Shower rebuilds
Shower remodeling in Miami, from the membrane out
Most failing showers we open look fine from the front. The damage is in the pan and the wall behind the tile. A shower remodel replaces the whole assembly so the new tile sits on something that actually keeps water out.
- Full tear-out to studs or block
- Bonded waterproof membrane
- Flood-tested before tile
Signs your shower needs more than new grout
- Grout that cracks or darkens along the same lines no matter how often it's cleaned
- Tiles that sound hollow or move when pressed
- Soft or bulging drywall on the other side of the shower wall
- Stains or peeling paint on the ceiling below (common in two-storey houses and condos)
- A musty smell that returns right after cleaning
- Water pooling instead of running to the drain
What is usually behind it
Many South Florida showers from the 1970s through the early 2000s were built with a mortar bed over a liner, or with tile glued straight to greenboard. Both depend on everything staying perfect. When the liner is pierced or the weep holes clog, water sits under the tile and wicks into the walls.
With humidity that rarely drops, that water doesn't dry out between showers. That is why mold and loose tile show up so often here, and why we would rather rebuild the assembly than patch the surface. More on this in bathroom waterproofing in South Florida.
The shower we build instead
Every layer has a job. If one is skipped, the tile is decorative rather than protective.
| Layer | What it does |
|---|---|
| Backer board | Cement or foam board that won't swell or feed mold when damp. |
| Bonded membrane | Sheet or liquid-applied waterproofing over walls, floor, curb and niches, lapped into the drain. |
| Sloped floor | A consistent fall to the drain so water never stands in corners. |
| Flood test | Proof the pan holds water before it gets covered. |
| Tile and grout | The finish, set in thinset rated for wet areas. |
| Movement joints | Flexible sealant in corners and changes of plane, where grout would crack. |
Choices that change the look
- Recessed niche sized to your bottles, lined with the same membrane
- Built-in bench or floating corner seat
- Handheld on a slide bar in addition to the fixed head
- Linear drain for a single-direction floor slope
- Fixed glass panel, hinged door or sliding frameless system
Want to lose the curb altogether? That becomes a walk-in shower project, with different floor work. Replacing a tub with a shower is covered under tub-to-shower conversion.
How a shower remodel runs
- Assessment
We check the walls around the shower, the ceiling below if there is one, and the valve. If we suspect hidden damage we'll say so before quoting.
- Tear-out
Tile, board and pan removed. Any rotted framing or corroded supply lines are shown to you before they are replaced.
- Valve and drain
New pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve if needed, drain body set to suit the membrane system.
- Waterproofing and flood test
The step that matters most. Nothing is tiled until the pan has held water.
- Tile, trim and glass
Tile installed, joints sealed, then glass measured and fitted.
What drives the cost of a shower rebuild
The size of the shower matters less than you might think. The bigger drivers are the condition of what comes out, whether the valve and drain move, how complex the tile layout is (a mosaic floor with a niche and bench has far more labour than a plain wall of large tiles), and the glass. We price each of these separately so you can see the trade-offs.
For the wider picture, see what goes into a remodel quote.
Questions we hear about this
Can you just regrout or reseal my shower?
If the tile is solid and there is no water getting behind it, regrouting can buy time. If tiles sound hollow when tapped, grout keeps cracking in the same place, or the wall feels soft near the valve, water is already behind the surface and new grout will not fix it.
Can you remodel only the shower and leave the rest of the bathroom?
Yes, as long as the new shower's edges can be finished cleanly against the existing floor and walls. If the floor tile runs under the old curb, we check whether matching or transitioning it looks right before recommending a shower-only project.
What's a flood test?
After the membrane is installed and the drain is sealed, the shower floor is plugged and filled with water and left standing, typically for a day, to confirm it holds before any tile goes down.
Related shower work
Related guides
Is your shower leaking, or just tired?
Send us a few details and photos if you have them. We'll arrange a visit and tell you honestly whether it needs a rebuild.
(305) 712-5953 Total Bathroom Remodeling Miami10800 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33161
Open daily, 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM