Shower Remodeling · Scottsdale
Shower Remodeling in Scottsdale, AZ
For shower remodeling in Scottsdale, 2 housing stories matter. Old Town holds historic register properties and mid-century buildings with tight baths. North Scottsdale has newer housing with larger primary baths. The work order differs, but the waterproofing rules do not.
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01Showers
What happens before tile in a Scottsdale shower?
Waterproofing gets decided before the first tile goes up. A shower pan needs slope to the drain, a liner or a sheet membrane that runs up the walls, and a flood test that holds water overnight. Cement backer board goes over the membrane, not under it. The valve rough-in gets set at the right depth for the trim, and blocking goes in wherever glass, a bench or a grab bar will attach. In a mid-century bath the wall cavity is often shallow, so the valve and the membrane compete for the same 3 inches. Settle that before demolition, not after. The flood test is the step that catches a careless pan, and it has to hold before the membrane is covered.
02Permits
Does Scottsdale require a permit for a shower?
Usually yes. In Scottsdale, remodels and additions are on the permit list, and permit applications go through the city's online SPUR portal (City of Scottsdale, home improvement (opens in a new tab)). A shower that moves the drain, the valve or a wall fits that description. A tile and glass replacement on the same pan may not, so ask at the counter with the scope in hand. Bring a dimensioned sketch, the fixture list and the drain location. If the house sits on the historic register, ask whether the scope triggers a separate review before you order tile. Bring the scope in writing and ask whether the counter treats it as a minor remodel or a plan review. The answer changes the start date, not just the fee.
03Showers
How does Scottsdale water treat glass and grout?
Hardness in Scottsdale sits between 13 and 17 grains per gallon, or 215 to 290 milligrams per liter, depending on the area (City of Scottsdale, water quality report (opens in a new tab)). That leaves a mineral film that etches into glass if it sits. A squeegee after every shower is the cheapest defense. A hydrophobic coating helps, but it needs renewing. For grout, epoxy resists the film better than cementitious grout, and a mid-tone grout hides the line where spotting starts. Dark tile shows white spots and pale tile shows gray film. Pick the finish with the water in mind, and plan to reseal cement grout once a year. A softener or a filtration system changes how the glass ages, but it does not replace drying the shower. Ask the plumber whether the house has a softener loop.
04Showers
Which shower fits an Old Town or mid-century bath?
Space decides more than taste here. A 60 inch tub alcove converts to a walk-in with a curb, a glass panel and a door, and it keeps the original footprint. A bench eats 12 to 15 inches of the length, so it only works if the alcove runs longer. A niche fits between studs and costs no floor space. In a compact bath, a low curb and a single fixed panel read as more open than a framed slider. If the house is on the historic register, ask before a window or a wall moves. A 60 inch alcove is the most common footprint, and a 48 inch alcove is tight for a bench. Measure the actual opening, not the tub label.
05Costs
What moves a Scottsdale shower price most?
Glass, then tile, then what the walls hide. A frameless panel is measured after tile and cut to fit, so it carries a template visit and a longer lead time. A framed door is a stock item and costs less. Large format tile needs flatter walls, which means more prep. A linear drain needs a different pan slope than a center drain. A bench, a niche and a second shower head add labor. National cost guides put walk-in shower installation in a wide band for these reasons. Our cost page sorts the ranges by scope. Ask for the glass, tile, drain and valve as separate lines, because the total hides which one is driving the budget.
Bath Studio
Build a bathroom. Change it in one tap.
A design preview, not a price. Pick a wall color, tile, floor, bath or shower, vanity and light, start from a look or shuffle, then send your picks with your project.
Start from a look
Wall color: Ivory mineral · Shower wall tile: Large slab · Floor: Honed stone · Bath or shower: Glass shower · Vanity: Vanity and tower · Light: Morning sun
01Wall colorIvory mineral
02Shower wall tileLarge slab
03FloorHoned stone
04Bath or showerGlass shower
05VanityVanity and tower
06LightMorning sun
064 questions
Questions people ask
Still have a question? Call (747) 243-2089 and describe the bathroom.
01Does this site cover Old Town and north Scottsdale?
Old Town and north Scottsdale are both covered. We serve both sides of Scottsdale, from Old Town and the historic register blocks to the newer housing in the north. Old Town baths are usually tighter with more original framing, and north Scottsdale primary baths are larger with more glass. Send the address and photos.
02Can I keep the tile and just change the door?
Sometimes. The door has to land on solid framing and a level curb, and old tile often will not take new hinges without cracking. A frameless panel needs blocking behind the tile. If the curb is out of level the door will not close cleanly, and the fix means tile comes off.
03How long is the shower out of use?
Plan on a few weeks without that shower, and longer if the drain moves or glass is templated. Demolition and rough-in are loud and fast. The pan, the membrane and the tile take the time, because each layer needs to cure or test before the next one. A second bath makes the week easier.
04What if the bath is the only one in the house?
Then the schedule matters more than the finish. Demolition can be staged and the new pan set early so the shower comes back into use sooner, and the old valve can stay in service where the plumbing allows. Some owners stay elsewhere for the tile week. Decide that before demo, not in the middle.
