Shower tile cost in Bellingham runs $2,800 to $9,500 in 2026, and the spread comes down to size, tile, and how much of the wall has to come out. The part that matters most, and the part cheap bids leave off, is the waterproofing. A tile shower in our climate fails at the membrane, not the tile, so this guide spells out the waterproofing line items so you can read a quote honestly.
What you are actually paying for
A shower re-tile is several jobs stacked together. Here is where the money goes.
| Line item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Tear-out and disposal | Removing the old surround, checking framing for rot |
| Shower pan and pre-slope | A properly sloped base so water drains to the drain |
| Waterproofing membrane | Sheet or liquid membrane (Schluter-Kerdi, RedGard) behind all tile |
| Tile and setting | Wall and floor tile, mortar, and the labor to set it |
| Grout and sealing | Grouting after cure, sealing grout and any stone |
| Extras | Niche, bench, curbless entry, glass |
The waterproofing line items, spelled out
This is the part to look for on a quote. A real Bellingham shower quote names a pre-slope (the sloped base under the pan), a waterproofing membrane by type (sheet membrane like Schluter-Kerdi, or a liquid membrane like RedGard), and how the curb and niche are waterproofed. If those words are not on your quote, the shower is probably being tiled the old way, on mortar with nothing waterproof behind it, which is exactly why so many older Bellingham showers leak. Schluter Systems and Custom Building Products publish the technical specs for these systems, and following them is what makes the waterproofing actually work.
What drives a shower from $2,800 to $9,500
- Size and type. A standard tub-and-shower surround is the low end. A large walk-in is the high end.
- Tile. Porcelain subway is affordable. Large-format, natural stone, and mosaic accents add material and labor.
- Extras. A niche, a bench, a curbless entry, and a glass enclosure each add cost.
- What is behind the wall. If we open it and find rot from a shower that leaked for years, the repair adds to the number, and we tell you before we keep going.
Why cheap shower bids fail in Bellingham
A shower bid that comes in well under $2,800 is almost always skipping the waterproofing, the pre-slope, or both. In a dry climate you might get away with it for a while. In Bellingham, where the bathroom stays damp most of the year, water finds the gap and gets into the framing. The homes on South Hill and in the Lettered Streets are full of showers tiled this way decades ago, and they are exactly the rebuilds we get called for. Our deeper look at why Bellingham showers leak covers the failure pattern in detail.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to re-tile a shower in Bellingham?
$2,800 to $9,500 in 2026. A standard tub-and-shower surround is at the low end, and a large custom walk-in with a niche and bench is at the top. Tear-out of the old surround and a new waterproofing membrane are included in that range.
How long does a shower re-tile take?
Most showers take 4 to 7 days, because the mortar and grout need real dry time between steps. That covers tear-out, building and waterproofing the pan, setting wall and floor tile, and grouting. Rushing the cure time is how showers fail, so we do not.
Can you make a curbless walk-in shower?
Yes. A curbless entry needs the floor framing dropped or sloped so the pan drains without a curb, plus a linear or properly placed drain. It costs a bit more than a standard curbed shower, and we plan the slope and waterproofing so a curbless shower stays watertight.
For a free walkthrough and a written quote, Bellingham Tile Co. handles shower and tub surround tile across Bellingham and Whatcom County.