Shower Tile in Los Angeles, CA

How is a tiled shower waterproofed?

Tile sheds water, but cement grout is porous and lets moisture wick behind it, so what keeps a shower from leaking into the framing is the layer behind the tile. There are two common approaches.

• Traditional mortar bed with a liner: a sloped mortar base over a flexible pan liner, with cement board on the walls and a moisture barrier behind it.
• Surface-applied membrane: a liquid-applied or sheet membrane over the substrate, directly under the thinset. The ANSI A118.10 standard covers load-bearing, bonded waterproof membranes for tile.
• Slope to the drain: the California Plumbing Code calls for shower floors to slope toward the drain at no less than 1/4 inch per foot, so water never sits in a corner.
• Flood test: many installers plug the drain and fill the pan for 24 hours before any tile goes on, to prove the base holds water.

Whatever the system, use the components one manufacturer designed to work together, from membrane to drain flange to corners.

Signs a shower is leaking behind the tile

A failing shower usually announces itself outside the stall first. Many Los Angeles houses from the 1940s to the 1960s still have their original mud-set showers, and after decades the pan liner underneath can give out even when the tile looks fine. Look for:

• Loose or cracked floor tiles, or grout that keeps washing out near the drain.
• White mineral crust (efflorescence) seeping from the grout joints.
• Swollen baseboard, peeling paint or soft drywall just outside the curb.
• A water stain on the ceiling below a second-floor bath.
• Damp soil or a musty smell under the shower in a raised-foundation crawlspace.

Any of these points to the waterproofing, not the surface, so plan for a new pan or membrane rather than a regrout.

Shower floor tile: why small formats and hexagon marble work

The floor of a shower is a shallow funnel, and flat, large tiles don’t bend to a funnel. Small pieces do. That is why shower floor tile is usually 2 inches or smaller: hexagons, pennies, squares or a basketweave on mesh sheets. More grout joints also mean more grip.

A hexagon marble shower floor is a long-standing favorite for good reason. A Google reviewer described a 4-plex where each bathroom got hexagon marble shower floors with large white arabesque walls, a combination that reads classic without looking fussy. Marble does need sealing and a pH-neutral cleaner; the natural stone tile page explains the routine, and mosaic tile covers porcelain and glass alternatives.

Shower wall tile, from arabesque to large format

Large-format shower tile works even in small showers on the walls, where it cuts grout lines to a few joints. On the floor, a big tile needs either a single-direction slope toward a linear drain or careful diagonal cuts toward a center drain.

Niches, benches and walk-in shower tile layouts

A shower niche tile detail is easy to get right if it is planned before the wall is built. Frame the niche into a stud bay, ideally on a wall that isn’t an exterior wall, slope its bottom shelf slightly toward the shower, and size it so tile cuts land evenly on each side. Line it with the wall tile, a contrasting mosaic or a single stone shelf.

• Walk-in showers: a curbless or low-curb entry needs the floor recessed or the slope carried farther out, so plan it with your builder early.
• Benches: a built-in bench needs the same waterproofing as the walls and a slight slope on its seat.
• Glass panels: fixed glass needs solid backing and tile that ends cleanly where the panel channel sits.
• Transitions: decide where shower floor tile ends and bathroom floor tile begins, usually at the curb or a threshold.

Choosing shower tile at the showroom

1. 1

   Measure the stall

   Width, depth, wall height to the ceiling, drain location and any window in the shower. Photos of the vanity and bath floor help.

2. 2

   Pick the floor first

   Choose a small-format floor tile for grip and slope, then let the walls play off it.

3. 3

   Pair walls and accents

   Lay floor, wall and niche tiles together on a counter in the showroom and look at them in both warm and cool light.

4. 4

   Choose grout and trim

   Settle grout color and type, plus metal edge profiles or bullnose for the outside edges and niche.

5. 5

   Confirm the waterproofing plan

   Decide which membrane system and drain the installer will use, since the tile choice can affect both.

6. 6

   Order and schedule

   Order tile with spares, then book installation of the tile you bought or hand it to your contractor.

What sets the budget for a tiled shower?

• Demolition: removing an old tub or a mud-set shower takes far longer than pulling a fiberglass insert.
• Waterproofing system: membranes, prefab pans and linear drains each carry different material and labor costs.
• Tile size: large panels save grouting time but need a flatter wall; mosaics need more setting and grouting time.
• Niches, benches and curbs: each one adds framing, waterproofing and many small cuts.
• Stone vs. porcelain: marble needs sealing and careful handling; porcelain is easier to maintain.
• Plumbing changes: moving the valve or drain is work for a licensed plumber and may require a permit.

Why Adcom for shower tile in Los Angeles?

• The styles reviewers actually used. Hexagon marble floors and large white arabesque walls appear in a Google reviewer’s 4-plex project, alongside long-plank wood-look floors.
• Bath surfaces together. Vanities, tops, floor tile and shower tile can be compared in one place.
• Sourcing beyond the shelf. Google reviewers describe staff hunting down tile that was out of stock.
• Installation and replacement. The tile you buy can be installed on request, and tile work replacement is among the services reviewers name.

Permits, trades and shower tile care

Retiling over an existing, sound shower base is usually tile work only. Replacing the pan, moving a drain or valve, or converting a tub to a shower brings in plumbing; for addresses within City of Los Angeles limits, LADBS determines whether a permit is required under LAMC §91.106. Verify a tile contractor’s C-54 license and a plumber’s C-36 license on the CSLB lookup before hiring. For the full bath, including demolition and fixtures, see shower remodel.

After installation, wait for the grout and any sealer to cure as the product label directs before the first shower. Squeegee the walls daily, keep the fan running for 20 minutes after bathing, and recaulk the change-of-plane corners when the caulk starts to pull. Ideas for layouts are in shower tile ideas, and grout color and sealing covers grout care.

Shower projects come from across the region: hall baths in Burbank, original-tile bathrooms in Pasadena, coastal condos in Santa Monica where humidity makes ventilation even more important, and homes throughout Los Angeles.