What to know before you start
Tile is hard to fix once it's set. A shower that leaks behind the tile or a floor that cracks in a line usually failed in a layer nobody sees: the waterproofing, the backer board, the mortar under each piece or the floor under it all.
DougCO Builds names those layers in the scope. Our estimator measures every surface, checks the floor for flex and level, and writes down the waterproofing method, the layout and the trim pieces. Every setter bids on that same plan, hidden layers included.
What the job includes
- Demolition of old tile, backer board and mortar, with debris hauled away
- Floor and wall prep, including leveling and backer board or an uncoupling membrane
- Waterproofing for showers, tub surrounds and wet floors
- A layout planned before setting, so cuts and patterns land where you want them
- Setting tile or stone with the mortar the material calls for
- Grout, plus sealing for stone and grout where it needs it
- Edge trim, niches and benches as written in the scope
- Caulked movement joints at corners, changes of plane and the tub or shower pan
What we scope
Showers and tub surrounds
Tiled walls, niches, benches and curbed or curbless shower floors.
Floors
Kitchen, bath, entry and laundry floors in porcelain, ceramic or natural stone.
Backsplashes
Kitchen and bar backsplashes, from simple subway tile to mosaics and full-height stone.
Fireplaces
Surrounds and hearths in tile or stone around gas and wood-burning fireplaces.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Tile size and material
- Large tiles and natural stone need flatter surfaces and more careful setting. Small mosaics take time to set and grout.
- Layout and pattern
- Herringbone, diagonal and other patterns mean more cuts and more waste than a straight lay.
- Demolition
- Tearing out old tile set in a thick mortar bed takes far more labor than pulling up vinyl.
- Waterproofing and prep
- Showers need a full waterproofing system, and uneven floors need leveling before tile goes down.
- Shower details
- Niches, benches, curbless entries and linear drains add labor and work with the plumber.
- Edges and trim
- Bullnose, metal edge profiles and mitered corners take more time than a plain edge.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Replacing tile on its own usually doesn't need a building permit. The permit comes in with the work around it. Moving a shower drain, changing a valve, adding a circuit for a heated floor or rebuilding a wall typically needs one from your town in Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines or Larkspur, or from Douglas County's Building Division in unincorporated areas like Highlands Ranch.
In older homes, check what is under the tile. Some older floor tiles, sheet vinyl and the adhesives under them may contain asbestos. Testing may be required before demolition, and Colorado has rules for how that material is handled. We note it in the scope before tear-out starts.
Built for Douglas County
Dry Colorado air speeds up drying. Thinset can skin over and grout can dry too fast in a warm, dry house, so good setters mix smaller batches and follow the maker's curing directions. Ask how a crew handles it.
Floors that move are the other risk. Some Douglas County homes sit on expansive soils, and a basement slab that shifts can crack tile laid straight on it. An uncoupling membrane and well-placed movement joints help tile ride out small shifts. Our estimator checks the slab and subfloor before you pick a tile.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What waterproofing system will you use in the shower, and will you test it before tile goes on?
- How will you prep the floor, and is an uncoupling membrane included?
- Can we agree on the layout, including where the cuts land, before you start setting?
- Which grout will you use, and does it or the stone need sealing?
- What does your warranty cover if a tile cracks or the shower leaks?
Tile and Stone questions
Do I need a permit to retile a bathroom in Douglas County?
Not for tile alone. If the plumbing moves, a valve changes, a wall comes out or a heated floor goes in, a permit usually applies. Your contractor pulls it from your town or the county.
Porcelain, ceramic or natural stone?
Porcelain is dense and holds up well on floors and in showers. Ceramic is a good fit for walls and backsplashes. Natural stone is one of a kind but needs sealing and gentler cleaners. Our estimator can price more than one option in the scope.
Why did my tile floor crack?
Common causes are a subfloor that flexes, a slab that moves, gaps in the mortar under the tile or missing movement joints. Replacing cracked tile without fixing the cause usually means more cracks.
Can I have a curbless shower?
Often, but it depends on the floor framing or slab. The shower floor has to sit lower than the rest of the bathroom so water drains the right way. Our estimator checks this before it goes into the scope.
