Process
How a shower project runs
Seven stages, in the order they have to happen. The ones that decide whether the shower lasts all sit in the middle, where nobody can see them once tile is on.
Short answer
A shower remodel runs from site visit and written scope through demolition, rough plumbing, waterproofing and a flood test, then tile, glass and handover. Most take two to three weeks on site, and the waterproofing cure and flood test are fixed durations we do not shorten.
- Stage 1
Site visit and assessment
We look at the shower, the floor structure under it and the wall behind it. Where there is an access panel or an adjacent closet, we look there too. If tile is already failing we may pull a small area to see what the pan is doing.
- Measure the opening, the alcove and the ceiling height
- Identify joist direction and whether the floor is framed or slab-on-grade
- Check drain position and what moving it would involve
- Note water pressure and any existing valve type
- Stage 2
Scope and selections
You get a written scope that names the waterproofing system, drain, substrate and finishes. Tile and fixture selections happen alongside it, not after — a large-format tile and a curbless entry pull the layout in different directions and it is better to resolve that on paper.
- Named waterproofing system and matched drain
- Tile format, layout and grout joint width
- Niche, bench and grab-bar blocking locations
- Written exclusions, so there is no argument later about what was assumed
- Stage 3
Demolition and inspection
The old shower comes out and we see the whole cavity for the first time. This is when hidden damage surfaces: rotted plates, delaminated subfloor, old galvanized supply. We stop, show you, and price the change before continuing.
- Containment and dust control at the bathroom door
- Old pan, substrate and fixtures removed
- Any concealed damage documented in photos before it is covered again
- Stage 4
Rough plumbing and framing
Drain and valve get set in their final positions, blocking goes in for anything that will be fastened to the wall later, and the framing is corrected so the walls are actually flat. Tile cannot fix a bowed wall.
- Drain relocated or reset to suit the new layout
- Blocking for bench, niche, grab bars and glass
- Walls checked for plumb and plane before substrate
- Stage 5
Waterproofing and flood test
The pan is sloped, the membrane and corners are installed as one continuous system, and the drain is bonded to it. Then the shower is plugged, filled and held so the assembly has to prove it holds water before it is buried.
- Sloped mortar bed or pre-sloped pan to the drain
- Membrane, inside and outside corners, pipe seals from a single system
- Flood test held and observed before tile begins
- Stage 6
Tile, grout and finish
Setting starts from the layout decided in stage two, so cuts land where they were planned. Movement joints go where they belong instead of being grouted over, and sealant replaces grout at every change of plane.
- Layout lines struck from the finished-floor and niche datum
- Movement joints at inside corners and floor-wall transitions
- Cure time respected before grouting and before use
- Stage 7
Glass, punch list and handover
Glass is templated after tile, not before, so it fits what was actually built. We walk the shower with you, fix the punch list, and leave written care instructions for the specific grout and finishes we used.
- Enclosure templated to the finished opening
- Walkthrough and punch list completed before final payment
- Cleaning and maintenance instructions for your materials
Frequently asked questions
Related shower services
Planning a shower project?
Tell us about the shower you have and the one you want. We will come back with questions, then arrange to see the room before anything is quoted.