Marble Tub/Shower Combo Remodel in Mid-City
A tub/shower combination surround in a Mid-City California bungalow, replacing original 1960s tile that had failed at the grout joints and was allowing moisture behind the wall. The new surround uses a large-format marble-look porcelain on three walls, with a recessed hexagon mosaic niche built into the back wall.
The recessed niche is a detail that requires framing before the cement board goes in — you cannot cut a niche into a finished assembly. We built the niche box from cement board, waterproofed all five interior surfaces with liquid membrane, and set the hexagon mosaic tile inside before the surrounding field tile was set. The niche bottom is sloped slightly toward the shower to drain rather than hold water. The glass door was installed by a separate contractor after our tile work was complete.
What We Did
- Demo and framing: Removed failed tile and damaged backer; framed niche opening; installed cement board throughout
- Waterproofing: Applied sheet membrane on walls and tub deck; liquid membrane inside niche and at all corners and penetrations
- Niche tile and field tile: Set hexagon mosaic in niche first; set large-format field tile with back-buttering for full coverage
- Grouting and sealing: Grouted all surfaces; caulked all change-of-plane joints; confirmed niche slope before closing out
Replacing a tub surround in Mid-City? Call (562) 632-4580 for a free estimate.
