In a Lincoln master bathroom, the project centered on two things: a new walk-in shower built from the ground up, and fresh tile on the wall above the jacuzzi tub. The bathroom also has a separate toilet room and a walk-in closet. Here is what the work actually involved, step by step.
Step 1: Demolition — Removing What Was Being Replaced
Demolition focused on what was going: the old shower area came out, along with the old tile, the vanity, the original built-in cabinets, the toilet, and the mirror. With the old fixtures out, the footprint for the new walk-in shower was confirmed against the actual space before any new work began.
Step 2: Building the Walk-In Shower From the Ground Up
A walk-in shower is only as good as what you cannot see. The finished tile is the last layer of the job; everything that makes a shower last for decades sits underneath it.
The shower base
The new shower sits on a traditional mud (mortar) base — a hand-packed layer of mortar sloped precisely toward the drain. A mud base is heavy, old-school work, but it creates a rock-solid, perfectly sloped foundation: water has exactly one place to go, and it goes there every time.
Cement board and full waterproofing
The shower area got new cement board over the framing, and over the cement board, a full waterproofing system. Every seam, corner, and fastener gets sealed before a single tile is set. This is the step that decides whether a shower holds up for decades or starts leaking behind the walls — and it is also the step you will never see again once the tile goes up, which is exactly why it deserves the most care. If there is one place in a bathroom remodel where shortcuts are most expensive, it is here.
Step 3: Tile — Shower Walls, Shower Floor, and the Wall Above the Jacuzzi Tub
With the waterproof shell complete, the tile work began. The shower walls and the shower floor were tiled, the floor in a hexagon mosaic — a classic pattern that gives a shower floor grip and visual texture while following the slope of the mud base gracefully.
The jacuzzi tub was installed as part of the project, and tile went up on the wall above it, tying the two areas of the bathroom together so the room reads as one finished space rather than two separate projects sharing a floor.
The shower also got a recessed niche for bottles and soap, and the shower walls received moisture protection behind the tile — small additions that make daily use easier and help the walls stay sound.
Step 4: New Floor Tile Throughout
The bathroom floor got all-new tile as well. Replacing the floor at the same time as the shower is not just cosmetic: a single new floor running wall to wall keeps every transition clean — no awkward seams where old meets new.
Step 5: Vanity and Built-In Cabinets
The new vanity and built-in cabinets were installed to the design plan for the room, giving the bathroom coordinated storage matched to the new tile and fixtures.
Step 6: The Finishing Layer — Hardware, Lighting, Baseboards, Paint
The last phase is what the eye actually lands on every day: new hardware, new light fixtures, new baseboards, patched walls, and fresh paint. None of these items is dramatic on its own, but together they are the difference between “a new shower” and “a new bathroom.” Wall patching in particular is easy to underestimate — after demolition, plumbing work, and tile, walls need careful repair before paint, or every imperfection shows under the new lighting. Good lighting is honest; the prep work has to be ready for it.
What This Scope Means for Your Own Project
The takeaway from this Lincoln project is simple: the shower you see is built on layers you do not. When you compare contractors, ask specifically about the shower base (mud or manufactured pan?), the backer material, and the waterproofing system — not just the tile you will pick out in the showroom. Those hidden layers are where a good shower is made, and they are the hardest things to fix later.
If you are thinking about a walk-in shower for your own master bath and want to know what the project would involve, we are happy to come take a look. Request a free estimate — no pressure, just a clear picture of the scope, in writing, before you decide anything. (For the record: we are licensed and insured, proof available on request.)