A shower is the hardest-working and most leak-prone part of a bathroom, and it is usually the largest line in a remodel. What you see is tile and glass. What matters is underneath: the slope of the pan, the waterproof membrane and how the drain is tied into it. A shower that looks beautiful and leaks into the wall is a common and expensive failure, so how a contractor waterproofs is the first thing to ask.

  • Old shower demolished to the studs and slab
  • Pan sloped to the drain and waterproofed with a tested membrane system
  • Walls in tile, solid surface or acrylic panels
  • New pressure-balanced or thermostatic valve
  • Glass enclosure, niche, bench and grab-bar blocking as specified

Tiled shower or manufactured system?

A site-built tiled shower can be any size and shape and offers the widest design choice. It also depends heavily on the installer's skill, takes longer and has grout to maintain. Manufactured systems — an acrylic or solid-surface base with matching wall panels — go in faster, have few seams and are easy to clean, at the cost of fewer sizes and a less custom look. A common middle path is a manufactured base with tiled walls, which removes the most leak-prone part of a tiled shower.

Questions to ask about waterproofing

Tile and grout are not waterproof; the layer behind them is. Ask what membrane system the contractor uses on the pan and the walls, whether the pan will be flood-tested for 24 hours before tile goes on, and what backer board is used. Ordinary drywall, including the green moisture-resistant kind, does not belong inside a shower.

What drives the price

Size, the amount and type of tile, the glass and whether the drain moves. HomeAdvisor's fixture ranges for showers run from a few hundred dollars for a basic prefabricated stall to $15,000 for a large custom installation. Frameless glass, a linear drain, a bench and multiple shower heads each add materially. In a slab home, keeping the drain in its existing position avoids cutting concrete.

Common shower remodeling situations in Lakeland

  • Loose or cracked tile and crumbling grout
  • Water stains on the ceiling or wall on the other side of the shower
  • A musty smell that cleaning does not remove
  • A small, dark stall with a high curb
  • A valve that will not hold temperature or mixes hot and cold unpredictably

Shower Remodeling FAQs

How long does a shower remodel take?

A manufactured shower system can be installed in two to four days. A custom tiled shower usually takes one to two weeks, because the pan, the waterproofing, the tile and the grout each need time to set or cure, and glass is measured only after the tile is finished.

What tile holds up best in a shower?

Porcelain is the usual recommendation: it absorbs almost no water and resists staining. Larger tiles mean fewer grout lines to clean. On the floor, smaller tiles or a textured finish give better grip. Natural stone needs sealing and more upkeep.

This content is reviewed by the Lakeland Bathroom Remodeling editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Bathroom Remodeling. Read our editorial standards.