The membrane does the real work
Tile itself doesn't stop water — the membrane or board behind it does. Transitions at the curb, the niche, and the drain are where waterproofing systems most often fail, and they're invisible once the job is finished.
Build a complete scope
- What the existing plumbing and wiring turn out to be once walls are open
- Waterproofing detail behind tile, and how it is inspected before it is covered
- Whether any change is visible from the street on a designated property
- Access and debris handling on a steep lot, which is a real cost line here
- Permits, trade inspections, cleanup, and what the warranty covers
Asheville context
Asheville's building stock spans Gilded-Age sanatorium-era cottages, the English-style rowhouses of Biltmore Village, Arts-and-Crafts bungalows in Montford and West Asheville, and steep-lot construction wedged into mountainside grades. Heavy mountain rainfall and humidity make ventilation and drying time worth discussing alongside the tile itself, not as an afterthought.