Bathroom Tiling Calgary
Showers. Floors. Feature walls. Built straight, flat, and clean—with real wet-area standards behind it.
Tile is the part of the bathroom you see every day. If it’s off, you’ll see it forever.
At Elevation Renovations, we treat tile like precision work. We plan the layout, laser the lines, prep the substrate, waterproof properly, and set tile with the right materials. No drifting grout lines. No sloppy corners. No “good from far.”
Trusted in Calgary & Okotoks
+50 Five-Star Reviews
Licensed & Insured
Full Written Warranties
Red Seal Trades
✔ Itemized, no‑pressure estimates
✔ Clean, respectful jobsite
✔ Permit‑aware planning
At Elevation Renovations, we provide high-quality renovations throughout Calgary, Okotoks, and the Foothills—
without the layers of management, sales staff, and overhead that drive up costs at large renovation companies.
We’re a small, owner-led team. That means the people planning your renovation are the same people overseeing the work.
coordinating trades, and checking the details on site. Fewer handoffs. Clear communication. Better value for your budget.
Our clients appreciate that they’re paying for skilled work and careful planning.
not a showroom, sales commissions, or unnecessary administrative layers.
Why Tile Setter Quality Matters
Most “tile problems” aren’t tile problems. They’re prep and process problems:
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walls aren’t flat
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waterproofing is rushed
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layout isn’t planned
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cuts and edges look rough
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grout lines drift as you go up the wall
A premium bathroom tile job is built in layers:
flat prep → waterproofing → layout → setting → grout → clean finish.
Bathrooms aren’t a place to roll the dice on whoever is available. We keep standards consistent, and we stick to proven installation methods because that’s what performs long-term and avoids callbacks.
If you're interested in a full bathroom renovation from top local contractors, check us out here.
Bathroom Tile Work We Do in Calgary
Precision shower tile installs in Calgary with laser-straight layout, tight grout joints, and clean niche/valve alignment.
Shower Tile
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full-height shower wall tile installs
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niches, benches, shelves (clean lines)
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laser-straight layout + grout alignment
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leveling system for flat, low-lippage
Bathroom Floors
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bathroom floor tile install and prep
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clean doorway transitions and trims
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tight joints for less grout cleanup
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flat finish (leveling system used)
Tub Surrounds
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tub surround tile installation (Calgary)
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proper wet-zone prep + clean edges
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straight layouts (no “tile-to-fit” look)
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dressed cuts + clean corner finishing
Feature Walls + Kitchen Backsplashes
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feature wall tile + statement patterns
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herringbone, vertical stack, mosaics
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laser layout so patterns land right
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clean finishes around fixtures + trim
Waterproofing Standard (Wedi)
Tile and grout aren’t waterproof. The waterproofing is what protects your home.
We use Wedi waterproofing exclusively for wet areas because it outperforms patchwork mix-and-match systems, and it’s a cleaner, more consistent install method. In trades, consistency wins—once you’ve got a system that performs, you stick to it.
Wedi costs more upfront because it’s a premium system, but it’s worth it to reduce risk and avoid problems down the road.
(Curbless showers are a major part of what we do. We keep the details light here because curbless is a specialized scope.)
Layout First—Then Tile
If you want tile to look expensive, the layout has to be right.
Before we set tile, we plan:
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where the pattern starts and ends
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where cuts land (avoid slivers where we can)
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how niches align to grout lines
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how tile hits corners and edges cleanly
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how feature walls and focal lines are centered
Lasers on every row (vertical + horizontal)
This is not “by eye.”
We laser the layout, and we laser every row—up and across—so grout lines stay straight and rows don’t walk. That’s how you get crisp, professional lines that look intentional from every angle.
The Setting System
(Materials + Tools We Use Every Time)
If someone won’t tell you what they set the tile with, that’s a red flag.
MegaLite thinset
We use MegaLite thinset exclusively. It’s high-performance, and it bonds properly. We’re not using bargain mortar in a shower.
Tile leveling system on every install
We use a tile levelling system on every job. Period.
Levelling by eye and feel will never beat a proper system—especially on:
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large-format tile
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long wall runs
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tight grout joints
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pattern work where tiny errors show
Cut edges finished properly
After saw cuts, we dress exposed edges with a rubbing stone so they’re smooth, straight, and clean to the touch. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.
