Our Richmond Hill main bathroom was original to the 1999 build — 4x4 ceramic wall tile, beige floor tile, grout that had been regrouted twice and was cracking again. We stripped it to studs and started fresh.
Scope: 5.5x9 bathroom (49.5 sqft floor, approximately 180 sqft of tile wall surface including 36x36 shower with 8-foot walls). Full gut including demo, substrate, waterproofing, all tile supply and installation.
What we found on demo: The original shower had standard drywall behind the tile — no cement board, no waterproofing membrane. Behind the bottom two rows of shower tile there was active black mould on the paper face of the drywall. The mould had not penetrated into the stud bays, fortunately. Remediation was bleach wipe, HEPA vacuum, let dry, encapsulate with mould-inhibiting primer: $0 extra (we DIY’d this step under contractor supervision).
Substrate system we used: Schluter Kerdi-Board on all shower walls and the shower floor (Kerdi-Shower-ST kit for the floor with integrated slope). Floor in the main bath: 1/4-inch HardiBacker on plywood subfloor. Uncoupling membrane (Ditra) under all floor tile.
Tile selections:
- Shower walls: 24x48 large format porcelain (white with subtle vein), book-matched on two feature walls
- Shower floor: 2x2 mosaic in matching grout colour (for slip resistance)
- Main bath floor: 24x24 porcelain in warm grey
- Accent niche in shower: different tile at same colour temperature
Cost breakdown:
- Demo and disposal: $800
- Substrate (Kerdi-Board, Ditra, HardiBacker): $1,200
- Tile installation labour: $4,800
- Tile supply (all areas): $2,900
- Shower floor system (Schluter ST kit): $480
- Vanity niche installation: included in tile labour
- Grout and waterproofing materials: $380
- Tile scope total: $10,560
Full bathroom including fixtures, vanity, toilet, lighting: $28,400 complete. The Schluter system cost more than cement board but the waterproofing is genuinely better and the warranty is transferable.