Shower Systems
From the tile and glass you see to the waterproofing you don't, we design and build showers that look beautiful and last for decades.
A well-designed shower is one of the best investments in your home. It is the space you start and end your day - and with the right tile, glass, and fixtures, it can feel like a personal retreat.
We handle every aspect of shower design and installation: layout, waterproofing, tile, glass, and fixtures. You make the design decisions; we handle everything else.
Shower Types
Tub & Shower Combinations
Practical for families and smaller bathrooms. We tile the surround, waterproof the substrate, and install the fixtures for a clean, durable finish.
Standalone Showers
A dedicated shower space with a curb and glass enclosure. We build them with either an acrylic base for cost-effective durability or a fully tiled base for a custom, high-end look. Both options are waterproofed and flood-tested before finishing.
Walk-In (Curbless) Showers
Step-free and flush to the bathroom floor. The premium choice for a modern, open aesthetic, and the accessible choice for aging in place, reduced mobility, or ease of entry. Requires precise slope engineering, a linear drain, and meticulous waterproofing, all handled in-house.
Steam Showers
A fully enclosed shower with a steam generator for a spa-like experience at home. Can be built curbed or curbless, and always requires additional waterproofing and a sealed enclosure to handle the steam.
Tub & Shower Combinations
A bathtub with a showerhead overhead, surrounded by tile on three sides with either a curtain or a sliding/pivot glass door. The most common bathing fixture in Canadian homes, and for good reason: one footprint does two jobs.
Benefits
- Two fixtures in one footprint - efficient use of space.
- Budget-friendly compared to a separate tub and shower.
- Ideal for families with young kids who still take baths.
- Protects resale value - most buyers want at least one bathtub in the home.
Considerations
- Stepping over the tub wall can be difficult for older adults or anyone with limited mobility.
- Less generous shower space than a dedicated standalone.
- Design flexibility is constrained by the tub footprint.
Standalone Showers
A dedicated shower stall with a low curb and glass enclosure, separate from the tub (or the only bathing fixture in the bathroom). The workhorse of modern bathrooms - more room to move than a tub/shower combo, cleaner lines, and a wide range of design options.
We build the base two ways. Acrylic bases are preformed, durable, cost-effective, and easy to clean. Tiled bases are fully custom - any size, shape, or layout, with tile continuing seamlessly from the walls to the floor. Tiled bases cost more and take longer, but they are the premium option when the shower is a design centrepiece.
Benefits
- Much more generous shower space than a tub/shower combo.
- Easier to enter than a tub thanks to the low curb.
- Huge range of design options: tile, glass style, fixture finishes, shower height.
- Pairs well with a separate freestanding tub for a full-featured bathroom.
Considerations
- Takes more floor space than a tub/shower combo.
- The curb is still a small barrier for anyone with mobility concerns - consider a curbless walk-in if that is a factor.
- Tiled bases cost more upfront than acrylic.
Walk-In (Curbless) Showers
Step-free, flush to the bathroom floor, typically drained through a linear drain along one wall. The most design-forward shower format and the only one that is fully accessible. We handle the slope engineering, waterproofing, and drain placement in-house so the build is dead-level visually while still shedding water correctly.
Benefits
- Accessibility: no curb to step over. Wheelchair-accessible when built wide enough. The right choice for aging in place or anyone with reduced mobility.
- Premium aesthetic: the floor runs straight through the shower. Clean, open, spa-like - the most design-forward format.
- Easier to clean - no curb corners or tub ledge to scrub.
- Future-proofs the bathroom so you do not need to renovate again if mobility changes.
- Strong resale appeal in higher-end and accessibility-conscious markets.
Considerations
- Most expensive shower format. Requires precise slope engineering and a linear drain.
- The bathroom floor tile must be slip-rated, and the waterproofing extends beyond the shower footprint.
- Good ventilation is essential - without a curb, water vapor travels further into the room.
