Real waterproofing
The ANSI standard for bonded, load-bearing waterproof membranes under tile. Tile, grout and cement backer board are none of them waterproof — the membrane behind them is what stops water reaching your framing.
Bathroom tile & shower remodelingBoston, MA & Greater Boston
Custom tile showers, tub surrounds, bathroom floors and heated tile — built on a real waterproofing system, not on grout. We do the tile and the waterproofing; plumbing and electrical go to licensed trades, and we tell you which is which before you sign.
What we doTile · Showers · Floors · Waterproofing
WaterproofingBonded membrane to ANSI A118.10
Also availableElectric heated floors under tile
PartnersSchluter · Daltile · MSI
Real bathroom remodeling jobs by Lino's crew
See all our work
01 — What you get
The part that lasts is the part you never see.
A shower does not stay dry because of tile or grout — water passes through grout as a matter of course. It stays dry because of a bonded waterproofing membrane behind the tile, installed as a continuous system through every corner, seam, niche and penetration. That is the work we are actually selling, and we will show you that stage before it gets covered.
- Schluter KERDI and Laticrete HYDRO BAN waterproofing systems
- Custom tile showers, tub surrounds, niches and benches
- Bathroom floor tile over an uncoupling membrane
- Electric radiant heated floors set under the tile
- Curbless and walk-in showers where the floor structure allows
- No cement block behind shower tile — framing, substrate and membrane
Brands we install
02 — Why it matters
Built to the
standard.
Four things that decide whether a bathroom lasts twenty years or three — and all four happen before the tile goes on.
Porcelain density
Porcelain is defined by a water absorption of 0.5% or less (ANSI A137.1). That is why it is the default for bathroom floors, and why it handles entries that see snow and salt.
Wet slip rating
The DCOF benchmark in ANSI A137.1 for level interior floors walked on when wet — which is exactly what a bathroom floor is. We check it before you fall for a polished tile that will not clear it.
Heated floors
Electric radiant cable set into an uncoupling membrane under the tile, run to its own thermostat. It has to be decided before the floor goes in — it cannot be added later without taking the floor up.
03 — Scope
What we do
and what we don't
Bathroom projects stall when nobody agreed who was calling the plumber. Here is the line, stated plainly.
Showers & surrounds
Demolition of existing tile, substrate, the full waterproofing system, custom tile showers, tub surrounds, niches, benches and curb or curbless entries.
Bathroom floors
Porcelain, ceramic, stone and mosaic floors over an uncoupling membrane, with the wet slip rating checked — plus electric heated floor cable under the tile.
Plumbing & electrical
Fixtures, valves, drain relocation and the heated-floor thermostat connection are licensed trades in Massachusetts. We work alongside your plumber and electrician, or alongside ones you arrange.
Permits & inspections
Whether your scope needs a permit is your building department's call, and plumbing and electrical permits are pulled by the licensed trade doing that work. We will tell you honestly when we think you should call them.
Material & detail
Waterproofing first, then tile — in that order, every time.
04 — How it goes
Estimate to finished bathroom
- 01
Free in-home estimate
We look at the room, the floor structure and what is realistic — including whether a curbless entry works there. Itemized quote in writing, with the scope line spelled out.
- 02
Demolition & substrate
Old tile and surround out. Substrate set flat, framing corrected, shower floor sloped to the drain. This is where surprises in older homes surface.
- 03
Waterproofing
Bonded membrane installed as a continuous system — corners, seams, drain connection and every penetration. We photograph this stage and show you before it is covered.
- 04
Tile & heated floor
Heating cable set if specified, then tile — floor, walls, niche, benches — with lippage control and metal edge profiles at the exposed edges.
- 05
Grout, cure & walkthrough
Grout cured on the manufacturer's schedule, silicone at every change of plane, stone sealed where needed, then a walkthrough with you in daylight.
05 — Questions
Bathroom
FAQ
We do the tile side of a bathroom completely — demolition, substrate, waterproofing, shower, tub surround, floor, niches, heated floor and all the finish detail. What we do not do is plumbing and electrical work, which are separately licensed trades in Massachusetts. On most bathrooms that means a licensed plumber sets the fixtures and a licensed electrician handles any circuit or thermostat work, either ones you have or ones working alongside us. We tell you exactly where that line falls at the estimate so nothing falls in the gap between two contractors.
Schluter KERDI sheet membrane or Laticrete HYDRO BAN liquid membrane, depending on the shower. Both meet ANSI A118.10, the standard for bonded waterproof membranes under tile. The system matters more than the brand: the membrane runs to at least showerhead height, all corners get preformed or reinforced treatment, and the drain connection and every penetration are detailed. In a fully enclosed stall it goes on all surfaces including the ceiling.
That is your local building department's decision, not ours, and it depends on your scope. Under the Massachusetts building code ordinary repairs do not require a building permit, while work such as substantial cutting of walls or work affecting mechanical systems does. Plumbing and electrical are administered under their own codes and permitted by the licensed trade doing the work. Re-tiling in the same footprint often does not trigger a building permit; moving a drain generally does. Call your town and describe the actual scope — it is a short call and it is the only authoritative answer.
Often, but it is a structural question before it is a design question. The shower floor has to sit lower than the bathroom floor so water drains to the drain instead of into the room, which usually means recessing the floor framing or building up the surrounding floor. Whether that works depends on your joist direction, floor depth and drain location. It is far simpler when the floor is already open. We will tell you at the estimate whether it is realistic in your bathroom rather than promising it over the phone.
Yes — electric radiant cable set into an uncoupling membrane beneath the tile, run to its own thermostat. This is not hydronic heat, which circulates warm water and is a different system entirely. The important part is timing: the cable is part of the tile assembly, so it has to be decided before the floor goes in. Adding it later means taking the floor up. The thermostat connection itself is electrical work and goes to a licensed electrician.
We quote per project after seeing the room, and we would be guessing if we gave you a number here. The cost drivers are specific: whether the layout is changing or staying, how much wall tile versus floor tile, the tile format and material, whether the entry is curbless, what demolition uncovers behind the old surround, access, and how much licensed trade work is involved. Two bathrooms of the same size can differ enormously. The in-home estimate is free and itemized, and we will tell you which parts of the number are ours and which belong to another trade.
Let's look at
your bathroom.
Free in-home estimate, itemized in writing — including which parts are ours and which need a licensed plumber or electrician.
Free estimate
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free estimate
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