Georgetown, Texas

Shower Tile in Georgetown

If you live in Georgetown and want a shower that stays dry, looks clean, and lets you step in without a trip, here is what actually goes into the walls.

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What a Georgetown shower tile job looks like when we are done

Most of the time we start with a bare stud bay. We add a cement backer board, screw it tight, tape the seams, and roll on a liquid waterproofing membrane. Over that we set the tile you picked at the Temple supply house. The layout is planned so the cuts land in the corners or under the ceiling course, not dead center where everyone stares. Grout lines are even, corners are plumb, and the niche sits exactly where you want your shampoo. If you asked for a curbless or low threshold, the pan slopes a quarter inch per foot so the water runs to the drain and not into the bathroom.

We do not leave until the shower pan is flooded for 24 hours and the walls are dry behind the tile. That test is part of the job, not an extra.

The parts of a shower that most people forget until it is too late

A shower is more than the tile you see. These are the pieces that can leak, crack, or trip you if they are done wrong.

  • The substrate: cement backer board, not drywall, and screwed every six inches to the studs.
  • Waterproofing: a liquid membrane rolled on like paint, not just the seams taped.
  • The ceiling course: a full row of tile under the ceiling so the cut edge is hidden.
  • Inside corners: a soft joint filled with caulk, not grout, so the wall can move without cracking.
  • The curb or threshold: built with a slope so water runs back into the shower, not over the edge.
  • The niche: framed with a waterproof liner and set so the tile inside slopes slightly toward the shower.
  • The pan: a sloped mortar bed that directs water to the drain, not a pre-formed plastic tray.
Full height glazed zellige shower with a brass rainfall head and a niche cut into the field.
Full height glazed zellige shower with a brass rainfall head and a niche cut into the field.

Why Georgetown homeowners ask for curbless and low-threshold showers

Georgetown has a lot of one-story homes and a big Sun City community. People want to stay in their houses, so they ask for showers they can roll a walker or wheelchair into. A curbless shower has no lip at all, just a gentle slope to the drain. A low threshold is an inch or two high, enough to keep water in but easy to step over. Both need extra planning: the pan has to slope more gradually, the drain has to be placed so the water runs away from the door, and the floor outside the shower has to be waterproofed too.

We build the slope into the mortar bed, not the tile, so the waterproofing layer stays intact. If the slope is in the tile, the waterproofing can fail where the tile meets the pan.

How we handle the tile you pick

You can bring your own tile or come with us to the supply house in Temple. We set what you choose: zellige, marble, porcelain, ceramic, terrazzo, or mosaic. The only rule is that the tile has to be rated for wet areas. Some marble and natural stone need sealing before grout, and some mosaic sheets have paper or mesh that has to be soaked off before the tile can be set. We do that on the job, not in your house.

Layout matters more than the tile itself. A small mosaic can hide a crooked wall, but a large format tile will show every bump. We dry-lay the tile on the floor first, mark the cuts, and adjust the layout so the pattern looks intentional. If the tile has a directional design, we make sure it runs the same way on every wall.

What can go wrong and how we keep it from happening

A shower can leak, crack, or look crooked if the substrate is not right. If the backer board is not screwed tight, it can flex and pop the tile. If the waterproofing is not rolled on thick, water can seep behind the tile and rot the studs. If the pan is not sloped correctly, water can pool and grow mold. If the niche is not framed with a waterproof liner, water can get behind the tile and run down the wall. If the grout is not sealed, it can stain or crack.

We use a liquid waterproofing membrane that bonds to the backer board and seals the screw holes. We flood the pan for 24 hours before we set the tile, so we know it does not leak. We use a grout sealer that soaks in and does not leave a film. We do not leave until the job is clean and the shower is ready to use.

Questions

Asked and answered

How do you prevent water from leaking behind the shower tile?

We start with cement backer board, not drywall. We screw it every six inches to the studs so it does not flex. We tape the seams with alkali-resistant mesh tape and cover it with thinset. Then we roll on a liquid waterproofing membrane that bonds to the backer board and seals the screw holes. The membrane goes up the walls at least six inches above the showerhead and over the curb or threshold. We flood the pan for 24 hours before we set the tile, so we know the waterproofing holds.

Can you match the tile I already have in my Georgetown bathroom?

If you have a leftover box, we can set it. If you need more, we can take a piece to the supply house in Temple and try to match it. Some tile is discontinued, so we may have to pick a new one that looks close. If the tile is large format, we can adjust the layout to hide the difference. If it is a small mosaic, the grout color can make the new tile blend in.

How long does a shower tile job take in Georgetown?

Most of the time it runs three to five days. The first day is demo and substrate. The second day is waterproofing and pan slope. The third day is tile setting. The fourth day is grout and sealer. If the shower is large or the tile is intricate, it can take longer. We do not start until the pan has passed the 24-hour flood test, so we do not rush that step.

Do you do tub surround tile work too?

Yes, and that is a flat $2,000 for labor and materials. The tub surround is simpler than a shower because it does not have a pan or a drain, but the substrate and waterproofing are the same. We set the tile up to the ceiling, so there is no cut edge showing. If you want a niche, we frame it with a waterproof liner and set the tile so it slopes slightly toward the tub.

What is your warranty on shower tile work in Georgetown?

Every installation carries a written one-year limited labor warranty from the date we finish. It covers issues that come up because of the original installation, like a loose tile or a leaky pan. It does not cover the tile material, which is under the manufacturer’s warranty, and it does not cover changes you make after we leave, like drilling holes or dropping something heavy. If you have a problem, call us and we will come look at it.

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Every installation carries a written one-year limited labor warranty from the date of completion. It covers issues arising from our original installation. It does not cover materials, which fall under the manufacturer’s own warranty, and it does not cover modifications made after our installation is complete.