7 Things Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wishes You Knew Before Installation

Your walk-in shower contractor has seen it all—successful installations, costly failures, and everything in between. After helping homeowners throughout Western New York create beautiful bathrooms since 2015, we at TBrothers Renovations have learned that informed clients make better decisions and have better experiences.

Here are seven insider insights that every walk-in shower contractor wishes homeowners knew before starting their project. This knowledge will save you money, prevent mistakes, and ensure your satisfaction with results that last decades.

1. Waterproofing Is Everything (And Most Contractors Get It Wrong)

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

The number one cause of shower failure isn’t cracked tile or poor design—it’s improper waterproofing. Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize: tile is NOT waterproof. Tile is decorative. Water WILL eventually get behind your tile through grout lines and tiny cracks. If there’s no proper waterproofing system behind that tile, mold WILL grow, and fixing waterproofing failures costs $10,000-$25,000 or more.

The Truth About Waterproofing Methods:

• Outdated and Risky: Installing tile directly on drywall or “water-resistant” drywall (this is guaranteed failure)
• Inadequate: Paint-on waterproofing membranes that often have incomplete coverage
• Modern Gold Standard: WEDI or equivalent panel systems that provide 100% waterproofing

TBrothers Renovations is WEDI Certified, using an advanced waterproofing system with panels, adhesives, and integrated components that waterproof your bathroom completely. This system has been proven effective in Europe for decades and prevents the mold growth that occurs when water penetrates behind surfaces.

What This Means for You:

Ask specifically about the waterproofing system before hiring any walk-in shower contractor. Don’t accept vague answers like “we use waterproof materials.” WEDI certification or equivalent should be non-negotiable. This is where you absolutely cannot cut corners to save money—proper waterproofing protects your entire investment.

2. The Lowest Bid Almost Always Costs More in the End

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

If one contractor’s bid is significantly lower than others, they’re cutting corners somewhere. We’ve seen countless “cheap” showers that need complete redoing within 2-5 years. The brutal truth? Redoing a failed shower costs MORE than doing it right initially.

Where Low-Bid Contractors Cut Corners:

• Skip proper waterproofing systems
• Don’t use proper underlayment like STRATA_MAT™
• Rush tile work resulting in poor layout and uneven grout lines
• Skip metal protective plates for pipes and wiring
• Don’t ensure proper slope for drainage
• Use inexperienced installers

What This Means for You:

Get 3-5 quotes and be suspicious of outliers on either end. Ask specifically what’s included in the price and what materials will be used. Remember that your shower gets used daily for 15-20+ years—investing in quality installation protects that entire timeline.

Some kitchen and bathroom remodel contractors start a job, do it halfway, and leave problems behind. Not TBrothers. We are high-quality home remodeling contractors in Buffalo NY that do the process right the first time.

3. Your Tile Choice Affects More Than Just Appearance

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

Some beautiful tiles are terrible for showers. Your walk-in shower contractor knows that tile size affects installation complexity, porous tiles require constant maintenance, some tiles show every water spot, and texture dramatically affects both slip resistance and cleaning difficulty.

Tile Selection Considerations:

• Large Format Tiles: Fewer grout lines mean easier cleaning, but require perfectly level surfaces
• Small Tiles/Mosaics: More grout lines to clean, but better slip resistance and forgiving of minor substrate variations
• Polished Tiles: Beautiful but dangerously slippery when wet
• Textured/Matte Tiles: Better slip resistance and hide water spots
• Natural Stone: Requires regular sealing and more maintenance
• Porcelain: Low maintenance and highly durable

Important Note About Shower Floors:

While tile is a popular choice for shower floors, you don’t need a tile floor in your walk-in shower. Many homeowners choose acrylic or fiberglass shower bases (also called shower pans) which offer several advantages: no grout lines to clean, slip-resistant texture, easier maintenance, and often lower cost. These can be combined with beautiful tile walls for the best of both worlds—stunning aesthetics where you see them most, and easy cleaning where you need it most.

