By the Ready Service Solutions team, licensed residential building contractor in Sioux Falls, SD. Published October 4, 2026.
Tile is not the waterproofing
Tile and grout shed most water, but they are not waterproof. Moisture passes through grout lines every time the shower runs. What keeps that water out of your walls and floor is the waterproofing system behind the tile.
What a tile shower needs
A shower floor that slopes to the drain, so water does not sit. A continuous waterproof layer over the floor, the curb and the walls, tied into the drain. Backer board made for wet areas rather than ordinary drywall. Sealed corners, seams, niches and benches, because those are where leaks begin.
Signs an existing shower is failing
Loose or hollow-sounding tile, grout that keeps cracking in the same place, a musty smell, staining on the ceiling below or soft flooring outside the shower all point to water getting behind the tile. Regrouting does not fix a failed waterproofing layer.
Questions to ask a contractor
Ask what waterproofing system they use and whether it covers the walls as well as the pan. Ask how the niche and bench are sealed. Ask whether the pan is tested before tile goes on. A contractor who builds showers properly will have a direct answer to each one.
Wet rooms
A wet room waterproofs the whole bathroom floor, not only the shower, and usually has no curb. Our wet rooms start at $45,000 because the entire room is built as a shower.
Custom Tile Showers cost in Sioux Falls
| Wet rooms | Starting at $45,000 |
|---|
Typical pricing as of 2026. Every project is different: your written bid is based on the size, materials and scope of your job.
Related: Custom Tile Showers in Sioux Falls · Project gallery · Customer reviews
