Bathrooms & tile · 2025

Tub-to-tile shower rebuild

A builder-grade tub alcove taken back to the studs, waterproofed as a system, and rebuilt as a full-height tiled shower.

Category

Bathrooms & tile

Timeline

Three days from demo to tile set

Scope

5 line items

Services

Bathrooms & tile

Demo to finished

The same alcove finished in white subway tile with a corner shelf

Shower alcove stripped to the studs with sheathing and plywood exposed

Demo

Finished

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Scope of work

Demo back to framing
Plumbing relocated for the new valve height
Waterproofing membrane over backer board
White subway tile, full height
Corner shelf and trim

01 · The challenge

The alcove came apart faster than it went back together. Once the surround was off, the framing and the exterior sheathing behind it were both exposed, which meant the wet wall had to be rebuilt as a continuous assembly rather than patched around the old fixture locations.

02 · What we did

Backer board went on first, then a bonded liquid membrane rolled over every seam, corner and fastener, and up onto the curb. Fixture penetrations were sealed individually. Nothing was tiled until the wet side was continuous. That membrane is the part of this job that decides whether it is still sound in ten years.

03 · The result

Full-height subway tile with a tight, consistent grout line and a corner shelf set into the field rather than stuck on after. The shower is a single waterproofed system now instead of a plastic pan trusting a bead of caulk.

On site