What This Means for You:

Discuss practical implications with your walk-in shower contractor, not just aesthetics. Consider maintenance requirements honestly—if you hate scrubbing grout, penny tile or small mosaics on the floor will frustrate you weekly. Balance beauty with safety, especially slip resistance. A good contractor guides you toward practical beauty that you’ll love living with daily, not just admiring in a photo.

4. Proper Slope and Drainage Are Non-Negotiable (But Often Done Wrong)

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

Standing water equals mold growth, soap scum buildup, and premature failure. The minimum slope is 1/4 inch per foot to the drain—that’s code requirement, not a suggestion. Yet many contractors eyeball it rather than measuring precisely. Linear drains require different slope considerations, and curbless showers are even more critical for proper slope.

Common Drainage Mistakes:

• Insufficient slope leaving pools of standing water
• Inconsistent slope creating low spots that collect water
• Drain placed in wrong location for the layout
• Not accounting for tile thickness in slope calculations
• Improper pitch in curbless designs allowing water to escape the bathroom

What This Means for You:

Ask how your walk-in shower contractor ensures proper slope. At TBrothers Renovations, we double-check that we are level and square before installation and verify proper pitch throughout the process. This isn’t something you can fix after tile installation—it’s worth paying for expertise that gets it right the first time.

We also use STRATA_MAT™ under tile and stone installations. This membrane prevents cracking if the house settles or experiences shifting movement, acting as a bridge between surfaces. STRATA_MAT™ is lightweight, allows next-day grouting through mortar hydration vents, and installs quickly with standard tools.

5. Quality Work Takes Time (And That’s a Good Thing)

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

A properly installed walk-in shower can’t be rushed. Each phase needs adequate time to cure and set correctly. Contractors who promise unrealistic timelines often cut corners. The best results come from patience and proper sequencing.

Why Quality Installation Requires Time:

• Waterproofing systems need proper curing time (24-48 hours)
• Tile mortar must cure before grouting (typically 24-48 hours)
• Grout needs to cure before sealing (48-72 hours)
• Final caulking requires cure time before use (24-48 hours)
• Glass fabrication is custom-made to exact measurements (1-2 weeks)
• Proper attention to detail simply takes time

What This Means for You:

Plan for 2-3 weeks from start to finish, with your bathroom typically unusable for 7-10 days. Walk-in shower contractors who promise 3-4 day completion are cutting corners somewhere. Ask about the timeline and what’s happening each day. Trust the process—proper curing prevents future problems.

Planning Makes It Easy:

Arrange backup bathroom access through a guest bathroom, gym membership, or neighbor’s kindness. Clear the bathroom completely before the start date. Know the timeline so you can plan around it. A good contractor communicates progress daily so you’re never wondering what’s happening.

The Good News:

While you’ll need to plan around construction, the disruption is temporary and manageable. TBrothers uses comprehensive dust control with ZipWall barriers and HEPA filtration to minimize impact on the rest of your home. We communicate throughout so you always know what’s happening and when you’ll have your beautiful new shower. The temporary inconvenience delivers decades of daily enjoyment.

6. Custom Features Add Complexity (But Are Worth Doing Right)

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

Built-in benches and niches are wonderful features—BUT they require proper waterproofing and construction. Poorly built features leak and cause major problems. Multiple shower heads need proper water pressure evaluation and balancing. Curbless showers require careful planning for water containment. Glass doors are custom-fabricated to exact measurements and can’t be rushed.

Custom Features Done Right:

• Niches: Must be waterproofed completely, sloped to drain water, and sealed properly
• Benches: Require waterproofing underneath and proper slope on the seating surface
• Multiple Heads: Need pressure evaluation and possibly plumbing upgrades
• Curbless Entry: Requires proper floor pitch and sometimes structural floor modifications
• Linear Drains: Need specific slope configuration different from center drains

What This Means for You:

Custom features cost more for good reason—they add complexity and require meticulous waterproofing. Don’t skip waterproofing on built-in features to save money. Plan these features upfront because adding them later is expensive. Work with a walk-in shower contractor who has proven experience with the custom features you want.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, properly executed custom shower features significantly enhance both functionality and home value.

