Custom tile showers in Spokane

Plan the shower before demolition

Curb or curbless. A curb keeps the pan above the bathroom floor. A curbless shower has no step. The floor framing may need to change so the tile can slope to the drain.

Niche or bench. Both become part of the waterproof shell. Their size and location need to be set before the walls are closed.

Valve and shower head. Moving the valve or adding a handheld opens the plumbing wall. Make those choices before tile work starts.

Glass door. The glass company usually measures after the tile is complete.

Choose shower tile for Spokane hard water

Hard water leaves mineral spots on glass and a white film on grout. Larger wall tile has fewer grout lines to clean.

Small mosaic tile follows the slope of a shower floor and adds grout joints underfoot. Ask the installer which tile sizes fit the pan and drain.

Cement grout needs sealer. Stain-resistant grout can reduce upkeep, but it still needs regular cleaning.

Waterproofing goes behind the shower tile

Tile and grout shed water, but they are not the waterproof layer. A custom shower needs sealed walls and a sloped pan tied to the drain. Read how a sheet membrane, liner, or hot-mop pan works.

Test the shower pan before tile

A flood test checks the pan before tile covers it. The drain is plugged, the pan holds water, and the installer watches for any drop in the water level.

Upstairs showers need special care because the pan sits over a finished ceiling. See the factors behind shower tile cost. If the kitchen also needs tile, see backsplash installation.

Replace a tub with a tile shower

The installer pulls the tub, then checks the floor and the wall framing behind it. Soft wood or loose wallboard comes out before new tile goes up.

A tub drain often sits in a different spot than a shower drain. The installer moves the drain so the new pan can slope to it. If the valve or shower head needs to move, the installer opens the plumbing wall and moves those fittings before closing the wall.

The installer builds a new waterproof pan in the opening, ties it to the drain, and flood tests it before tile goes on.

On an upstairs floor, the slope and the drain have to fit the depth already in the framing. A curbless opening needs more depth than a curb. The installer can say which one fits after looking at the floor.

We connect you with a licensed installer. We do not remove the tub or set the tile.

Common questions

Can I replace a tub with a walk-in tile shower?

Yes. The installer removes the tub, checks the floor and walls, moves the drain if needed, and builds a waterproof shower pan in the opening.

Can an upstairs bathroom have a curbless shower?

Sometimes. The floor has to slope to the drain with no step, so the framing may need to change. The installer can tell after looking at the floor.

Should I buy shower tile before the installer visits?

You can wait. The installer can measure the walls and floor, check the surface, and tell you how much tile to order. Large tile needs a flatter surface than small tile.