Residential tile installation
Residential floors, entries, kitchens and measured layouts.
Residential tile installation
What goes behind shower tile
Tile and grout are not waterproof. Behind them, a shower needs a backer board and a waterproofing membrane that work with each other and with the setting materials. A tiled shower floor also needs a slope to the drain. When an old shower is opened up, we check the framing and backing for water damage before anything new goes on.
Niches, benches and fixtures
Decide on a niche or a bench before the walls are prepped, since both are built into the waterproofed wall. Valve and showerhead positions shape the layout as well. Where the walls allow it, cuts are planned so full tiles land in the spots you see first.
Cracked or loose tile
A cracked tile is usually a symptom. Movement in the floor, a hollow spot under the tile or water getting behind it can all cause one, and swapping the tile without finding the cause tends to bring the crack back. Send a photo and tell us when you first noticed it.
The bathroom floor
New floor tile raises the floor around the toilet. The flange may need an extension ring so the toilet still seals, and the bathroom door may need trimming to clear the new height. Both get checked before tile goes down.
Bathroom and shower projects
Three bathrooms and a mosaic floor from our project index.
| Photo | Project | Room | Tile and pattern | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White bathroom with gray floor tiles and a narrow window | Bathroom | Gray rectangular floor tiles | Chicago area |
 | Gray tile bathroom with freestanding tub | Bathroom | gray square floor and wall tile with a dark vertically striped tiled partition | Chicago area |
 | White marble-look shower with tiled bench | Shower | white-and-gray veined wall tile and a small square mosaic shower floor | Chicago area |
 | Marble-look floor with black-and-white hex mosaic inset | Interior room | White-and-gray veined floor tile surrounding a black-and-white hex mosaic runner with geometric border | Chicago area |
What we install
Commercial tile installation
Tile surfaces planned around durable, usable rooms.
Commercial tile installationBathroom and shower tile
Walls, floors, shower surfaces, niches and benches.
Bathroom and shower tileTile removal and floor prep
Demolition, substrate checks, leveling and a clean starting plane.
Tile removal and floor prepWhat clients say
Darien bathroom tile questions
Why does a shower need waterproofing behind the tile?
Water gets through grout joints and gaps at the edges. The membrane behind the tile keeps it out of the wall and floor framing.
Can you match my existing bathroom tile?
Only if the same product or spare pieces can be found. Older tile is often discontinued, so check for leftover boxes before planning a partial replacement.
What should I send for a bathroom quote?
Photos of each wall and the floor, rough measurements, the fixtures that are staying, and any signs of past leaks such as stains on the ceiling below.
Tell us about the room
Tell us about the shower or bathroom floor and anything you have noticed.
(872) 217-9211[email protected]