Minimal Grout Joint (“Zero Grout Line Look”)
A lot of homeowners want the “zero grout line” look — what they really mean is tight, consistent joints.
When the tile allows it, we install with a minimal grout joint:
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less visible grout
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easier cleaning
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more high-end look
Tight joints only work when the system is right: flat prep, laser layout, and leveling. We’ll confirm what joint size your tile can realistically handle and still perform.
Tile Selection Matters
(What Works Best in Bathrooms)
Not all tile behaves the same in a wet area. A good selection makes the bathroom easier to live with.
Porcelain vs Ceramic
Porcelain is usually the go-to for bathrooms because it’s dense, durable, and handles moisture well.
Large-Format Tile
Large format looks clean with fewer grout lines, but it demands:
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flatter walls/floors
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tighter setting standards
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better lippage control
Mosaic Tile
Mosaic works great for shower floors and accents, but it takes more time:
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more alignment work
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more grout and finishing
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more chance for sloppy work to show
Pattern Tile
(Herringbone / Chevron)
Pattern tile looks incredible when it’s done right—and brutal when it’s not. It takes strict layout control and more installation time.
Shower Details That Separate “Okay” From “High-End”
This is where most showers either look premium or look builder-grade.
Niches & Benches & Shelves
A niche should be:
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planned to align with grout lines
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square and clean
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finished with tidy edges and consistent joints
These features add time and require clean transitions. If they look “added on,” the whole shower looks cheaper.
Valve/Head Placement Around Tile & Corners & Changes of Plane
Fixture cuts should look intentional. Layout and plumbing placement have to work together.
Corners are not an afterthought. They need clean finishing and durability in a wet area.
How We Prevent Tile Lippage (Flat Walls + Leveling System)
If you can feel tile edges with your hand or see light catching uneven surfaces, that’s lippage—and it kills the look fast. Here is how we prevent lippage.
1) We start with flat walls and floors
Large-format tile and long wall runs will expose every bump and wave. If the substrate isn’t true, the tile won’t be either. Prep is where lippage is eliminated.
2) We don’t rely on “eye and feel”
We use a tile levelling system on every install. It keeps the surface flatter and reduces lippage—especially on large-format tile and long vertical walls.
3) We laser lines to stop drift
Even small drift makes lippage look worse because joints stop reading straight. We laser layout rows so everything stays true.
4) We account for tile variation
Some tile has slight warpage or size variation. A good installer knows how to plan layout and offset choices to keep the finished surface looking tight and consistent.
Shower Niche Layout
(Grout Line Alignment Without Slivers)
Homeowners notice niches immediately. If it looks “almost lined up,” it doesn’t matter how good the rest is—your eye goes to the niche.
Here’s how we make niches look intentional:
We plan the niche around the tile layout (not the other way around)
Before we build/set, we establish:
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grout joint size
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layout starting points
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how tile lands at edges and corners
Then we align the niche so grout lines and courses make sense.
We avoid “slivers” whenever possible
Those tiny cuts around a niche are a dead giveaway of a rushed layout. We plan the layout so the niche lands cleanly and reads symmetrically.
Shelves and edges are finished clean
Cuts are dressed, edges are tidy, and lines stay straight. That’s what makes a niche look built-in, not patched in.
Our 4-Phase Bathroom Tiling Process
This is how we keep tile work consistent and predictable.
Phase 1: Plan & Layout
(1–2 working days)
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confirm scope (shower, floor, tub, feature wall)
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confirm pattern direction and grout joint plan
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set layout lines and focal points
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align niches/features to grout lines where possible
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confirm trim and transitions
Phase 2: Prep & Waterproofing
(2–4 working days)
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flatten and prep surfaces (tile can’t hide bad walls)
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install the wet-zone system (Wedi standard)
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detail niches/benches/transitions properly
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sequence it right (don’t rush the steps)
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Phase 3: Tile Installation
(2–7 working days)
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set tile clean and consistent
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leveling systems on all installs
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Lasers are used to keep everything true as we go
Patterns, mosaics, niches/benches, and large formats add time—that’s normal.
Phase 4: Grout + Final Finish
(1–3 working days)
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grout and cleanup done properly
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corners and transitions finished cleanly
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detail touch-ups and walkthrough
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Once all done, the final payment
Bathroom Tiling Timeline Calgary (Real Days)
Timelines are driven by prep, waterproofing, and complexity.
