December 29, 2023
Tiled showers are very popular and for good reason: they’re beautiful, durable, easy to care for, and add some style to your bathroom.
A tiled shower will obviously cost more than a shower insert–but how much more? What type of pricing can you expect to see for your Tallahassee bathroom remodel?
In this post we’ll outline some common shower installation costs.
Hometown Handyman of NE Florida, LLC is a full-service remodeling company with an in-house design team right here in St. Augustine, FL.
We work exclusively with homeowners to help them remodel using a design-build approach that saves time, avoids confusion and creates better results.
Shower Tile Installation: The Basics
A shower tile installer must complete several tasks to install the shower of your dreams. These include
- Applying appropriate water-resistant or waterproof backing materials
- Planning the tile pattern
- Applying the mortar
- Cutting and setting the tiles
- Applying the grout
- Cleaning the tile
- Sealing the tile and grout
- Installing or replacing the fixtures
You want to be certain that your shower tile installer is excellent at his job. The last thing you want is for your shower–a year or two after installation–to begin leaking and need to be repaired or replaced. Ask your installer if he gives a warranty for his work–that’s a safeguard for you.
Licensing
Tile installation does not require a license in Florida, however, plumbing does. If you are having your shower re-tiled, you will need to hire a plumber as well as a tile installer.
Shower Tile Installation Costs
Ready for some nitty-gritty details? Keep in mind that shower installation costs can vary depending on the type of tile (size, shape and patter) and the experience of the installer.
These prices reflect the professional, high-quality work that we recommend for remodels. New construction costs, as well as costs for apartments and investment properties, will be different.
- Shower remodel costs for a 36×60 shower
- Demo: $500 – $800
- Waterproofing: $1200 – $1500
- Framing (niches, curb, misc.): $150
- Rough Plumbing (new valve, new drain): $1500
- Wall tiles install: $1200
- Shower Floor tile install: $300
- Tile materials: $800 – $1200
- Install materials (thin set, grout): $250
- Plumbing fixtures: $350 – $1500
- Plumbing trim out: $500
- Glass shower door: $1800
- Overhead Costs and Profit $3000-$5000
- Total cost: $12,000 – $18,000
Tile Material Costs
The factor that will affect your material cost the most is obviously the tile itself. Will you use porcelain tile? Ceramic? Natural stone? Glass? Do you want to use classic subway tile or on-trend handmade Zellige?
The pattern you choose will affect your final price as well. This is partly because you may need more tiles to cut them and fit them in a pattern (like herringbone or basketweave), and partly because the more complex the pattern is, the longer it will take the tile installer to get the job done. But the payoff will be worth the wait and the expense when your tiled shower becomes a gorgeous focal point in your bathroom.
Other factors come into play in determining your final costs as well: the size of your shower, for example, and the type of waterproofing that is used behind the tile (cement board, waterproof foam tile backer board, etc.). Do you want a center shower drain or a linear one? (A linear drain is a long, narrow rectangle drain that runs along one side of the shower. It allows water to drain below the shower into a channel, and then through the drainpipe from there.) Do you plan to have your tile installer build niches? If so, will they be stock niches or custom? Stock niches come in preset sizes and are ready to install, while custom ones will be built specifically for your shower–they’ll cost more but be exactly what you want.
What Things Can Affect My Final Cost?
- The type and quality of the materials you choose, as discussed above.
- Who you hire: their reputation and the size of the company will affect how much they charge you.
- What level of service you pay for: Will your shower tile installer help you design your shower and choose tiles and fixtures? Does he order selections for you, or do you do that yourself? Does he deliver materials, or do you pay your tile supplier to deliver them?
- How easy (or difficult!) your site is to access. If you have a ground-floor bathroom in a house with parking in the driveway or on the street, you’ll likely pay less than you would for a second-floor bathroom in a condo downtown.
- If the job is a rush or emergency project, you’ll pay more.
- Did you unsuccessfully try to DIY your shower and need someone to help you fix it? Did you initially hire someone else who didn’t do a good job? Fixing mistakes is always more costly than starting a project from scratch.
- Bringing your site up to code will probably cost more than if it was already code compliant.
Where to Find a Trade Contractor and How to Evaluate Them
How Do I Find Someone I Can Trust?
It’s always a plus if you know someone personally who had a great experience with a shower tile installer. Remember that you still need to do your research–just because you got a referral for a contractor doesn’t mean he is right for your job.
Look online for help as well. You can search Google (though remember that a lot of small trade contractors don’t have a website or are hard to find online). You can also ask for referrals in local Facebook groups like “St. Augustine Living,” but beware of scammers if you do.
Organizations like NFBA (North Florida Builders Association) and the NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) are good resources as well. The former is a local business association whose members are professional, licensed, and insured. Membership in the latter shows reliability and a commitment to improvement and excellence. Local supply houses can often refer you to excellent tradesmen.
Or give us a call. We can refer you to the trade specialists we use and trust, and you can rest assured that your project is in great hands.
How Can I Evaluate a Shower Tile Installer I Want to Hire?
We have a lot of great information on our website that will help you evaluate a potential contractor. Besides that, ask a potential tile installer for references and contact his previous clients. Ask them if they were satisfied with his work and professionalism, and if they’ve had any problems with the project. You can also ask the tile installer for pictures of his past work. Examine it closely and check for straight grout lines and perfect cuts. Make sure the tile installer specializes in shower tile installation–he might be great at kitchen backsplashes or tile floors, but the skills necessary for shower tiles are different.
Still Have Questions?
We’re here to help. We can help you find the perfect shower tile installer for your bathroom remodel. Or we can assist you in designing the perfect tiled shower, install it for you, and do other remodeling jobs that you need to make your current house your dream house. Our years of service in St. Augustine, St. Johns, Jacksonville, and other cities in northeast Florida, make us a great choice for your bathroom remodel. Schedule a consult with us today.
