Porcelain
Denser and less absorbent than ceramic, which is why it is the usual choice for shower floors and anything that stays wet. Harder to cut.
Custom Shower Tile in Salt Lake County
Walk-in showers, pans, niches and benches, waterproofed before a single tile goes on.
- Licensed, Utah DOPL 14256602-5501
Request a shower tile quote
Tell us about the project and we will get back to you.
Thanks. We have your request and will be in touch.
Shower tile, waterproofed first.
Tile and grout are not a waterproof layer. The system that keeps water out is buried, and nobody inspects it once the job is done.
- Sloped pan, sealed corners and a membrane over the board, before any tile
- Layout worked out before the first cut, not discovered at the last one
- Niches and benches lined up with the field tile instead of fighting it
What needs a licensed plumber
Moving a drain, a valve or a supply line is licensed plumbing work in Utah and belongs to a licensed plumber. The tile side, from substrate to final seal, is the tile trade.
What decides the price of a shower
Two showers the same size can be very different jobs. These are the things that move the number, and they are the things worth asking any installer about.
- What is behind the old one. A tear-out can find wet framing or soft board, and that gets repaired before anything is waterproofed.
- How the pan is built. A pre-formed base and a mud bed sloped to the drain are not the same job.
- Which waterproofing system is specified. Sheet and liquid membrane both work, and both cost more than skipping it.
- Tile size and finish. Large format needs a flatter wall, more cutting and more setting time than a small field tile.
- Niches, benches and curbs. Each one is its own waterproofing detail, not just more tile.
- How square the room is. Older homes here rarely are, so the layout is worked out before the first cut.
Porcelain, ceramic or natural stone
The three usual choices behave differently once they are on a wet wall.
Ceramic
Softer and easier to cut, and fine on walls. Chips more readily underfoot, so it is a weaker choice for a shower floor.
Natural stone
Marble and travertine need sealing, and acidic cleaners will etch them. More upkeep than either of the above.
Shower tile questions
How much does a tile shower cost?
It depends on the size, the tile, the waterproofing system and what the tear-out finds behind the old one. We do not publish a number, because a price that has not seen the room is a guess. Tell us the room and we will come look at it.
How do I know a tile installer is doing it right?
Ask which waterproofing system they are using, and ask to see it before the tile goes on. That layer is buried for the life of the shower and it decides whether it leaks. In Utah you can also look up a contractor's license number at the state registry before you hire.
Why does a tile shower leak?
Almost always because the waterproofing behind the tile was skipped or broken, not because the grout failed. Grout is not a waterproof layer. A shower needs a sloped pan, sealed corners and a continuous membrane before any tile is set.
Can you tile over an existing shower?
No. Tile needs a flat, sound, waterproofed substrate. Covering a failing one hides the reason it was failing and buys a year or two at most.
How long does a shower take?
Most run three to five working days, because waterproofing and mortar need cure time between stages. A schedule comes with the quote.
Other tile and flooring services
We also work in nearby cities.
Ready for a shower tile quote?
Tell us about the room and the tile you have in mind.