Shower Tile Installation
A shower sees more direct water than any surface in the house. Rainwood Construction handles shower tile installation from waterproofing and pan work through final grout — every layer built to keep water where it belongs.
We respond within 24 hours
Where Shower Tile Actually Fails
The tile almost never fails. Porcelain rated above 0.5% water absorption will outlast the house. What fails is everything behind it — the waterproof membrane, the mortar bed, the substrate bond.
A shower takes 60–80 gallons of direct water per use. Skip the membrane and moisture migrates into framing. Use unmodified thin-set on walls and tiles release under thermal cycling. Set a pan without proper slope — minimum 1/4” per foot — and water pools. Mold follows within months.
That’s why tile shower installation done right is 60% prep and 40% tile. The finish you see depends entirely on the layers you don’t.
Shower Tile Installation Cost
Tub-surround re-tile in subway ceramic: $2,500–4,500. Walk-in shower with porcelain and pre-formed pan: $4,000–8,000. Custom shower with bench, niche, linear drain, large-format tile: $8,000–15,000. Natural stone adds 20–30% — each piece needs back-buttering and lippage control.
Shower tile installation cost per square foot runs $12–25 for porcelain, $20–40 for natural stone — installed with waterproofing. The number that moves the estimate isn’t tile selection. It’s what’s behind the old tile — damaged framing, failed cement board, no membrane. Rainwood Construction quotes after opening the wall, not from a photo.
OUR BATHROOM TILE SERVICES
What Rainwood Construction covers for shower tile installation projects.
Complete Shower Tile Installation
Demo, framing inspection, substrate, waterproof membrane, shower pan with flood test, tile, grout, caulk, seal. Every step in sequence. Modified thin-set on walls and floors, 95% coverage on anything over 8”, caulk — not grout — at every change-of-plane joint.
Shower Wall Tile Installation
Shower wall tile installation on cement board or foam board with full waterproofing. Large-format tiles (12×24, 24×48) need perfectly flat walls — we float or shim before setting. Layout matters for drainage and appearance. We start from a level line, not from the tub edge.
Shower Pan & Base Installation
Mud-bed pans with PVC liner, bonded foam pans (Schluter Kerdi, Wedi), or pre-formed bases tiled over. Wrong slope, missed liner seam, drain flange not bonded to the membrane — the pan is the most failure-prone component in any shower. We flood-test every one for 24 hours before tile goes down.
Shower Drain Installation
Center drains, offset drains, linear drains, tile-in inserts. Tile-in shower drain installation requires the body to sit flush with the finished tile plane — off by 1/16” and the insert won’t seat. Linear drains change slope geometry: one-direction pitch instead of four-way.
Bathroom Floor & Backsplash Tile
Floor tile, vanity backsplash, accent walls outside the wet zone. Different waterproofing requirements than the shower — but same attention to substrate flatness and mortar coverage. One crew handling the entire bathroom means matched grout lines, consistent layout, and no coordination gaps between trades.
Rainwood also offers interior renovations. Contact us to discuss your project.
See Our Work in Action
Watch how we transform homes with quality siding installation.
COMMON PROBLEMS WE FIX
The shower tile problems we see most on renovation projects.
Cracked grout along corners and edges — grout used where caulk should be (every change of plane needs silicone)
WHY CHOOSE RAINWOOD CONSTRUCTION?
Shower tile installation contractors who skip the flood test or grout the corners are building in failure. Rainwood Construction treats every shower as a waterproofing project that happens to have tile on it.
- Flood-tested pans — 24-hour hold, no exceptions, before any tile is set
- 95% mortar coverage on every large-format tile — checked by pulling tiles during set
- Waterproofing and tile done by the same crew — no finger-pointing between trades
- Caulk at every change of plane, movement joint at every 8–10 feet of run, per TCNA guidelines
10+
Years Experience
Great people. Showed up early and stayed late to get the job done. Work was excellent. Price was the best i found after four quotes. Would definitely use this company again.
