Tile is the finish; waterproofing is the system
When a tiled shower fails, it is rarely the tile itself. It is water getting past the grout into a wall or floor that was never properly protected. That is why our tile work starts with the layer underneath. Bathroom Brigade uses Schluter Systems waterproofing, including Kerdi-Board and Kerdi-Shower kits, so the wet area is sealed before any tile goes up.
If you are in an Ashburn home and the original shower has soft spots in the grout, loose tiles or staining on the ceiling below, those are signs worth having looked at before choosing new tile.
What our tile and flooring work includes
- Shower surround, floor and backsplash tile
- Waterproofing in wet areas
- Material selection sized for daily bathroom use
- Removal of existing tile and flooring
Tile we have installed in Ashburn
The two Ashburn projects on this site show how much tile layout changes a room. One uses a herringbone pattern in the walk-in shower and marble tile around the soaking tub. The other runs marble tile vertically in the tub and shower surround, which draws the eye up, with a built-in niche set into the wall.
Choosing tile for each part of the room
Shower walls
Walls see water but no foot traffic, so you have the widest choice of size and finish. Large formats mean fewer grout lines to clean; small formats and patterns like herringbone add detail but take more labor.
Shower floor
The shower floor must slope to the drain and should not be slippery when wet. Smaller tiles conform to the slope more easily and give more grout lines for grip.
Bathroom floor
The main floor needs to handle wet feet and cleaning products. Bathroom Brigade installs Daltile, including porcelain and ceramic lines. If you want a warm floor, Schluter's Ditra-Heat system puts heating under the tile, which needs a circuit planned with the electrical work.
Questions to ask bathroom contractors in Ashburn about tile
- What waterproofing goes behind the shower walls and under the shower floor?
- How are niches, benches, corners and the drain sealed?
- Is removal of the old tile and repair of what is underneath included?
- How are exposed tile edges and transitions to other floors finished?
- Who supplies the tile, and how much extra is ordered for cuts and future repairs?
Keep a few spare tiles after the job. If a tile is ever cracked by a dropped bottle, having a matching piece from the same batch makes the repair invisible.
Typical cost
| Tier | Typical Scope | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tile & Flooring | Shower surrounds, floors, and backsplashes installed to hold up to daily use. | $3,000–$9,000 |
Typical Northern Virginia reference ranges from Bathroom Brigade's published cost guide. They are a starting point for planning, not a quote. Your written scope sets the actual price for your Ashburn bathroom.
Tile cost grows with area, pattern complexity and the material tier. A full-height shower surround in a small mosaic costs more to install than a large-format tile run halfway up the wall. Our tile guide covers how to compare options.
Does bathroom tile need waterproofing behind it?▸
In wet areas, yes. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own. We install a waterproofing system such as Schluter Kerdi behind and under the tile in showers and tub surrounds.
Can I put heated floors in my Ashburn bathroom?▸
Often. Schluter Ditra-Heat is one of the systems we use. It needs a dedicated electrical plan, so decide on it during design rather than after the floor is down.
Can new tile go over the old tile?▸
Our tile service includes removing the existing tile and flooring. Removing it lets us see the condition of the subfloor and walls and install the waterproofing properly.
What tile brands do you use?▸
Bathroom Brigade installs Daltile, including porcelain and ceramic, with Schluter waterproofing. See our materials page for the full list of brands we use.