What drives the price
A shower is a waterproof box wearing tile. Tear-out to studs, a proper pan with pre-slope, membrane or foam-board waterproofing, then setting, grouting and sealing - each with cure time. The tile you picked is often under a fifth of the total; the labour and the system behind the wall are the rest.
- Full tear-out vs tile-over (rarely wise on a wet wall)
- Pan rebuild and drain relocation
- Tile format - large-format and mosaics both set slower than subway
- Niches, benches and glass, each a real line item
- Rot discovered behind the old walls
Should you DIY this or call a professional?
This is the remodel where DIY failure costs most: a botched paint job is cosmetic, a botched shower pan is a rotted subfloor discovered two years later. Unless you have set tile before AND flood-tested a pan, hire it. What you can DIY safely is demolition to studs - many tile setters will price the job with owner-demo and knock hundreds off.
Signs you need this repair
- Cracked, hollow-sounding or loose tiles
- Grout lines that re-stain within weeks of cleaning - water is behind them
- Flexing walls when pressed
- Musty smell or stains on the ceiling below
- A pan that never fully dries
How to not get overcharged
Ask what waterproofing system the quote uses by name - foam board, liquid membrane, or 'we use good cement board' (which is not waterproofing and is your cue to keep shopping). Insist the flood test is in the schedule. Offering to do demolition and to buy the tile yourself trims real money without touching the part that must be perfect.
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Red flags to watch for
- No named waterproofing system
- Tiling over existing tile in a shower
- No flood test before tile goes on
- A one-day timeline - cure times make that physically dishonest
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to retile a shower?+
Retiling a shower typically runs $3,500-$8,500, averaging near $5,500 including tear-out and waterproofing. Tile is the visible fraction; the waterproofing behind it is the actual product.
Can I retile a shower myself, or should I hire a professional?+
This is the remodel where DIY failure costs most: a botched paint job is cosmetic, a botched shower pan is a rotted subfloor discovered two years later. Unless you have set tile before AND flood-tested a pan, hire it. What you can DIY safely is demolition to studs - many tile setters will price the job with owner-demo and knock hundreds off.
How long does it take to retile a shower?+
4-7 Working Days Including Cure Times. Scheduling and parts availability can extend the overall timeline beyond the hands-on work itself.
What makes the price of this job go up or down?+
Full tear-out vs tile-over (rarely wise on a wet wall). Pan rebuild and drain relocation. Tile format - large-format and mosaics both set slower than subway. Niches, benches and glass, each a real line item. Rot discovered behind the old walls.
How do I avoid being overcharged?+
Ask what waterproofing system the quote uses by name - foam board, liquid membrane, or 'we use good cement board' (which is not waterproofing and is your cue to keep shopping). Insist the flood test is in the schedule. Offering to do demolition and to buy the tile yourself trims real money without touching the part that must be perfect.