Shower Remodeling in Richardson, TX
First, decide which shower project you actually have
| If this sounds like your shower | The job is usually | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked grout or caulk, a loose tile or two, no soft spots and no signs of water outside the shower | Repair and re-seal: often not a remodel at all | This page, “When a repair is enough” |
| The tile is sound underneath, but you want a new look, a niche or a new glass enclosure | Re-surface and upgrade: new finish on a sound structure | This page |
| Soft or flexing floor, recurring mold behind the tile, stains on the ceiling or wall on the other side | Full tear-out and rebuild: the waterproofing has failed | This page, “What sits behind the tile” |
| You want the bathtub gone and a shower in its place | Tub-to-shower conversion: a different project with its own plumbing questions | Tub-to-shower conversion in Richardson |
| Vanity, floor, lighting and layout are changing too | Bathroom remodel: the shower is one part of a larger plan | Bathroom remodeling in Richardson |
What sits behind the tile, and why showers fail there
- The pan or floor membrane: a waterproof layer under the shower floor that carries water to the drain. If it cracks, tears or was never sloped correctly, water collects underneath and finds its way out sideways.
- The wall waterproofing: a membrane or sealed backer board behind the wall tile. Older showers often relied on plain drywall or a minimal moisture barrier, which softens once water gets past the grout.
- The slope: the floor has to pitch toward the drain so water never sits. Standing water in a corner after a shower is an early sign that the slope or the pan is wrong.
- The transitions: where the floor meets the walls, around the valve, at the niche and at the curb. These joints are where most slow leaks start.
How a shower assessment is done
An honest assessment does not start with a hammer. It answers one question: is the waterproofing behind the tile still doing its job? The usual checks:
- Tapping the tile. Tiles that sound hollow have lost their bond, often because water has softened what is behind them.
- Pressing on the floor, especially near the drain and the curb. A floor that flexes is a warning sign.
- Moisture readings on the walls and floor outside the shower, and on the baseboard and ceiling nearby. Damp readings where everything should be dry point to a leak.
- Looking below. If the shower is upstairs, a stain or soft spot on the ceiling underneath tells a lot.
- Watching the drain and the corners after a shower. Water that stands in a corner means the slope or the pan may be wrong.
- Checking the valve wall, often from the other side through an access panel or closet, for staining or damp drywall.
- A small inspection opening, when the signs are unclear. Removing one tile or a small patch of drywall is far cheaper than guessing.
The result is a recommendation you can check: repair, re-surface, or rebuild, with the reason written down.
When a repair is enough, and when it is not
A repair is usually enough when:
- The floor is solid underfoot and does not flex.
- The damage is limited to grout, caulk, or a few tiles.
- There is no staining, odor, or soft drywall outside the shower.
- The shower drains completely and does not leave standing water.
A rebuild is usually the honest answer when:
- Tiles keep cracking or loosening in the same area after being repaired.
- The floor feels soft or moves near the drain.
- Mold returns behind fresh caulk within weeks.
- There is water damage on a ceiling below or on the other side of the wall.
An honest assessment should tell you which one you have. If a repair solves the problem, a rebuild is not the right recommendation.
What you can safely do yourself
Some shower upkeep is reasonable for a homeowner:
- Re-caulking the joints where walls meet the floor, tub or curb, after removing the old caulk completely and letting the area dry.
- Sealing cement grout with a penetrating sealer, if the grout is sound.
- Replacing a cracked grout line in a small area.
- Cleaning the drain and clearing hair from the strainer.
Leave these to a professional: anything involving a soft floor, hollow tiles over a wide area, water outside the shower, the valve or the drain assembly. Those are signs the problem is behind the surface, where caulk and grout cannot reach.
What can be improved without a rebuild
If the shower is sound, a lot can change without tearing it out:
- A new glass enclosure in place of a curtain or an old framed door;
- A new valve trim, showerhead or handheld, usually from the same valve maker as the valve in the wall;
- Regrouting and fresh caulk for a cleaner look;
- A new curb cap or threshold in some cases.
What usually does not work is tiling over the existing tile. It adds thickness at the valve and the glass line, hides whatever is behind the old tile, and depends on the old tile staying bonded. A niche, a bench or a larger shower means opening the walls, which makes it a rebuild.
Mold in and around a shower
Surface mildew on grout and caulk is common and is mostly a cleaning and ventilation issue. Mold that keeps returning behind fresh caulk, or that appears on the drywall outside the shower, usually means moisture is getting into the wall.
The U.S. EPA’s guidance is that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, in most cases homeowners can handle the cleanup themselves; for larger areas, it points to its remodeling and remediation guidance (EPA: Mold cleanup in your home). Either way, cleaning the mold does not fix the cause. The leak or the ventilation problem has to be found and corrected, and in a shower that often means rebuilding the waterproofing.
