Shower Tile in Round Rock

Replacing Old Builder Fiberglass and Failing Tile in Round Rock Subdivisions

Many homes in Round Rock were built in the 1990s and 2000s with standard fiberglass inserts or thin builder tile over regular drywall. After two or three decades of daily use, those materials break down. Fiberglass units develop hairline fractures along the bottom corners, and builder grade mastic behind old ceramic tile turns soft when water gets past failing caulk. By the time homeowners notice loose wall tiles or soft drywall outside the stall, moisture has usually been working into the wall studs for months.

Tearing out an old shower enclosure is messy work that must be done down to the bare framing. We pull out the old panels, remove rotten backing, and check that the wall studs are plumb and square before any new materials go up. If a wall bows out in the middle, we shim or plane the framing so the new cement board hangs flat. Starting with straight, solid framing is the only way to get flat tile walls with crisp, narrow grout joints across the entire stall.

Waterproofing Substrates and the Wall to Pan Junction

Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own. Water passes through grout pores and microscopic hairline cracks, which means the real barrier is what sits directly behind the tile. In every shower we build, we install a continuous waterproofing system behind the tile assembly. We tape and mud every backer board seam, then apply liquid or sheet waterproofing over the walls, into the inside corners, across the curb, and down over the pan flange. This forms an unbroken, sealed vessel that catches water and directs it to the drain.

• Cement backer board mechanically fastened with corrosion resistant screws to plumb framing
• Bonded waterproof membranes continuous from the shower floor up past the showerhead pipe
• Heavy fabric reinforcement embedded across all inside corners, seams, and screw penetrations
• Proper overlap where the wall membrane meets the pan liner so water cannot run behind the pan

Tile Layout, Sightlines, and Corners in the Shower Enclosure

A good shower job starts with a dry layout before a single bucket of thinset mortar is mixed. We measure the full height and width of every wall to locate where the cuts will fall. The goal is to avoid sliver cuts in high visibility areas, especially around the shower valve, inside corners, and the top ceiling course. If a full tile at the floor leaves a half inch sliver at the ceiling, we shift the entire layout down so both the top and bottom courses use balanced, wider pieces.

Inside corners need to look uniform from the floor to the ceiling. We mirror the pattern across the corner so the grout joints wrap naturally around the stall without awkward offsets. For the ceiling line, we check level across the top edge. If the ceiling drywall is out of level, which is common in older subdivisions, we cut each top tile individually along the ceiling contour. That keeps the horizontal grout lines running true without drawing attention to a crooked ceiling framing line.

Built-In Niches, Solid Curbs, and Edge Profiles

A recessed shampoo niche must be built to shed water, not hold it. We frame niches between existing studs and pitch the bottom sill slightly toward the shower drain so soapy water runs off instead of pooling under shampoo bottles. The tile inside the niche is centered to the opening, and we wrap the exposed edges with clean satin or brass profiles to protect the raw tile edges. Done properly, the niche looks like an intentional part of the overall wall pattern rather than an afterthought.

The shower curb and transition require equal attention. Curbs take direct foot traffic and constant splashing, so we build them solid and pitch the top cap inward a fraction of an inch per foot toward the shower floor. We set porcelain, ceramic, marble, zellige, terrazzo, or mosaic tiles using thinset mortar mixed for the specific tile material. We finish raw exterior edges with metal trims or mitered bullnose pieces so you never see an unglazed, raw edge on the curb or outside corners.

Our Material Sourcing, Labor Warranty, and Project Process

Merlan's Tile is based in Killeen, and we drive south down Interstate 35 to handle projects throughout Round Rock and Williamson County. When you work with us, the same people who look at the space and measure the room are the people who set your tile. We buy tile out of the Temple supply house, so what you pick is what gets set. You can also pick your own tile anywhere you like and have it ready on site for us. If you only need a standard tub surround tile job rather than a full walk-in shower, we handle those for $2,000 flat.

For full custom walk-in showers, every job is quoted after measuring the room because every shower pan, wall height, and tile choice is unique. Once the layout is confirmed, we set the tile, pack the grout joints solid, apply sealer, and clean up behind ourselves. Every installation carries a written one-year limited labor warranty from the date of completion. It covers issues arising from the original installation. It does not cover materials, which fall under the manufacturer's own warranty, and does not cover modifications made after the installation is complete.