Shower Tile Installation in Sarasota, FL

A complete custom shower — demo through final grout seal — typically takes 4–6 working days. This includes time for waterproofing membranes to cure before tile-setting begins (24–48 hours), tile setting and leveling, grout cure time, and final sealing. We do not rush curing times. Compressed timelines produce cracked grout and failed waterproofing.

Yes — all three. Walk-in showers and wet rooms are our most common shower projects. Steam showers require a fully enclosed ceiling membrane and vapor-rated grout (we specify this automatically). Tub surrounds benefit from the same KERDI wall system as walk-in showers — a tub itself is waterproof, but the wall assembly above it often isn't in conventional installations.

In most cases, no — and for good reason. Tiling over existing tile or backer board without addressing the substrate means you're also tiling over any existing moisture damage, mold, or delaminated membrane. We will investigate the existing condition first. If the substrate is sound and dry, we can discuss options. But if there's any evidence of water intrusion — which is common in Sarasota showers over 10 years old — full demo is the right call. A re-tile on a failed substrate will fail again, usually faster.

A custom shower tile installation in Sarasota typically ranges from $3,500–$12,000+ depending on shower size, tile selection, and the waterproofing system required. A standard master bath walk-in shower with Schluter-KERDI waterproofing and rectified porcelain generally falls in the $5,000–$8,000 range for labor and materials combined. We provide a detailed written proposal after a free on-site visit — accurate pricing requires seeing the space.

You absolutely need waterproofing behind shower tile — tile and grout alone are not waterproof. Water migrates through grout joints constantly during shower use. Without a continuous waterproof membrane bonded to the substrate, that water saturates the backer board and framing, causing mold, structural rot, and eventual tile failure. In Florida's humid climate this process is accelerated. The Schluter-KERDI membrane we install creates a genuine waterproof barrier before a single tile is set.