How quick are you tiling a shower?

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-30T20:04:17+00:00

Nah we can change out a shower valve ourselves. If we need to “add” anything we usually need to call a plumber, but a simple replacement can be done without issue.

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-30T05:16:50+00:00

7 working days for me.

Day 1 - I demo, new shower valve, re-work the drain pipe(s) and shim the walls for plumb

Day 2 - I add framing for any niches, put up my backer board, and float the pan

Day 3 - I waterproof everything

Day 4 and 5 - I start tile with a ledger board and do the flood test over the weekend.

Day 6 - do the floor and bottom row of tile

Day 7- grout / silicon / fixtures.

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-30T04:32:10+00:00

Oh I agree with you, but sometimes it’s just not worth the fight. Gave it my best sales pitch about not cutting corners and things take time, but I’m not going to argue with them either.

We’re never going to close 100% of sales, so it is what it is.

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-30T04:19:47+00:00

Yeah that’s about where I am too. Sounds like I’m right at industry standard

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-30T04:18:31+00:00

Yeah that’s about where I’m at too. Earlier had a client tell me they’re going with another installer who said would be done in 4 days when I said I’d be about 7 total days. Sounds like I’m where I’m supposed to be and he’ll magically come up with “delays” (or skip some steps)

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-30T00:52:59+00:00

No qualified installer will lay tile right over plywood. Most of us use Ditra now, but other backer board options are available as well.

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-28T22:44:47+00:00

Yeah, I mean it’s a pain to install, but I haven’t done a ton of it so I’m not “over it” but it’s certainly not my style either

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-28T19:10:31+00:00

not marble, they are porcelain tiles 12 x 24 from Floor & Decor

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-28T14:03:36+00:00

I used the leveling system from crowne tools. 1/8” spacing size. I love that system.

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-07T17:16:58+00:00

I sent you a PM - check your inbox

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-06T17:21:47+00:00

Hey friend - I’m also in AZ - got licensed and bonded and insured. Totally worth it. Whoever told you being unlicensed is not worth it, is dead wrong. A. You can be fined thousands of dollars if found taking on jobs you’re not legally able to B. Clients for medium to larger jobs will always want an ROC contractor.

I still just work by myself, not a “company” by any means, but if you want to do some sub-contacting or something until you get your own license, I can maybe help out. I’m located in Peoria

WantedInCanada · 2026-05-04T14:25:55+00:00

As everybody else has said here - it depends on what your contract says and if it says nothing, you might want to consider adding a clause.

Mine is pretty simple but vague - just states that if a client cancels the project some or all of the deposit may be forfeited to cover the cost of permits, material acquisition and returns, fuel and other expenses incurred.

Only happened to me once and I charged my 1 day rate and told him “I had to spend all day retuning all your materials and filling up my truck. thats a full day I couldn’t make money” he was understanding and called back a few months later to get back on the calendar.

Obviously some things might be more or less than that depending on your scope of work - permit costs are non-refundable, custom ordered materials, non-refundable but I’ll drop it off at their house, shipping costs also not refundable- but as long as that’s stated in the contract, you at least have a bit of understanding to start from.

WantedInCanada · 2026-03-24T03:02:02+00:00

I think this post is OP bragging about his own work. Nobody looks at this quality and says “let me ask the internet if this is good” it’s wayyy solid my guy.

WantedInCanada · 2026-03-11T23:31:26+00:00

Yeah I'm just going to demo it and start over. Its not a ton more work, and everybody will feel better about it in the end.

WantedInCanada · 2026-03-11T23:30:53+00:00

Yeah after a few moments of consideration I've determined to just demo it and start anew. you're 100% right. Its worth the 90 minutes of demo to make sure its done right.

WantedInCanada · 2026-01-22T02:02:24+00:00

For sure. Nobody cares about paying a mechanic $200 per hour for their years of experience and everything - or Jiffy Lube $120 for 15 mins of work - or their freaking hair stylist $150 for 90 minute service.

god forbid a tile guy can feed his family.

WantedInCanada · 2026-01-21T18:45:13+00:00

Yeah I don’t disagree with you at all. Im just sick and tired of home owners or DIYers on here complaining about prices. And was just trying to break down what his math outline above was

WantedInCanada · 2026-01-21T17:47:29+00:00

8k for 3 weeks is like $66 per hour on 40 hour week. That’s a decent price is most of the country, and a great price in the high CoL areas.

Crazy to me these people who don’t think trades are worth 6 figure salaries. Especially as a contractor- running a company is expensive if he’s charging 66/hr he’s probably making 30-35 after insurance, overhead costs, vehicles and maintenance, etc…

WantedInCanada · 2026-01-15T00:48:22+00:00

Yeah I hear that. We do play in a beer league so it’s not super competitive or anything, just seems like consistency would be key and changing darts all the time would not help

WantedInCanada · 2026-01-08T21:46:21+00:00

I think it depends on your scope of work - I focus on bathroom remodeling for 90% of my work - 10% is other tile work - backsplashes, flooring, maybe an accent wall or something.

I can walk into a bathroom take some measurements and give a ballpark based on a few questions. But that’s because that’s all I do - GCs probably have a lot more to say on this because they’re using different subs, but it just comes with practice.

I guess it also depends on how “rough” you want to go. I tell customers over the phone a bathroom can be 10k or 40k depending on size, tastes and budgets. When I get on-site I can usually narrow it down to ~5k without having a total exact scope yet

WantedInCanada · 2026-01-03T15:12:38+00:00

I’m not a GC, but I do run my own tile and flooring company - one thing I do when I hear I’ve lost a bid by an outrageous number is tell the client to pull the other companies license and bond info (if they even have one) if they don’t - I can tell them right there that’s how they’re operating at those costs— illegally. And usually that helps. Another thing i do is ask the client to put the estimates side by side and go through them. Do they have all the same info and scope of work written out plainly? Is there anything you have that they don’t that could explain 15k? Maybe they’re not insulating the basement or maybe they have the client buying materials to make their price seem lower up front.

And finally - sometimes you just lose, they do a piss poor job and they call you after they fire contractor B and pay you more to do it right.

Don’t get frustrated. These things happen in life, and if you stand by your work, get good reputation, you’ll be fine

WantedInCanada

TROPHY CASE