Shower Tile Installation in Hattiesburg, MS
A shower that looks tiled correctly can still fail behind the wall — Alex builds the waterproofing first, on every shower, before tile goes up.
Showers fail differently than any other tile surface in a house. Because they're exposed to standing water every day, the tile itself is really just the visible layer over a waterproofing system that's supposed to keep water contained. Skip or shortcut that membrane, and water gets behind the tile, into the wall framing or the subfloor beneath — damage that doesn't show up until it's already serious.
Alex builds every shower with the waterproofing layer first: sloped mud bed or pre-formed pan for correct drainage, membrane at the walls and niche, and only then the tile itself. It's the difference between a shower that looks good on install day and one that's still sound five years later.
Signs Your Shower Tile Needs Attention
- Grout that keeps cracking no matter how often it's patched
- Soft, discolored, or spongy flooring just outside the shower
- A musty smell in the bathroom that doesn't go away with cleaning
- Loose or hollow-sounding tile when tapped
- Wanting to convert an old tub into a modern walk-in tiled shower
Our Process for Shower Tile
- Demo & inspect. Old tile and surround come out; framing and subfloor checked for existing damage.
- Framing & base. Shower base or curb built and sloped correctly toward the drain.
- Waterproofing. Membrane applied to walls, floor, and niche — the step that actually determines whether the shower lasts.
- Tile. Tile set and grouted once waterproofing has cured.
- Seal & finish. Grout sealed, fixtures reinstalled, glass or curtain hardware mounted.
What Affects the Cost of Shower Tile
- Existing damage: rot or water damage behind old tile has to be repaired before rebuilding
- Shower size and shape: a niche, bench, or custom pan adds framing and waterproofing steps
- Tile size and pattern: mosaic or small-format tile takes longer to set than large-format
- Glass or hardware: frameless glass enclosures add cost over a curtain or standard door
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does shower tile need different prep than other tile?
Because a shower is a wet room that has to actively keep water inside a specific area and out of the wall and subfloor. That requires a proper waterproofing membrane behind the tile — a step that doesn't matter for a dry-area backsplash but is the most important part of a shower.
How do I know if my shower is leaking behind the tile?
Common signs are soft or discolored flooring just outside the shower, a musty smell that doesn't go away, or grout that's constantly cracking. By the time it's visible, there's usually been damage building for a while — worth having Alex take a look.
Can you convert a tub into a walk-in tiled shower?
Yes — that's a common request, especially in older bathrooms. It involves reworking the plumbing, framing the new shower base, waterproofing, and then the tile itself. Alex will walk through what's involved for your specific bathroom.
What goes into a tiled shower niche or bench?
Both need to be built and waterproofed as part of the shower system, not added as an afterthought — the niche especially, since it's a cutout in the waterproofing that has to be sealed correctly on all sides.
Related Services
Have a shower tile project?
Get a free estimate — waterproofed right, from the studs out.