- In older homes, the subfloor sometimes needs to be recessed to keep the shower flush with the rest of the bathroom.
Steam Showers
A fully sealed shower enclosure paired with a steam generator that floods the space with steam on demand. A genuine spa experience at home, and a fraction of the footprint and cost of installing a sauna. Can be built curbed or curbless - the sealing requirements are the same either way.
Benefits
- Spa-grade steam on demand - relieves muscle tension, opens sinuses, hydrates skin.
- Far smaller footprint and lower cost than installing a dedicated sauna.
- Standout luxury feature that adds resale appeal in higher-end homes.
- Works in both curbed and curbless builds.
Considerations
- Requires a fully sealed enclosure floor-to-ceiling, including a sloped ceiling, door seal, and transom or vent.
- Waterproofing extends to the ceiling, and only steam-rated materials can be used inside.
- The steam generator needs its own dedicated electrical circuit and service access.
- Higher ongoing maintenance: generator servicing and regular seal inspection.
- The surrounding bathroom needs strong ventilation to prevent condensation damage.
Glass Enclosures
The glass enclosure is one of the most visible design decisions in a shower. Your choice affects how the space looks, feels, and functions every day.
Frameless glass gives the cleanest, most open look. Thick tempered glass with minimal hardware lets the tile do the talking. It is the most popular choice for modern bathrooms and the option we recommend for most projects.
Sliding doors are ideal when a swinging door would crowd the bathroom. They run on a track mounted to the wall or ceiling and tuck neatly to one side. Fixed panels are even simpler - a single pane of glass mounted to the wall that keeps water in without a door at all. Clean, minimal, and easy to maintain.
Semi-frameless enclosures offer a practical middle ground: a partial frame at the top and bottom with frameless panels, which reduces cost while maintaining a clean appearance. Fully framed enclosures are the most budget-friendly option and work well in traditional-style bathrooms.
Open concept showers skip the glass entirely - no door, no enclosure, just tile and open space. They are beautiful, modern, and trending in high-end bathrooms. The trade-off is honest: without an enclosure, the shower area stays cooler and steam escapes into the bathroom. For homes with good ventilation and clients who prefer the aesthetic, they are stunning. For everyone else, a single fixed glass panel gives you most of the open look with much better heat retention.
Fixtures: Moen & Delta
The fixtures you choose define how a shower feels to use. We work primarily with Moen - the #1 faucet brand in North America - and Delta, two brands that consistently deliver on quality, warranty support, and finish durability.
Moen's LifeShine finish is not a coating that wears off. It is bonded at a molecular level, guaranteed to resist corrosion and tarnishing for life. Their Magnetix magnetic docking snaps handheld showerheads back into place, and the M-PACT universal valve lets you swap your trim style years later without replumbing.
Delta's Touch2O and H2Okinetic technology offer a more intelligent water experience with options for rain heads, body sprays, and hand showers built into a single coherent system.
Finishes available include Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, Brushed Gold, Polished Nickel, and Oil Rubbed Bronze. We help you match fixtures to your tile and glass for a cohesive look.
Waterproofing: Prova & Schluter
The most important part of a shower is the part you never see. Proper waterproofing is what separates a shower that lasts decades from one that fails in a few years. We use two proven systems: Prova and Schluter-KERDI.
Prova's foam board and membrane system creates a fully bonded, continuous waterproof layer on walls and floors. Schluter-KERDI is a fabric-reinforced polymer membrane that goes directly over drywall or cement board, with matching profiles for drains, corners, and edges.
Both systems are backed by manufacturer warranties and are flood-tested before any tile goes on. We fill the shower pan with water and let it sit to confirm zero leaks before a single tile is set.
Heated Bathroom Floors
Stepping out of a hot shower onto cold tile is one of the most common complaints in any bathroom. Radiant heated floors solve this completely. A thin electric heating mat is installed directly beneath the tile, warming the floor to a comfortable temperature that you control with a wall-mounted thermostat.
