Bathroom & shower tile
in Chicago, IL
Showers, tub surrounds and bathroom floors, waterproofed before the tile goes up.
What goes behind bathroom tile
A bathroom that lasts starts under the tile. Before we recommend anything, we check the framing, what's under the current floor and walls, and whether the floor is flat and stiff enough for tile. Old bathrooms often hide soft subfloor around the toilet or tub, and we'd rather find that before the new tile goes down.
In a shower, the waterproofing, pan, curb, niches and bench all have to tie together into one system. Tile and grout are the finish. The membrane behind them is what keeps water out of your walls and the ceiling below.
What to look for in a tiled shower
Four details on one of our showers.
Niche lined up with the tile
The niche sits inside the tile rows, with no thin slivers above or below it. We set the niche height once you've picked the tile, before the wall is closed in.
Rows that wrap the corner
The rectangular tiles run at the same height on both walls. We start the layout at the corner so the grout lines meet instead of stepping up or down.
Valve and shower head
The hand shower and rain head come through the tile wall. We seal each pipe opening into the waterproofing behind the tile before we set tile around it.
Grout close to the tile color
The gray grout nearly matches the tile, so the wall reads as one surface. In a shower we pick the grout type for the joint width and the water first, then match the color.
How a project works
Assess the room
We look at how the bathroom gets used, where the plumbing runs, how it's vented, and what's under the current floor and walls. We check whether the floor flexes and how flat the walls are. Old bathrooms are rarely ready for new tile as they stand.
What you’ll do
Tell us what you want changed: shower, tub, floor, or the whole room. Mention any leaks or soft spots you've noticed.
What we’ll do
Inspect the floor and walls and tell you what has to come out.
Plan the assembly
We pick the backer board, waterproofing, mortar, grout and caulk to suit your tile and your shower. The pan, drain, niche, bench and any floor heat are all worked out before the first tile goes up.
What you’ll do
Pick your tile, niche size and fixture finishes, and confirm valve and shower head heights with your plumber.
What we’ll do
Mark the shower layout on the wall and confirm niche and bench positions with you.
Prepare and protect
We cover the path from your door to the bathroom, hang dust barriers, and take out the old tile and fixtures. Then we fix low spots, replace damaged board, and get the walls and floor flat.
What you’ll do
Clear out the bathroom and the hallway we'll use, and plan for the room to be out of service.
What we’ll do
Do the tear-out, haul it away, and prep the walls and floor.
Set with a clear layout
We lay out the walls and floor around the drain, door, niche and valve before setting anything. Every tile goes on with full mortar coverage and even joints, and we leave movement joints at inside corners and where the walls meet the floor.
What you’ll do
Check the layout with us before tile goes up, if you'd like a say in it.
What we’ll do
Waterproof, flood-test the shower pan, and set the tile.
Finish and review
Once the mortar cures, we grout, caulk the corners, install trim and clean up. We show you how to look after the shower and any stone, and tell you when you can start using it. If the plumber or glass installer comes next, the room is ready for them.
What you’ll do
Wait out the cure time we give you before the first shower.
What we’ll do
Do a final walk-through and leave care notes for your tile and grout.
Materials & surfaces we work with
Ceramic
Ceramic works well on bathroom walls, tub surrounds and backsplashes. We plan where the tile ends at doors, corners and the vanity so each edge gets bullnose or metal trim instead of a raw cut.
Porcelain
Porcelain is our usual choice for bathroom floors and shower walls because it absorbs almost no water. For floors, we help you pick a finish with enough grip when it's wet, since a polished porcelain can be slippery.
Large-format porcelain
Large tiles mean fewer grout lines to scrub in a shower, but they need very flat walls. On a shower floor they usually go with a linear drain so the floor can slope in one direction. We plan the cuts around the drain, niche and bench before we start.
Natural stone
Marble, limestone and slate vary from piece to piece, so we lay the tiles out and let you see the mix before we set them. Stone needs sealing and reacts to acidic cleaners, and some marble warps with ordinary mortar, so we use one made for it.
Mosaic
Mosaics are the usual choice for shower floors because the small pieces follow the slope to the drain and the extra grout lines give grip. We keep the sheets lined up and the joints even across the whole floor.
Glass
In a shower, glass tile needs a white mortar made for glass and smooth, full coverage, because you can see through the tile to the back. We leave room for movement at the edges so the glass doesn't crack.
Your tile's box or spec sheet says where it can go and what mortar it needs. We follow it.
Shower waterproofing and drainage
A shower stays dry behind the tile only if the waterproofing has no gaps. We tie the wall membrane into the pan and the drain, then seal every corner, seam and pipe opening. Before any tile goes on the floor, we plug the drain and flood-test the pan to make sure it holds water.
Niches and benches have to be planned early because they change the framing, the waterproofing and the tile cuts. We slope every ledge so water runs off, and use flexible caulk where walls meet each other and the floor, since those corners move.
Older homes and heated floors
Bungalows, Tudors and older two-flats around Chicago often have small bathrooms with original trim, and floors that sit higher or lower than the hallway. We match the new tile size and threshold to the room so the update fits the house. In an old bathroom we also expect to find a mortar bed or several layers of flooring under the current tile.
For a heated bathroom floor, we lay the heat cable and sensor, cover them with self-leveler or thinset, and tile over the top. We work out the finished floor height ahead of time so the door still swings and the vanity and toilet still fit.
Keep the room dry and clean
Clean with a pH-neutral cleaner made for tile and grout, and rinse off soap scum before it builds up. A squeegee after each shower keeps water from sitting on the glass and ledges.
Stone needs its own care. Keep vinegar and other acidic cleaners off marble and limestone. A sealer slows stains down; it won't make stone stain-proof.
What affects the price
What shapes the scope?
Tick what applies to your bathroom. We give you a price after we've seen it.
The biggest cost factors in a bathroom are tear-out, the condition of the floor and walls, waterproofing, and the size and pattern of the tile. A plain floor and a full shower can look alike in a photo and take very different amounts of work. Our quote lists the tile work you'll see separately from the prep and waterproofing you won't, so you can tell where the money goes.
Where we work
Can you tile over the existing bathroom tile?
Sometimes, if the old tile is solid, flat and well bonded, and the extra height works at the door and around the plumbing trim. If the old tile is loose, cracked or hiding a leak, it has to come out.
Does shower tile make the shower waterproof?
No. Tile and grout are the finish. The waterproofing behind and under them keeps water out of the walls and floor. The pan, walls, corners, niche, bench, pipe openings and drain all have to be part of one system.
How do you handle an uneven bathroom floor?
We find the high and low spots and check whether the floor flexes, then pick the fix. That might be repairs, self-leveler, new underlayment, work on the joists, or a smaller tile. We don't pile on extra mortar to hide a bad floor.
Can you install tile over a heated floor?
Yes. Electric heat mats and cables work well under tile. We lay the cable and sensor, cover them, and set the tile, and an electrician makes the connections. We'll tell you how long to wait before turning the heat on.
What happens if removal turns up damage?
We show you what we found and take photos. If old material might contain asbestos, we stop and ask you to have it tested. Then we price the repair, leveling or replacement before anything gets covered up.
How should I care for a new shower or bathroom floor?
Use a cleaner made for your tile, grout or stone, and skip abrasive or acidic products. Run the fan after showers, squeegee standing water, and check the caulk in the corners once a year.
Planning a tile project?
Call us or send a few details. You don’t need measurements yet.