Tile Showers · Arlington, WA
Tile Shower Installation in Arlington, WA — Waterproofed Before the First Tile
Cracked grout, a soft spot in the floor or the same plastic surround from 1998 all say the same thing. Your shower is due. Plenty of Arlington bathrooms are in the same spot. TDC Clean & Dry builds tile showers across Arlington from our Stanwood base, starting with what is behind the wall.
Local conditions
Why Arlington showers need to be built for water.
A tile shower is only as good as the waterproofing behind it. Tile and grout shed most water, but some always gets through. What stops it from reaching the studs is the membrane and pan underneath.
Arlington's housing makes this timely. The median home here was built in 1996, and about 59 percent went up between 1990 and 2009. Many of those bathrooms still have their original tub-shower units, now nearing 30 years of daily use.
Age shows up behind the wall first. A failing seal or cracked pan can leak for years before a stain appears in the ceiling below. Because we also do water damage work, we open the old shower expecting to find it and repair it properly.
The climate raises the stakes. Arlington sees measurable rain on about 119 days a year, so bathrooms rarely get dry outdoor air to help them. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, which makes good ventilation part of every shower job.
It is also an investment worth protecting. Arlington's median home value is about $538,800, and a leaking shower can quietly damage framing, subfloor and the ceiling below. A shower built right protects the rest of the house.
The local data
Arlington bathrooms by the numbers.
Local housing data explains why so many Arlington bathrooms are ready for a new shower. It also shows why waterproofing deserves as much care as the tile you can see.
- Median year Arlington homes were built, so many showers are original1
- 1996
- Share of Arlington homes built between 1990 and 20091
- 59%
- Median value of an owner-occupied Arlington home1
- $538,800
- Indoor humidity EPA recommends to keep mold from growing2
- Under 60%
Most of the housing shown here was built in the 1990s and 2000s.1 Bathrooms from that era are reaching the age where hidden leaks and worn seals are common. A new shower is the right time to fix what the old one was hiding. In a home worth over half a million dollars, that repair protects far more than the bathroom.1
Highest: 1990s at 2,501 homes. Lowest: 2020+ at 183 homes.
View data table
| Month | homes |
|---|---|
| Pre-1940 | 358 |
| 1940s | 221 |
| 1950s | 325 |
| 1960s | 248 |
| 1970s | 688 |
| 1980s | 845 |
| 1990s | 2,501 |
| 2000s | 2,321 |
| 2010s | 540 |
| 2020+ | 183 |
Sources
Ready to replace a tired Arlington shower?
A new tile shower should last decades, and that starts with what goes behind the tile. We can look at your bathroom and walk you through the options.
Our process
How we build tile showers in Arlington.
A tile shower goes up in layers, and every hidden layer matters. Here is how we build one in an Arlington home, from demolition to the last bead of grout.
- 01
Measure, plan and pick the look
We drive about 22 minutes from Stanwood to see the bathroom in person. Together we settle the layout, niche and bench placement, and tile style before any demolition starts. You see the plan in writing first.
- 02
Tear out and check for hidden damage
The old surround or tile comes out, and we inspect the studs and subfloor underneath. In a 1990s Gleneagle or Kent Prairie home, that is where slow leaks usually show up. We photograph anything we find so you can see it too.
- 03
Repair framing and subfloor first
Any rot or water damage gets fixed before the new shower goes in. Because we handle water damage too, the repair is done properly rather than covered over. Wet wood is dried and checked with a meter before we close it in.
- 04
Build the pan and waterproof membrane
A sloped pan and continuous waterproofing go in before any tile. Corners, niches and the curb get extra attention, since that is where showers most often leak. Every seam and corner is checked before tile goes on.
- 05
Set tile, grout and seal
Tile is set on the waterproofed base, then grouted and sealed. We finish with glass, fixtures and trim, and confirm the exhaust fan is moving air outside. A final walkthrough covers care tips for the new grout.
Warning signs
Signs your Arlington shower needs replacing.
