Bathroom tile installation in Dallas, set flat, waterproofed and built to last
Good tile is mostly what you never see: a flat, stiff substrate, a membrane in wet areas, the right thinset and a layout planned before the first piece is cut.
Updated October 2026. Service office: 2353 Bryan St, Dallas. Phones answered 24/7.
Tile and setting materials we install in Dallas bathrooms: Daltile, MSI and Marazzi tile, Schluter trims and membranes, Laticrete and Mapei thinsets and grouts.
Bathroom tile installation in Dallas covers shower and tub surrounds, floors and accent walls, set over cement board or a foam board with a waterproofing membrane in every wet area. Porcelain is the usual choice for floors and showers here; tile size, pattern and substrate prep decide how long the job takes more than the square footage does.
Why tile work is decided before the tile arrives
Most tile failures have nothing to do with the tile. Cracks come from a floor that flexes, loose tiles from thinset that never covered the back, and leaks from a wet wall with no membrane.
So the job starts underneath. Floors are checked for flatness and stiffness, walls in wet areas get cement board or foam board plus a Schluter or liquid membrane, and a layout is chalked so cuts land at the edges instead of the middle of the room.
Then the setting. Large-format porcelain needs a medium-bed thinset such as Laticrete or Mapei and back-buttering for full coverage, plus leveling clips so the edges stay flush. Grout is chosen for the joint and sealed where needed.
Choosing bathroom tile material
| Porcelain | Ceramic | Natural stone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water absorption | Very low | Higher | Varies; needs sealing |
| Best for | Floors, showers, walls | Dry walls, backsplashes | Feature floors and walls |
| Slip options | Many textured finishes | Fewer for floors | Honed finishes grip better |
| Upkeep | Low | Low | Periodic sealing |
| Cutting | Harder, needs good tools | Easy | Needs care, can chip |
| Relative cost | Mid | Low | High |
The three tile jobs we do most in Dallas bathrooms
Shower and Tub Surround Tile
A surround is tile over a wall that gets wet every day, so the waterproofing behind it matters more than the tile on it. We strip the old surround to studs, replace any soft board, and install cement board with a membrane or a foam board system lapped over the tub flange or into the pan. Niches are framed and waterproofed at the same time. Tile runs from the tub or pan up to the ceiling or a planned stopping line, finished with a Schluter edge rather than bullnose where that looks cleaner.
Wainscot and Accent Wall Tile
Tile outside the shower is decorative, but it still needs a flat wall. A wainscot to chair-rail height protects the wall behind a toilet or vanity, and a full-height accent wall behind the vanity or tub gives a small room a focal point. We skim or shim drywall that is out of flat, set a level line so the top course is straight even if the floor is not, and finish the top edge with a trim profile or a pencil liner. Outlets and switches are extended so plates sit flush on the tile.
Large-Format Porcelain Installs
Tiles 24 inches and larger give fewer grout lines and a calmer room, and they are much less forgiving. The floor or wall has to be flatter than for small tile, so we check it with a long straightedge and self-level floors that are out. Each tile is back-buttered for full coverage, set with leveling clips to prevent lippage, and joints are kept consistent. Large-format tile is heavy on walls, so walls are checked for strength and set from a ledger so the courses cannot slide.
What decides the price of tile work
Tile is priced by labor more than material. These six items move it.
Tile size
Large-format and mosaic take longer to set than standard 12 by 24.
Pattern
Herringbone, chevron and diagonal layouts add cutting and waste.
Substrate prep
Leveling a floor or replacing soft board adds a step.
Waterproofing
Membrane in wet areas is part of the job, not an extra.
Trim and niches
Schluter edges, niches and a bench add labor.
Material
Natural stone needs sealing and gentler handling than porcelain.
Tile work in older Dallas bathrooms
Retiling is when the wall behind the tile finally gets seen. In older homes in East Dallas and Richardson, that often means plumbing or electrical that needs updating before new tile goes on, which is why we open and check before we price the finish. Dallas housing ranges widely in age, from blocks averaging fifteen years old or newer to streets far older, so we never assume what is behind the old tile until it is off.
How a tile installation runs
- 1
Call and describe the areas
Floor, shower, wall, or all three.
- 2
Walkthrough
Flatness, substrate and the old tile checked.
- 3
Select tile and layout
Tile, grout color and pattern chosen, layout drawn.
- 4
Demo and prep
Old tile out, board replaced, floor leveled.
- 5
Waterproofing
Membrane in wet areas, cured and checked.
- 6
Set and grout
Tile set with full coverage, grouted and sealed.
- 7
Trim and walkthrough
Edges, caulk and plates finished, checked with you.
Setting tile yourself versus having us do it
| Task | Doing it yourself | Having us do it |
|---|---|---|
| Backsplash or dry wall | A reasonable weekend project | Faster, with trims and flush plates |
| Floor prep | Easy to skip leveling | Checked with a straightedge, leveled |
| Shower waterproofing | The step DIY showers most often get wrong | Membrane lapped and cured before tile |
| Large-format tile | Lippage and hollow spots are common | Back-buttered, clipped and level |
| Cuts around drains and niches | Visible mistakes cost a tile each | Planned in the layout first |
Tile questions Dallas homeowners ask
Something else? Call and ask, any hour.
Porcelain for floors and showers; ceramic is fine for dry walls.
We do not; the old tile comes off so the substrate and waterproofing are known.
It needs a flatter surface, full coverage and leveling clips.
Cement grout is sealed; epoxy and some urethane grouts do not need it.
After grout and silicone cure, usually a day or two.
It can be, with sealing and more upkeep than porcelain.
Yes; see tile and grout repair.
More Tile, Floors & Surfaces work we do in Dallas
Bathroom Flooring Replacement
Porcelain Tile Floors and more, in Dallas.
Learn moreTile and Grout Repair
Regrouting a Shower and more, in Dallas.
Learn moreBathroom Countertop Installation
Quartz Vanity Tops and more, in Dallas.
Learn moreFrom our guides
Plan the tile before you buy it
Call and tell us the areas and the tile you are considering. We will check the substrate, suggest a layout and tell you what the prep involves.
2353 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75201