do not include moving plumbing lines, adding a niche, upgrading a showerhead valve, or repairing water damage discovered after demo. Source: Remodeling Magazine 2024 Cost vs. Value Minneapolis market data and contractor pricing reported to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry permit fee schedules.
For a broader cost breakdown, our walk-in shower remodel cost guide for Minneapolis covers the full range including premium custom builds.
Re-Bath is a national franchise that sells acrylic replacement systems through local dealers. Homeowners and remodeling forums frequently ask whether Re-Bath is overpriced compared to a local tile contractor or a supply-only kit. The answer depends on what you are comparing.
Re-Bath's mid-tier pricing often lands between a Home Depot kit and a custom tile job. The premium over a kit reflects the dealer's installation warranty, the brand's customer service structure, and the speed of installation. What some homeowners call "overpriced" is typically the difference between a dealer franchise margin and a local contractor who buys supply-only materials. For the same finished result, a local contractor using quality acrylic panels often quotes lower than a franchise dealer.
Re-Bath is not a poor product, but it is not the only way to get a quick acrylic conversion. If the goal is speed and low maintenance, compare quotes from Re-Bath, a Kohler LuxStone dealer, and a local bathroom contractor who installs wall panel systems before making a decision.
A Home Depot tub-to-shower kit typically includes the wall surround panels, a base, and sometimes a door kit. What it does not include is a licensed plumber to cap the tub drain and rough in the shower, a carpenter to handle any subfloor issues, or a waterproofing system behind the panels. Retailers' installation services vary by market. In the Twin Cities, installation through a retail program is available, but the scope is usually limited to the kit itself; older-home surprises like rotten subfloor or galvanized plumbing that shows up after demo are handled on a change-order basis.
A supply-only kit can be a sensible choice when you are hiring a qualified local bathroom contractor to handle the full project, including waterproofing and plumbing. It becomes a problem when it is purchased by a homeowner who underestimates the trade work involved.
Our one-day tub-to-shower vs full rebuild guide goes deeper on the tradeoffs between prefab systems and a full tile project.
Custom tile takes longer and costs more for three reasons. First, waterproofing is applied by hand: a Schluter Kerdi membrane or RedGard liquid over cement board, with every seam and corner taped, before a single tile goes up. Second, tile setting and grouting require time for mortar to cure between sessions. Third, finish details like a recessed niche, a linear drain, or a frameless glass panel require coordination across trades.
Custom tile is worth the premium when the existing bathroom is being completely redesigned, when the homeowner wants specific materials that do not come in a kit format, when accessibility requires a curbless layout, or when the home is priced high enough that buyers expect real tile. In the Minneapolis market, homes above $600,000 generally warrant custom tile finishes in primary bathrooms. Our bathroom remodeling service covers both approaches depending on the home and the budget.
Our certified Schluter installer team handles the waterproofing side of custom tile projects. See the Schluter-certified shower installer page for what that certification covers and why it matters for a shower that lasts.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover elective bathroom modifications, including tub-to-shower conversions or grab bar installation. Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) include home modification benefits as a supplemental offering, but coverage varies by plan and is capped, often at $500 to $2,000 per year.
Minnesota has additional programs that may help. The Minnesota Department of Human Services runs several Medical Assistance waiver programs, including the Elderly Waiver and the Brain Injury Waiver, that cover home and community-based services including accessibility modifications for qualifying individuals. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's Fix-Up Fund offers low-interest loans for home improvements including accessibility upgrades. The Minnesota Board on Aging's Senior LinkAge Line (1-800-333-2433) connects homeowners to programs they may qualify for.
Aging-in-place modifications like a curbless shower are also sometimes covered under long-term care insurance policies. Reviewing your specific policy with the insurer before starting the project is worth the call.
Brand-name surround systems are generally accepted by buyers in mid-range homes (roughly $300,000 to $550,000 in the Twin Cities as of 2025). Above that price point, buyers and their agents tend to flag acrylic surrounds during showings, particularly in primary bathrooms. In homes above $600,000, the expectation shifts toward tile finishes. This is not a hard rule, but it shows up consistently in listing feedback and in appraisal commentary.
In a 1950s rambler in Richfield or a 1960s split-level in Eden Prairie where the second bathroom is being updated, a quality acrylic system is a reasonable choice that most buyers will accept without objection. In a fully renovated Victorian in St. Paul's Summit Avenue neighborhood or a newer construction home in Wayzata, custom tile is the right answer for the market.
Our tub-to-walk-in-shower conversion cost guide covers which approach is likely to hold its value better in different Minnesota submarkets.
Whether you are leaning toward a name-brand kit or custom tile, the conversation with your contractor should cover the same ground. What is the existing wall condition, and will any demo reveal hidden damage? Where are the supply and drain lines, and will any of them need to move? What waterproofing method is included? What does the warranty cover, and who stands behind it if there is a leak?
A contractor who cannot answer the waterproofing question specifically is worth pausing on before you commit.
If you are ready to compare options for your specific home, get in touch with our team for a free walk-through. We work with both prefab panel systems and full custom tile builds depending on the scope, the timeline, and the budget.
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A Kohler LuxStone dealer-installed conversion in the Minneapolis metro typically runs $7,000 to $14,000 for a standard 60-inch alcove. The price includes composite panels, the base, and professional installation by an authorized dealer. Plumbing changes, niches, and frameless glass upgrades add to the total.
Re-Bath pricing often reflects a franchise dealer margin and an installation warranty. A local contractor installing a comparable acrylic panel system frequently quotes lower. For the same materials and workmanship, a local bathroom contractor is usually the better value. Re-Bath and similar franchise brands make sense when you want a single-source warranty and a clear escalation path.
Original Medicare does not cover elective bathroom modifications. Some Medicare Advantage plans include home modification benefits capped at $500 to $2,000 per year. Minnesota Medical Assistance waiver programs through DHS and the MHFA Fix-Up Fund may help qualifying homeowners. Call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 (DHS Minnesota) to check eligibility.
Custom tile is the right choice when the bathroom needs a full layout change, when a curbless or zero-entry shower is required, when the home is priced above $600,000 in the Twin Cities, or when the owner wants materials that do not come in a prefab format. For a secondary bath in a mid-range home where speed and cost are the priorities, an acrylic surround system is a sensible alternative.
A supply-only kit purchased at Home Depot or Lowe's takes 2 to 4 days to install when a qualified local contractor handles the project, including any plumbing work. The kit itself does not include waterproofing or plumbing; those are trade line items on the contractor quote. Installation through the retailer's own program is available in the Twin Cities but scope is typically limited to the panels and base.
Get the free 2026 Twin Cities Remodel Cost Guide by email: kitchen and bath price tiers, plus how your Twin Cities suburb changes the number.