Shower tile installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering shower tile installation

Shower tile is judged on whether it stays dry, and the waterproofing and the pan decide that. Win the job by showing your membrane, your flood test and your framing check before you set the tile.

What customers ask

  • Will the shower leak after you finish?
  • What happens if you find rot behind the wall?
  • How long before I can use the shower?
  • Do you move the drain or the valve, and does that need a plumber?
  • What grout and sealer do you use, and how often should I reseal?

How to win the job

  • Open a test area on the first visit if the wall is suspect, and photograph the framing and the old membrane before you quote.
  • Name the waterproofing system in the quote and show its location on a sketch, including the corners, the valve and the niche openings.
  • Describe the flood test method and the time it runs in the proposal, so the customer knows the pan is tested before the tile.
  • Quote the framing repair as a separate line with a note on how the damage is documented and approved.
  • Show the slope plan for the pan on a drawing, with the drain location and the slope target marked.
  • Give the customer the cure times and the water test date in the schedule, so they know when the shower can be used.
  • Include the sealer and the reseal schedule in the quote, with the grout product named.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of the pan and the waterproofing membrane before tile, showing the corners and the valve detail
  • Photos of the flood test in progress, with the water level and the time marked
  • Before and after photos of showers with the niche, bench and trim visible
  • A list of the waterproofing systems you install and the tile sizes you set

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care sheet for the shower with the grout cleaning, the reseal date and the silicone care
  • A check visit after the first few months to look at the caulk, the grout and the door seals
  • A quote for a bathroom fan or a new valve, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Shower tile commonly does not need a license, but waterproofing and any drain or valve change may need licensed plumbing and a permit. Confirm your business registration, insurance and any plumbing trade license you hold in your state and locality before you take the job.

Questions

Should I warranty the shower against leaks?

Warranty the waterproofing you installed and the flood test you performed. State that leaks from a valve, a drain or a fixture you did not install are outside the warranty, and name the period clearly.

How do I handle a shower pan that does not hold water?

Stop the tile work, find the leak, repair it and run the flood test again. Do not set tile over a pan that has failed the test.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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