Custom Tile Shower Installation in Fort Wayne, IN

How much does a custom tile shower cost in Fort Wayne?

Most custom tile showers in the Fort Wayne area cost $9,000 to $20,000. The main cost drivers are:

• Size. A standard 60-by-32-inch alcove takes far less tile and labor than a large walk-in shower.
• Tile. Basic ceramic subway tile is inexpensive. Large-format porcelain, natural stone and handmade-look tile cost more, and some take longer to install.
• Layout. Herringbone, vertical stacking, mitered corners and mosaic floors take more time than a simple running-bond pattern.
• Features. Recessed niches, a built-in bench, a linear drain, a curbless entry or a steam-ready build each add cost.
• Glass. A frameless glass panel or door is often a meaningful part of the total.

If you're torn between tile and a panel system, see acrylic vs. tile showers. Full numbers are in our bathroom remodel cost guide.

Why waterproofing matters more than the tile

Tile and grout are not waterproof. Water passes through grout lines, so a tile shower depends entirely on what's behind it. Many old Fort Wayne showers were built with green drywall or a tar-paper liner behind the tile, and that's why they fail.

We build showers on a proper waterproofing system:

• Cement board or foam board walls with a sheet or liquid-applied waterproofing membrane, sealed at every seam, corner and screw.
• A sloped shower pan so water runs to the drain instead of sitting under the tile.
• A flood test of the pan before tile goes on, so a leak shows up while it's still easy to fix.
• Sealed niches and benches, waterproofed like the walls so the corners don't leak.

It's the least visible part of the job and the most important.

Which tile is best for a shower?

• Porcelain is dense, absorbs very little water and comes in stone, wood and concrete looks. It's our usual recommendation for shower walls and floors.
• Ceramic is less expensive and easy to cut, and works well for wall tile like classic subway tile.
• Natural stone like marble looks beautiful but needs sealing and gentler cleaners.
• Mosaic floor tile such as small hex or penny tile has more grout lines, which grip better underfoot.
• Large-format tile means fewer grout lines and a cleaner look, but it needs very flat walls.

Fort Wayne's water can be on the hard side, especially on private wells, so we often suggest a stain-resistant or epoxy grout and a lighter-colored grout that hides mineral spots.

How long does it take to build a tile shower?

Plan on one to two weeks of on-site work for most tile showers. A typical schedule looks like this:

1. Demo and rough-in: old shower out, valve and drain updated, blocking added for grab bars.
2. Pan and walls: sloped pan, wall boards and waterproofing, then a flood test.
3. Tile: walls, floor, niches and bench, which takes the most time.
4. Grout and cure: grout, then time to cure before sealing.
5. Glass and trim: frameless glass is usually measured after tile and installed a week or two later.

More detail in how long a bathroom remodel takes.

Tile showers in older and newer Fort Wayne homes

In older homes in the '07 District, South Wayne and West Central, opening a shower often reveals galvanized supply lines, an old two-handle valve or framing that isn't plumb. We replace what's worn and straighten the walls before tiling, because tile shows every bump. In newer Aboite and Perry Township homes, the job usually starts with tearing out a one-piece fiberglass unit and building a larger, custom-sized tile shower in its place. Moving the drain or valve in either case is plumbing work permitted through the Allen County Building Department, and we handle the permit.