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
- Existing conditions and likely cause
- Preparation and protection
- Materials, compatibility, and installation details
- Permits, testing, cleanup, and restoration
- Exclusions, warranty terms, and change-order process
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.