Published 2026-08-18 · The Tile Guys
The single most common expectation we have to reset with Woodstock homeowners isn't about cost — it's about time. A proper custom shower is not a one-day job, and if someone quotes you one, ask what they're skipping. Here's the honest, week-not-a-day timeline for a typical 30189 bathroom.
Day-by-day: what a real shower rebuild looks like
- Day 1 — Demo. Old surround, tile, or fiberglass unit comes out down to the studs. This is also when we find out what's really going on behind the wall — old water damage, out-of-plumb framing, a drain that needs to move.
- Day 2 — Framing & rough-in. Any framing repairs, blocking for niches and grab bars, and plumbing adjustments happen before anything gets closed up.
- Day 3 — Substrate & waterproofing. Backer board or a foam shower system goes up, then the waterproofing membrane goes on every wall, the curb, and the pan — not just the floor. This is the step that determines whether your shower is still dry in year fifteen, and it needs to cure before tile goes on top.
- Days 4–5 — Tile. Walls, floor, niches, and bench get set. Larger showers or intricate patterns (herringbone, mosaic floors) push toward day 5.
- Overnight — Cure. Mortar needs time before grout goes on top of it. This isn't a step we can skip to hit a deadline.
- Day 6 — Grout, caulk, fixtures. Grout gets packed and cleaned, caulk goes in at every change of plane, and the shower valve trim and shower head go on.
So: budget about a week for a full custom shower, start to finish. Simpler tub-to-shower conversions on the faster end, elaborate multi-niche showers with glass and heated floors on the slower end — but "one day" almost always means waterproofing got skipped or rushed.
Why we won't rush the waterproofing step
Waterproofing is the one part of the job you'll never see again once tile goes up — and it's also the one thing that decides whether you're calling us back in two years for a leak, or never thinking about your shower again. We build in real cure time for the membrane before tile goes on, even when a homeowner is eager to move faster. It's the difference between a shower that lasts and one that doesn't.
Curious what your own bathroom would need? See our custom shower tile installation page, or call or text (470) 229-2881 for a free, honest look at your timeline.