We hired Rainwood Construction LLC to replace our French doors, and the result was outstanding. We knew going in this was more involved than a standard swap — we switched from inward to outward swinging doors, requiring extra attention to framing, flashing, and weatherproofing to keep everything sealed against water intrusion.Anatoliy was our point of contact and led the project from before to after, making sure the swing change and weatherproofing were planned and executed correctly. Igor and Vitaly handled the on-site installation and did excellent, high-quality work. The whole team was on time, professional, and delivered top-notch results. Can’t recommend them highly enough. 5 stars!
Every member of this crew I've had the pleasure of coming in contact with has been professional, excellent in their skillset, and fast. Pricing was reasonable for the excellent job they did.Last year we hired Rainwood to do plumbing and painting for a job. Both crews did such a great job, were thorough, and the level of detail was fantastic!We liked them so much we recently hired them for a quick job (installing ceiling fans). We messaged on a Wednesday and the job was done by Friday.Will absolutely hire Rainwood again and again for every job we do for our home.
Working with Rainwood Constructions on our house remodel was an excellent experience from start to finish. Their contractors were highly professional, skilled, and attentive to detail, and the quality of their work exceeded our expectations. The team communicated clearly throughout the project and ensured everything was completed on time without compromising quality. We’re extremely happy with the results and would highly recommend them to anyone planning a home remodel.
We had a very good experience with Rainwood Construction LLC and Toli during my brother’s home construction project in Shoreline. The team was professional, communicative, and paid close attention to detail throughout the process. We were especially happy with the quality of the fittings and finishing work, which turned out really well. The project was handled smoothly, and the overall workmanship met our expectations. Would definitely recommend them to others looking for reliable construction services.
We had an excellent experience with them on our sunroom project. The quality of the work was outstanding, they were easy to work with, and they clearly explained each step, the schedule, and key decisions (with various options to help us understand cost) along the way. Communication was solid from start to finish, and the final result looks great. Highly recommend, they are my new go to recommendation when friends ask.
OUR RECENT PROJECTS
Recent shower tile work by Rainwood Construction.
Request a Quote
Call or fill out the form. Tell us what you have now — tub surround, walk-in, stall — and what’s going on. Leaking, cracked grout, remodel. Photos help.
On-Site Assessment
We check the existing substrate, framing condition, and plumbing layout. Moisture meter on accessible surfaces; where tile is intact, we assess at demo. Written scope with options.
Clear Scope & Schedule
Tile selection, layout, waterproofing method, drain type, line-item labor and material. Standard shower re-tiles run 5–7 working days. Custom builds with bench and niche: 7–10.
Installation
Demo, substrate prep, waterproofing, pan, flood test, tile, grout, caulk, seal. Each layer inspected before the next. Walkthrough before we leave.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today for a free on-site assessment. We’re here to help protect your home.
Call us now
425-750-1025
Email us
Anatoliy@rainwoodconstruction.com
Visit us
12310 Hwy 99, Everett, WA 98204
Hours
Mon-Fri 9:00 am–6:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am–5:00 pm, Sun Closed
FAQ
Tub-surround re-tile: $2,500–4,500. Walk-in shower: $4,000–8,000. Custom with bench, niche, linear drain: $8,000–15,000. Biggest variable isn’t tile — it’s what’s behind it. Damaged framing or failed waterproofing adds structural work. We quote after seeing the substrate.
Demo existing surface, inspect framing, install cement board or foam board, apply waterproof membrane with pre-formed corners and drain integration, build shower pan with proper slope, flood test 24 hours, set tile with modified thin-set, grout, seal, caulk every change-of-plane joint. Sequence matters — each layer depends on the one below it.
Technically possible, rarely smart. Adds weight to walls not framed for it, hides moisture damage, throws off door and fixture dimensions. The old waterproofing is usually the reason for the reno. Pulling tile lets us inspect framing and install a membrane that functions. Demo cost is less than fixing a tile-over-tile failure two years later.
Standard re-tile: 5–7 working days. One day demo, one for waterproofing and pan, 24–48 hours cure, two to three days tile setting, final day for grout and seal. Custom showers with benches or natural stone: 7–10 days. Cure times are built into the schedule — no rushing layers that need time to set.