Canmore walk-in shower, 2017
Tub surround: 3–6 working days
Standard shower walls and floor: 7–12 working days
Custom shower (niches/bench/pattern/mosaic) + floor: 10–15 working days
Large ensuite / heavy pattern / multiple wet zones: 3–4+ weeks
What takes the time (and why it matters)
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flattening walls/floors
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waterproofing sequencing and detail work
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mosaics and pattern layouts
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large format tile (flatness + lippage control)
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grout cleanup and finishing
If somebody says they can do a complex shower “in a couple days,” they’re skipping steps.
Tiling your front entryway or mudroom but need more home renovations?
Bathroom Tiling Cost Calgary
(Labour vs Tile/Materials)
Tile pricing should always be broken into two buckets:
1) Labour (prep, waterproofing detail, layout, setting, grout, finish)
Labour is driven by complexity.
Labour planning ranges (per sq ft):
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Floor tile (straight lay): $12–$25/sq ft labour
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Shower walls/tub surrounds: $20–$35/sq ft labour
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Mosaics: up to $40/sq ft labour
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High complexity/pattern/specialty: up to $60/sq ft labour
2) Tile & Materials (tile + system materials)
Tile cost (material only) varies by selection:
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$3–$12/sq ft standard porcelain/ceramic
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$10–$25+/sq ft mid/high-end
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$15–$50+/sq ft premium mosaics/designer tile
Setting materials can include:
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Wedi system components (wet zones)
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MegaLite thinset
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grout, trims/edging, sealants
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prep/underlayment materials
We quote labour and materials separately so it’s clear what you’re paying for.
The estimate will give you a budget for tile and materials, so when you shop for tile, you know what costs to stay within.
Common Tile Problems We Fix
(What Calgary Homeowners Notice Immediately)
We get calls to fix the same problem, “tile jobs” that weren’t done to a professional standard:
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grout lines that wander up the wall
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lippage you can see and feel (especially on large-format tile)
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slivers and awkward cuts that make the layout look “off”
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messy corners, trims, and edges that don’t finish clean
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uneven fixture cuts around valves, spouts, and shower heads
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shower floors that don’t drain right / water pooling in spots
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grout haze, rough grout joints, or grout that cracks early
Those aren’t “normal.” They’re the result of rushed prep, weak layout planning, and no consistent standards.
Why these problems happen
Most of the time it comes down to:
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walls/floors not prepped flat
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layout not planned (no laser control)
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no leveling system (installer “sets by feel”)
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low-grade materials and rushed sequencing
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wet-area work treated like “just tile” instead of a system
How we prevent it (our standards)
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laser layout vertically and horizontally (and we laser rows as we go)
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The tile leveling system used on every install for flatter surfaces
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proper prep so tile isn’t forced to follow bad walls/floors
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Wedi waterproofing only in wet zones (repeatable system, fewer variables)
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MegaLite thinset only for bond strength and performance
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cuts are dressed with a rubbing stone so edges finish clean
If you’re looking for a Calgary tile setter you can trust, start with a bathroom done right from the prep up: Bathroom Renovations Calgary & Okotoks. Other options instead of tile: you can look into microcement showers and floors. We also do concrete vanity tops to make your bathroom truly high-end.
What happens next?
1) We reply within 1 business day
2) Quick 15-minute phone consultation
3) On-site visit + clear, itemized estimate
4) No pressure—you decide how to proceed
5) We respect your time and your home.
Bathroom Tiling Calgary FAQ
Is tile waterproof?
No. Tile is the finish. Waterproofing behind it protects the structure.
What waterproofing do you use?
Wedi only. One system, one standard.
Do you do curbless showers?
Yes—most of our showers are curbless. It’s a specialized scope, so we keep the details light here.
How do you keep grout lines straight?
Laser layout vertically and horizontally, and we laser rows as we go.
Do you use tile levelling systems?
Yes—on every install. It’s how you get flatter tile and less lippage.
Can you do the “zero grout line” look?
We can do minimal grout joints when the tile allows it—tight, clean, and easier to maintain.
How long does a shower and floor take?
Most standard scopes land in the 7–12 working day range; complex work takes longer.
Why do mosaics/patterns cost more?
They take more time to align, cut, and finish cleanly. Mosaic labour can be up to $40/sq ft, and complex pattern work up to $60/sq ft labour.
How do I get an accurate quote?
Photos help, but we confirm substrate condition, scope, and tile selection on-site for accurate pricing.