Shower tile, floor tile and niches
Tile is the part of a bathroom you look at, and the waterproofing under it is the part that decides whether the bathroom lasts. Bailey & Bear does both: we rebuild the substrate, waterproof it, and then lay the pattern you picked, from herringbone to hexagon to floor-to-ceiling.
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On our published breakdown, tile and waterproofing are about 25–35% of a bathroom budget, and flooring another 5–10%. Pattern matters: herringbone and small mosaics take longer to set than large-format tile, and that labor shows up in the quote.
Call 512-689-8346 for a free walkthrough and a written quote.
Behind every shower wall and under every shower floor we install a waterproof layer and test the pan before tile goes on. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own. Most failed showers we see failed because this layer was skipped or done badly. See shower leak repair.
Herringbone: Foster Ranch (March 2022) used a herringbone pattern on the shower walls with a warm mahogany vanity.
Hexagon floors: Nickols (May 2021) paired floor-to-ceiling wall tile in the shower with hexagon tile across the floor.
Floor-to-ceiling mixed shapes: Bridgefarmer (July 2021) combined several tile shapes floor to ceiling in black. Triboro Drive (March 2022) used soft grey tile floor to ceiling to brighten the room.
Niches: Goldenoak (February 2025) got a custom tile niche, and on Kelsing Cove the floor pattern repeats inside the shower niche.
Large tile means fewer grout lines on walls. Small tile means more grip on floors. Porcelain is the lowest-maintenance choice; natural stone needs sealing. A matching niche, a clean outside corner and a level line at the top of the tile are the details that separate a good job from an average one. For stone, see marble bathrooms.
At a glance
| Item | What this page states |
|---|---|
| Tile and waterproofing share | About 25–35% (published) |
| Flooring share | About 5–10% |
| Waterproofing | Installed and tested before tile |
| Labor-heavy patterns | Herringbone, small mosaics, mixed shapes |
| Niche | Framed in before tile, not cut in after |
Ranges come from Bailey & Bear's published Austin cost guides. Your exact number comes from a free walkthrough and a written line-item quote.
Real Bailey & Bear bathrooms
Each photo is from a completed Bailey & Bear project with its own page in our project gallery.
Straight answers
On our published breakdown, tile and waterproofing are about 25 to 35 percent of a bathroom budget. The tile you choose and the pattern drive the labor. Your written quote lists it as its own line.
Always. We install a waterproof layer on the walls and pan and test the pan before tile goes on. Tile and grout alone do not keep water out.
Yes, usually. It takes more cuts and more time than straight-lay tile, so labor is higher. It is also one of the most requested patterns.
Yes, in a remodel. The niche is framed into the wall and waterproofed before tile, so it cannot leak into the wall.
Keep planning
Marble tile, slab and counters.
Failed shower pans and leaking showers.
Frameless shower doors and glass panels.
Radiant heated floors under bathroom tile.
Start with the overview: bathroom remodeling in Austin · bathroom remodel cost in Austin
Free walkthrough and a written, line-item quote from an owner-run Austin remodeler.