Tiles Experts offers shower tile installation across Ottawa and the nearby communities.
Waterproofed from the drain up, with shower pans, niches, and curbs built to take a glass enclosure.
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Our Process
How we build a waterproofed shower
1
Assess and quote
We look at your existing shower or rough-in and provide a written quote covering pan type, membrane, and tile.
2
Frame the pan and curb
A pre-formed or mud-set shower pan is set and sloped to the drain, and the curb is built to the height a glass enclosure will need.
3
Install the waterproofing membrane
Backer board goes up first, then a membrane system is applied over walls, the pan, the curb, and every seam and corner.
4
Set tile and niches
Tile is set to the layout we confirmed with you, with any niche or shelf tiled as a fully sealed unit within the membrane.
Waterproofing basics
Waterproofing membrane systems built for a shower
Tile and grout are not themselves waterproof, they’re both somewhat porous, which is why a shower relies on a membrane system behind and beneath the tile to actually stop water. That membrane goes over cementitious backer board on the walls, over the shower pan, and up and over the curb, with every seam, corner, and penetration sealed as part of the same continuous barrier. Get this layer wrong and water finds its way behind the tile long before any visible sign shows up on the surface.
Shower pans: pre-formed vs. mud-set
We'll walk you through which one fits your space during the quote.
Pre-formed pans
Manufactured with the drain slope already built in. Faster to install and gives a consistent slope in a standard size or shape.
Mud-set (hot mop) pans
Built on site from mortar and hand-sloped to the drain. The right call for a custom footprint, an oversized shower, or a curbless walk-in design where a manufactured pan won't fit.
Glass-ready prep
Niches and curb prep for glass
A recessed niche for shampoo and soap is a break in an otherwise continuous waterproofed wall, so it gets framed and membraned as its own sealed unit, corners and sill included, before tile goes on. The curb, the raised threshold at the shower entry, needs similar care, especially when a frameless or semi-frameless glass enclosure will mount to it later; the curb height and the flatness of the tiled surface both affect how well the glass hardware seats.
Materials for a shower environment
Porcelain tile
The common choice for shower walls and floors due to low water absorption.
Sealed or epoxy grout
Typically sealed cementitious grout or epoxy grout for better resistance to constant moisture.
Movement joints
Placed where tile meets the pan, the curb, or a different material, giving the assembly room to move slightly as temperature and humidity shift without cracking the grout line.
How Much Does Shower Tile Installation Cost in Ottawa?
Shower pricing depends on pan type, membrane system, and tile size, so the numbers below are a planning range until we've assessed your space in person.
Tub-to-shower conversion
$15 – $30 per sq ft installed
Includes pan, membrane, and wall tile
Curb and niche tiling included
Exact cost depends on shower footprint
Tiles Experts provides professional shower tile installation throughout Ottawa, Ontario. A shower is the single most water-exposed surface in most homes, which makes it the tile job where waterproofing matters more than anything else on the wall. Homeowners come to us for a full shower rebuild after old tile has failed, a new shower in a renovated bathroom, or a rough-in from a builder that still needs pan, membrane, and finish tile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a pre-formed and a mud-set shower pan?
A pre-formed pan is a manufactured base that's sloped to the drain at the factory, which speeds up install and gives a consistent slope. A mud-set (or hot mop) pan is built on site from mortar sloped by hand to the drain, which allows a fully custom size and shape, including curbless designs. We'll recommend one based on your shower's footprint and drain location.
How does waterproofing actually protect my shower?
A membrane system is applied over the backer board, pan, and curb before tile goes on, and it's what actually stops water, not the tile or grout itself. Tile and grout are both somewhat porous, so without a continuous membrane behind them, water can migrate into the wall or subfloor over years of daily use.
Can you build a niche into my shower wall for shampoo and soap?
Yes. A niche needs to be framed and waterproofed as its own sealed unit before tile goes on, since it's a break in an otherwise continuous membrane wall. We build the niche into the waterproofing plan from the start rather than adding it as an afterthought.
Do you prep the curb for a frameless glass shower door?
Yes. A frameless or semi-frameless glass enclosure needs a curb built to a specific height and a flat, plumb tiled surface for the glass hardware to mount to. We coordinate the curb height and finished tile surface with your glass installer's requirements before we start.
How long before I can use a newly tiled shower?
Grout and sealant both need time to cure fully before regular water exposure. We'll give you a specific timeline for your shower based on the products used, but it's typically at least a couple of days before the shower should see normal use.
Ready to rebuild or install your shower?
Get a free written quote for waterproofed shower tile installation anywhere in Ottawa.