The system adds minimal height to the floor and operates on a timer, so the floor is warm when you need it and off when you do not. Energy costs are modest - a typical bathroom costs pennies per day to heat. The comfort difference is significant, especially during Muskoka winters.
Heated floors pair especially well with porcelain and natural stone tile, which conduct heat efficiently and retain warmth between cycles. We install the mats during the tile phase, so the best time to add heated floors is during a renovation - retrofitting later means tearing up the tile.
The Shower Remodel Process
A great shower does not just look amazing - it functions flawlessly for decades. Here is how we make that happen, step by step.
Before and After
Our Proven 6-Step Process
1. Consultation & Design
We start by discussing your goals, style, and must-have features. From tile patterns to fixtures and glass styles, every choice is made with both beauty and durability in mind. We will also ensure your design meets or exceeds Ontario Building Code standards for waterproofing, drainage, and safety glass.
2. Demolition & Prep
We carefully remove your old shower, inspect for hidden water damage, and prepare your space for a flawless rebuild.
3. Waterproofing
This is the most critical step - and where many cheap remodels fail. We use premium waterproofing systems (like Schluter-KERDI or Prova) to keep your home leak-free for decades. Every shower is flood-tested before tiling begins.
4. Tiling & Detailing
From sleek large-format porcelain to intricate mosaics, our tile work is precise and beautiful. We use durable grout and materials for a low-maintenance finish.
5. Fixtures & Glass
We install your chosen showerhead, controls, and glass panels or doors, making sure everything operates smoothly and safely.
6. Final Walkthrough
We review every detail with you, answer questions, and ensure the space is spotless and ready to enjoy.
Elements to Consider
Every shower remodel involves decisions that affect the final result more than most clients realize. Here is what we talk through with every client before work begins:
- •Layout & Space - We will confirm the footprint so it meets Ontario Building Code for clearances and slope-to-drain requirements. If you want a curbless entry, we adjust the subfloor to ensure proper drainage without water escaping into the rest of the bathroom.
- •Waterproofing System - We typically use a full-coverage membrane system (like Schluter-KERDI or Prova), which is more reliable than old-style liners. This ensures the shower stays leak-free for decades.
- •Tile Choices - Everything from large-format porcelain for a sleek, minimal look to intricate mosaics for visual texture. We will also make sure grout is sealed or use epoxy grout for low maintenance.
- •Glass Options - Frameless panels, partial glass screens, or full enclosures depending on how open you want it to feel.
- •Extras - Built-in niches, benches, rain heads, body sprays, and heated floors outside the shower. These details are best planned before construction begins.
Budget & Timeline
Budget Ranges
Mid-Range Renovation
$9,000 - $14,000
Standard fixtures, quality tile, modern look
High-End Renovation
$14,000 - $20,000+
Premium fixtures, designer tile, custom features
Timeline
Standard Remodel
1 - 2 Weeks
Single shower remodel with standard fixtures
Luxury Remodel
2 - 3 Weeks
Custom tile, curbless design, premium finishes
Our Shower Brands
The waterproofing systems and tile installation products we trust for every shower we build.
Prova
WaterproofingFoam board and membrane waterproofing systems backed by an unmatched lifetime warranty. Engineered for faster installation and lasting protection.
Ardex
WaterproofingThe global leader in high-performance building products. Liquid-applied waterproofing, tile adhesives, and levelling compounds.
Schluter
WaterproofingSchluter-Systems develops and manufactures innovative tile installation products including the KERDI waterproofing membrane - the gold standard in shower waterproofing.
Perfect Level Master
TileProfessional tile leveling systems that ensure flat, lippage-free tile installations every time. Trusted by contractors worldwide for precision and consistent results.
Ready to Design Your Shower?
Tell us what you are envisioning and we will make it happen. From a simple tile refresh to a full custom build, we handle every detail.
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