Floor vs shower tile
Shower tile requires waterproof membrane or backer systems — never tile over drywall in wet areas.
- Floor tile: $8–$20/sq ft installed
- Shower walls: $10–$25/sq ft
- Mosaic accents add labor
Labor factors
Diagonal layouts, niches, benches, and large-format tile increase install time.
- Schluter or equivalent waterproofing
- Grout and sealant maintenance
- Heated floor mats under tile
Waterproofing is not optional
Shower failures come from skipped membranes, not bad grout. Budget for a recognized waterproofing system and skilled tile labor.
- Membrane or backer-board systems over bare drywall
- Flood testing before tile when possible
- Cement board on floors in wet areas
Labor follows layout, not the box price of tile
A $3/sq ft ceramic on a simple floor is cheap. The same tile in a herringbone shower with three niches is not. Large-format on walls needs a flat substrate. Penny rounds in a pan are a specialist day rate. Price the pattern.
- Schluter or equivalent edge trim is a line, not a gift
- Heated floors add a mat, a thermostat, and inspection of the electrical
- Ask whether demolition of old mud beds is in the tile bid or the GC bid
Grout, sealer, and the week after
Grout haze, a sealer on natural stone, and a no-walk window are part of cost even when they are not a SKU. Cheap unsanded grout in a shower floor is a callback. Name the grout type in the bid.
- Epoxy grout costs more and stains less in showers
- Natural stone may need sealing on a schedule
- Do not let painters overspray a finished shower — sequence them