Richardson homes: why shower age matters here
Richardson’s housing is older than most of its neighbors. U.S. Census Bureau estimates put the median year built at 1986, and about 44% of homes were built before 1980, more than twice Plano’s share of about 18% (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates). For shower work, that matters in three practical ways:
- Many showers are original or have been re-tiled over the original structure. In a home from the 1960s, 70s or early 80s, the surface may be newer than what is underneath. A rebuild should be planned around what is found once the old tile comes off.
- Supply lines and valves may be decades old. Opening a shower wall is the right time to look at the valve and the pipe behind it, rather than closing a new wall over old plumbing.
- About half of Richardson homes are rentals. The Census owner-occupied rate is about 51%, the lowest among Richardson, Plano, Allen, McKinney and Frisco. If you own a rental, the questions shift toward durability, easy cleaning and a schedule that fits between tenants.
How Richardson’s remodel permit works
The City of Richardson states that “a building permit is required for all alterations to a structure including, but not limited to … modifications to plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems.” For an interior remodel, the city asks for two sets of dimensioned before-and-after floor plans with a written scope of work. The permit must be approved and posted at the property before work starts, and all contractors must be registered to perform work in the City of Richardson (City of Richardson, Interior Remodel permits).
For a shower, that typically means: re-tiling over a sound structure may not involve plumbing changes, but replacing or moving the valve, changing the drain or altering the wall framing does. We pull the required permits and coordinate inspections, so the plans, scope and inspection schedule are handled as part of the project.
Whoever you hire, ask them to confirm they are registered with the City of Richardson before work begins.
What drives the scope of a shower remodel
Two showers of the same size can be very different projects. The main factors:
- What is found behind the old surface: sound framing and subfloor versus water damage that has to be cut out and replaced.
- Whether the plumbing moves: keeping the valve and drain where they are is simpler than relocating them.
- Size and entry: a standard alcove shower versus a larger walk-in, and whether you want a curb or a low- or no-threshold entry.
- The finish materials: tile size, pattern and edge details, a built-in niche or bench.
- The glass: a curtain, a framed door or a heavier frameless panel.
- What else is changing: lighting, ventilation, flooring or the vanity alongside the shower.
North Texas water is moderately hard: NTMWD’s 2024 report lists total hardness of roughly 105–202 ppm at its Wylie plant, which serves Richardson. That is worth considering when you choose glass and fixture finishes you will be cleaning every week.
Costs are set by those factors. A written estimate after we see the shower is more useful than a generic range.
How a shower remodel with us is organized
Visit and assessment:
we look at the shower, the floor, and the walls and ceiling around it, and talk through what you want changed.
Scope and written estimate:
keeping the valve and drain where they are is simpler than relocating them.
Material selection:
tile, fixtures and glass. Samples are available at our showroom at 2830 W. 15th St., Suite 1, in Plano (Mon–Fri 11–5, Sat 11–4).
Permit:
the Richardson permit is filed and posted before work starts.
Tear-out and rebuild:
the layers behind the tile are built and checked before the finish goes on.
Inspections and final walkthrough.
The full sequence is on our bathroom remodeling process page.
Who does the work
- In-house design and construction team
- Certified General Contractor
- $1 million in insurance coverage
- NKBA affiliation
- 500+ flooring and remodeling projects completed under Sami’s leadership
- Six-time Best of Plano award winner (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023)
- 0% financing available for qualified homeowners
See finished bathrooms and showers in our project gallery.
Shower remodeling questions from Richardson homeowners
My shower is from the 1970s or 80s. Can it be re-tiled, or does it have to be rebuilt?
It depends on what is underneath, not on the age alone. If the floor is solid and there are no signs of water outside the shower, re-surfacing may be enough. If the pan or the wall backing has failed, new tile over it will not last. An assessment, sometimes with a small inspection opening, answers this before you commit.
Can new tile go over my old shower tile?
It is rarely a good idea. It hides whatever is behind the old tile, adds thickness at the valve and the glass, and depends on the old tile staying bonded.
How do I know if my shower is leaking into the wall?
Look for damp or stained drywall outside the shower, a soft floor near the drain, tiles that sound hollow, or a ceiling stain below. Moisture readings and, if needed, a small inspection opening confirm it.
Is mold behind the caulk a sign of a bigger problem?
If it keeps returning after the caulk is replaced, usually yes: moisture is getting behind the surface. The cause has to be fixed, not just the mold cleaned.
Do I need a permit to remodel a shower in Richardson?
Richardson requires a building permit for alterations that include plumbing modifications, such as replacing or moving the valve or drain. Purely cosmetic work on a sound shower may not involve plumbing changes. We confirm what applies to your project and handle the permit when one is needed.
Can you work on a rental property between tenants?
Rental shower projects follow the same assessment and permit steps as any other. Share your turnover date at the first visit so the scope and material choices can be planned around that window.
How long will I be without the shower?
That depends on the scope: a re-seal is very different from a full rebuild with plumbing changes and inspections. You will get a schedule with your written estimate, so you can plan around it.
Should I convert my tub instead?
If the bathroom has a tub you rarely use, a tub-to-shower conversion may make more sense than remodeling the existing shower. If it is the only tub in the house, consider how that affects your household and resale before removing it.