Bathroom & Shower Tile Installation

Bathrooms Are Where Tile Has to Perform

A bathroom remodel is one of the most common projects we handle, and it is also one where the stakes are highest. Water gets into walls if the waterproofing is not done correctly. Tile pops off shower floors if the mortar coverage is insufficient. Grout cracks at corners if expansion joints are skipped. We have seen all of these failure modes and we know how to avoid them.

Our bathroom tile work covers tub surrounds, walk-in shower walls and floors, bathroom floor tile, and full bathroom remodels that combine all of these surfaces. We work with homeowners in Summit, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, and Justice who are redoing their main bathroom, adding a second bath, or converting a tub-only shower to a walk-in configuration.

Waterproofing: What We Actually Do

Before any tile goes up in a wet area, we apply a waterproofing system. For shower floors, we use a sloped mortar bed (pre-sloped foam pan or a hand-floated mud bed) so water drains toward the drain without pooling. On the walls, a sheet membrane or liquid-applied waterproofing is installed behind the tile backer board and extends past the waterline.

Corners and seams get special attention. These are the spots most likely to move with building settlement or thermal expansion. We use a flexible sealant (not grout) at inside corners so the joint can flex without cracking.

What Is Included

• Tile demo of existing surfaces (when included in scope)
• Substrate inspection and cement board installation where needed
• Waterproofing membrane application in all wet areas
• Shower pan installation (pre-sloped foam or mud bed)
• Wall tile installation with full mortar coverage
• Floor tile with proper slope to drain
• Grouting with sanded or unsanded grout as appropriate
• Flexible caulk at all inside corners and floor-to-wall transitions
• Sealing of grout and natural stone where applicable

Tile Options for Bathrooms

We install whatever tile you choose. For shower walls and floors, porcelain or ceramic with a slip-resistant surface rating (DCOF of 0.42 or higher for wet floors) is appropriate. Natural stone like marble or travertine is beautiful in bathrooms but requires sealing before and after installation. Large-format tiles (12x24 or larger) work well on shower walls because they reduce the number of grout lines, which means less maintenance over time.

Service Areas for Bathroom Tile

We complete bathroom tile projects throughout Summit, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, and Justice. Most of the homes we work in are within a 10-minute drive of our location on Archer Avenue in Summit.