7. Maintenance Starts the Day Your Shower Is Complete

What Your Walk-In Shower Contractor Wants You to Know:

Even perfect installations need maintenance. How you care for your shower affects how long it lasts. Small maintenance prevents big problems. Some damage is homeowner-caused rather than installation defects, and understanding proper care protects your investment.

Critical Maintenance Your Contractor Wishes You’d Do:

• Squeegee after each use (prevents water spots and reduces mildew)
• Regular cleaning with appropriate products (avoid harsh acids on natural stone)
• Reseal grout annually or bi-annually
• Check and replace caulk as needed, especially at corners and floor transitions
• Ensure proper ventilation by running the exhaust fan during and after showers
• Address small issues immediately—cracked grout, loose tiles, or caulk gaps

Whenever we remodel bathrooms, we ensure there is proper ventilation with exhaust fans vented to the outside—not recirculating into the bathroom or venting into the attic. Many older bathrooms lack adequate ventilation, making this upgrade important for both air quality and moisture control.

What This Means for You:

Budget 2-3 hours annually for maintenance. Use products appropriate for your specific materials. Don’t ignore small problems. A well-maintained walk-in shower lasts 20+ years, while poor maintenance can destroy a perfect installation within 5 years.

Bonus: Questions You Should Ask (That Most People Don’t)

Questions That Impress Walk-In Shower Contractors:

• “Are you WEDI certified, or what waterproofing system do you use?”
• “What underlayment do you install under the tile?”
• “How do you ensure proper slope to the drain?”
• “Can you show me photos of your waterproofing before tile installation?”
• “What’s your warranty on waterproofing specifically?”
• “How do you handle surprises found during demolition?”
• “What dust control measures do you use?”
• “Can I see examples of similar features you’ve built?”

Why These Questions Matter:

These questions show you’ve done research, help separate qualified contractors from pretenders, get specific answers about critical elements, and reveal the contractor’s transparency and communication style. According to the Better Business Bureau, asking detailed questions and verifying answers prevents costly contractor mistakes.

Why TBrothers Wants to Share This Information

At TBrothers Renovations, we believe informed clients make better decisions and have better experiences. We’ve been completing bathroom renovations throughout Western New York since 2015, and transparency builds trust.

Our Approach:

• WEDI Certified Waterproofing: 100% moisture protection using advanced panel systems
• STRATA_MAT™ Underlayment: Prevents tile failure from house settling
• Level and Square Verification: Ensures proper slope every time
• Metal Protective Plates: Future-proofing your investment
• Comprehensive Dust Control: ZipWall barriers and HEPA filtration
• Clear Communication: You’ll always know what’s happening

We use metal leveling systems on all installations, not wooden shims that decay or compress over time. We use metal plates to protect pipes and electrical wires so future work won’t damage critical systems.

The building processes we have in place are so important for a quality end result. We don’t settle for less. At TBrothers Renovations, we make sure that our clients are on the right page with us, with our work, and with the bathroom makeover they’ve always wanted. Put simply—we truly believe TBrothers are the best bathroom remodeling contractors in Buffalo, and we’re proud of that reputation.

Making Your Walk-In Shower Decision

Now that you know what your walk-in shower contractor wishes you knew, you’re prepared to ask the right questions, evaluate contractors properly, understand what quality really means, avoid expensive mistakes, and make informed decisions about your investment.

Your walk-in shower is a significant investment that you’ll use every single day. Understanding what contractors know—about waterproofing, installation quality, material selection, proper timelines, and maintenance—empowers you to make decisions that ensure beautiful, lasting results.

Ready to Discuss Your Walk-In Shower Project?

Contact TBrothers Renovations today for a consultation where we’ll discuss your specific goals and concerns and provide transparent pricing with no hidden costs. We’ll answer every question honestly because we believe informed clients make the best partners.

Visit our bathroom remodeling services page to see examples of our work, and schedule your consultation today.

We proudly serve Buffalo, Clarence, Williamsville, Lancaster, Tonawanda, Cheektowaga, West Seneca, Lockport, and all of Western New York.

Transform your bathroom with a walk-in shower contractor who does it right the first time.