Some shower problems are cosmetic, but others mean water is getting where it should not. These are the signs worth acting on in Arlington homes.
Cracked grout or loose tiles
Missing grout and loose tiles let water behind the surface every time you shower. In a damp climate like Arlington's, that water has little chance to dry out.
A soft or flexing shower floor
A floor that gives underfoot often means the subfloor below has been wet for a while. That needs repair before a new shower goes in.
Stains on the ceiling below
A stain under an upstairs bathroom is a classic sign of a leaking pan or drain. Two-story homes with upstairs baths, like many around Gleneagle, are prone to it.
An original 1990s tub-shower unit
Many Arlington homes built in the 1990s still have their first surround. After nearly 30 years, seals and caulk are often worn out.
Mildew that keeps coming back
Recurring mildew points to poor ventilation or water trapped behind the walls. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent to limit mold.
Why us
Why Arlington homeowners choose TDC for tile showers.
A beautiful shower that leaks is a bad shower. These are the reasons our tile work holds up in Arlington bathrooms.
Water damage experts building Arlington showers
We repair water damage for a living, so we know exactly how showers fail. That knowledge shapes every pan, membrane and seal we install.
Hidden damage fixed before tile in 1990s homes
Arlington's many 1990s and 2000s homes often hide leaks behind the old surround. We repair framing and subfloor first, so the new shower starts on solid ground.
Ventilation planned for Arlington's damp air
With rain on about 119 days a year, bathrooms need good exhaust to stay dry. We make sure the fan vents outside, not into the attic.
One Stanwood crew from demo to grout
The same crew, based in Stanwood about 22 minutes away, handles demolition, repairs and tile. You deal with one company from start to finish.
Around Arlington
Tile showers across Arlington.
Every bathroom brings its own challenges, often tied to when and how the house was built. These are the details we plan for in each part of town.
Old Town
Older homes near Olympic Avenue may have plaster walls and framing that needs updating before tile. We plan the shower around what the old walls can support.
Gleneagle
Larger homes around the golf course often have upstairs bathrooms. A leak-proof pan matters most here, since a failure lands in the ceiling below.
Kent Prairie
Homes built in the 1990s often still have their original tub-shower units. Replacing one with tile is the right time to check the subfloor underneath.
Smokey Point
Near I-5 and State Route 531, we also work on rentals and newer homes. Durable tile and solid waterproofing hold up to heavy daily use.
Arlington Heights
Rural homes east of town range from older farmhouses to newer builds. We match the shower design to the house while keeping the waterproofing standard.
Arlington FAQ
Tile Shower Installation questions in Arlington, WA
Straight answers to the questions Arlington homeowners ask most about tile shower installation. If yours is not covered here, call and ask the crew directly.
How long does a tile shower installation take?
It depends on the size, tile choice and whether hidden damage needs repair. You get a schedule with the written estimate, and we keep you updated if we find anything behind the wall.
Can you replace a tub with a walk-in tile shower?
Yes. Converting a tub to a walk-in tile shower is a popular upgrade. We handle the plumbing changes, pan and waterproofing as part of the job.
What waterproofing do you use behind tile?
We install a sloped pan and a continuous waterproof membrane before any tile goes on. That layer keeps water away from the studs even if grout wears over time.
What if you find water damage when the old shower comes out?
We repair it before building the new shower, and we show you what we found. Because we do water damage work too, the repair is done to the same standard.
Do you help with tile selection?
Yes. We walk you through options that suit your bathroom, budget and how you use the shower. The goal is a look you love that is also practical to keep clean.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. We come out, look at the bathroom and give you a clear written estimate before you commit to anything.
Reviews
What local homeowners say.
Real reviews from real clients on our Google Business Profile — unedited.
Get help now
Ready for a shower built to last in Arlington?
Call (206) 719-4508 or book online for a free estimate. We will plan your tile shower and build it right from the studs out.
(206) 719-450824/7 emergency line · Monday – Sunday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm · Free inspections
Schedule a Free Inspection
Tell us what is going on and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If water is coming in right now, call instead — it's faster.