Tile shower installation in Portland
New showers and full shower remodels, built as a system. Tile and grout are not waterproof: what keeps a shower dry is the bonded membrane behind them, the slope under them, and the sealed seams between them. We build that first, test it, and then set the tile you picked it all for.
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How much does a tile shower cost in Portland?
A new walk in tile shower in the Portland area typically runs $10,000 to $25,000 or more, depending on size, tile selection, glass, and fixtures. That covers demo of the old shower, a bonded waterproofing membrane and substrate, shower tile installation on the walls and floor, a niche, a new valve, and glass. Remodeling an existing shower in place sits in the same range. Natural stone and pattern work sit at the top.
Where a project lands in these ranges depends mostly on the finish materials you choose: tile, cabinetry, countertops, and plumbing fixtures.
Figures are nonbinding planning estimates, not a quote, bid, or offer. Actual pricing is established only by a written estimate.
Waterproofing
Schluter, Wedi, and liquid waterproofing systems
Sheet membranes like Schluter-Kerdi, foam board systems like Wedi, and liquid applied membranes each have their place, and we install whichever fits your shower and budget. What never changes: sealed seams, a tested pan, and a continuous barrier from the curb to above the shower head.
The tile work
Tile layout planning
Before the first cut we draw the walls: where the pattern centers, where cuts fall, how the niche courses align with the grout lines. Porcelain, marble, zellige, picket, herringbone: the material changes, the discipline doesn't.
Fixing failures
Shower leak repair and rebuilds
A lot of our calls start with a soft spot in the floor or grout that keeps cracking. Production built showers from the boom years often skipped the membrane entirely. We open it up, dry it out, repair the framing if water got that far, and rebuild it as a sealed system.
Recent work
Recent tile showers we built
Same system underneath every one of them. The tile is where the rooms part ways.
What will your bathroom remodel cost?
It depends on the room and the finishes, which is why a chart never gives you your number. Build the bathroom instead: pick the footprint, add the shower, the tub, the vanity and the tile you want, and see it come together in 3D. You get a Portland labor and installation range for the room you built.
- Build it in 3D, one choice at a time
- A Portland labor and installation range at the end
- Add a photo for an AI render of your actual bathroom
- About two minutes, and no contact info to start
Build your bathroom in 3D
Pick the size, the fixtures and the finishes, and watch the room come together. You get a budget range at the end. About two minutes, and no contact info to start.
FAQ
Tile shower FAQs
Costs, timelines, and how the work is built.
What is the best waterproofing system for a tile shower?
The best systems are modern bonded membranes: sheet systems like Schluter-Kerdi, board systems like Wedi, or a liquid applied membrane over proper backer. Brand matters less than installation: sealed seams, correct slope to the drain, and a waterproof connection at the curb and corners. We install all three types and match the system to the shower.
How long does a tile shower installation take?
Plan on one to two weeks of active work for a shower in the existing footprint. Demo, substrate, and waterproofing come first, the membrane gets tested, then tile, grout, and sealant each need working and curing time. Glass is measured after tile and typically arrives a week or two later, so the full finish can trail the tile work.
Are tile showers worth it compared to acrylic surrounds?
A tile shower costs more up front and outlasts an acrylic surround by decades. Acrylic units fade, scratch, and read builder grade to buyers; a hand set tile shower on a bonded membrane is a permanent upgrade that carries value at resale. If the budget is tight, we would rather build you a simpler tile shower done right than a premium surround.
Why is my existing shower leaking?
Nine times out of ten, the waterproofing behind the tile failed or never existed: no membrane, an unsloped pan, or corners sealed with caulk instead of a bonded barrier. Grout and tile only slow water down. If you see cracking grout, staining below the bathroom, or a soft floor, have the wet area inspected before the framing pays for it.
All details matter.
A bathroom or kitchen remodel is hundreds of small decisions. Which tile, where the layout gives and where it holds, what gets fixed once the wall is open. We work through them with you instead of guessing, and you hear from us at every step, not just when something goes wrong. That is what you are actually hiring: skilled trades who sweat the details and answer the phone. Tell us about your space and we will put a real number on it.