Modern bathroom with walk-in shower, freestanding bathtub, and double vanity with backlit mirror.

Cracked Grout, Failing Waterproofing, or a Shower That's Showing Its Age? · Kerdi & Schluter Waterproofing Standard · Kohler · American Standard · Moen · Delta · 1-Year Warranty · FREE Second Opinions

Shower & Tub Replacement in Wilmington, DE

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Kerdi & Schluter Waterproofing — Standard on Every Install
Shut-Off Valves Replaced on Every Job
1-Year Comprehensive Warranty
FREE Second Opinions on Outside Quotes
Drop Cloths from Entry to Work Area
Kerdi & Schluter Waterproofing — Standard on Every Install
Shut-Off Valves Replaced on Every Job
1-Year Comprehensive Warranty
FREE Second Opinions on Outside Quotes
Drop Cloths from Entry to Work Area
A small bathroom with a shower stall, toilet, and sink. The shower has frosted glass doors and white tile walls. The toilet and sink are white, and the floor has small gray tiles.
Blue abstract background with curved lines and shapes.

Shower and tub replacement is the single most-requested job at Precision Home Worx — and the one in which Jimmy Grubb specializes. Tile that's cracking at the corners, grout that's gone soft, a 1990s-era fiberglass surround you can't stand looking at anymore, or a tub the kids have outgrown — these are the calls that come in every week from Wilmington, Claymont, Newark, and the Brandywine Hundred neighborhoods.

We replace showers and tubs with proper waterproofing (Kerdi or Schluter membrane behind the tile, not just thinset and hope), real shut-off valves swapped at every connection, and finishes from the brands Northern Delaware homeowners actually want — Kohler, American Standard, Moen, Delta.

  • Tub-to-shower conversions are a featured specialty for aging-in-place needs.

    Call (302) 321-3577 or get a free in-home estimate. Jimmy comes to your home, looks at what's behind the wall, and gives you an honest written quote within about a week. No high-pressure sales pitch, no day-of-estimate "limited time offer," no estimator handoff to a crew you'll never meet.

When Homeowners Call About Their Shower or Tub

Most shower and tub replacement calls start with one of these. The reason they all matter is that ignoring any one of them turns into a much bigger job 6 to 12 months later — usually with mold, rotted framing, or a ceiling that's started staining in the room below.

Cracked grout lines and loose tile

Grout that's gone soft, tiles that move when you press them, or visible cracks in the corner where the wall meets the floor. The grout cracking is rarely the actual problem — it's the symptom. Behind the wall, the cement board (or sometimes drywall, in pre-2005 installations) is already wet. Loose tile means the thinset bond has failed in a localized area, often because water has been wicking behind the tile for months.

By the time you see the cracks, the framing beneath the tile is usually showing signs of moisture. Catch it early, and it's a shower replacement. Let it sit for another year, and you'll be rebuilding part of the wall and the subfloor.

Failed waterproofing membrane

Most pre-2010 shower builds used cement board or even drywall behind tile with only a coat of waterproofing paint (Redgard or similar). After 10–15 years of daily water exposure, the product fails. Visible water stains on the ceiling below the bathroom, peeling paint outside the wet wall, or a musty smell when you walk in — those are the signs. Sometimes it's also visible at the base of the wall outside the bathroom door.

The fix is a full membrane rebuild: tile out, cement board out, fresh Kerdi or Schluter membrane in, then new tile. There's no "refresh" option once the membrane has failed.

Outdated 1990s fiberglass or one-piece surround

Common in homes built between 1985 and 2005 — especially in Bear, Newark, and the newer Wilmington developments. The surround itself is usually fine structurally. The caulking has failed, the look is dated, the homeowner wants the bathroom to feel like 2026 rather than 1995. We pull the surround, build up a tile shower with proper waterproofing, and the room looks 20 years newer.

Tub the kids have outgrown

Tub-to-shower conversions are among our most requested upgrades. Empty-nest couples, aging-in-place homeowners, families who want their primary bathroom to feel like a spa — all the same conversion job, different reasons. About a third of our shower work right now is tub-to-shower.

Shower door that won't seal — or a frameless door that's lost its hinges

Framed slider tracks that leak at the bottom corners, frameless glass that's lost the silicone seal at the hinge, or sliding doors that have come off-track from a worn-out roller. Sometimes a shower door swap solves it. Sometimes the door is symptomatic of a shower base that's flexed or settled, and the whole shower needs to come out. Jimmy walks through it at the estimate.

Local Conditions That Affect Shower Work in Northern Delaware

Northern Delaware's housing stock is more varied than most metro areas. Pre-1940 Wilmington row homes, post-war Claymont and Westover Hills builds, 1980s–1990s Bear and Newark developments, and the Brandywine Hundred premium homes each have their own quirks. The shower work changes accordingly.

Pre-1978 Wilmington row homes — plaster walls under tile

Most pre-1978 Wilmington homes (Brandywine row homes, the Highlands, parts of Trolley Square) have plaster walls under any tile we're demoing. Plaster demos differently than drywall — it cracks in chunks, it's heavier, and the keyway behind the lath holds onto fasteners differently. We adjust our demo plan accordingly and use dust barriers to contain plaster dust during removal. Pre-1978 also triggers EPA lead-paint protocols on any wall surface that gets disturbed.

Brandywine Hundred fieldstone foundations and drainage

The premium Brandywine Hundred neighborhoods (Greenville, Centreville, Montchanin, parts of Hockessin) include older homes built on fieldstone or local-stone foundations. Drainage at the base of the wall is sometimes routed differently from that in modern slab construction. We verify the drain configuration before scoping the shower base; on tub-to-shower conversions, we sometimes need to extend or relocate the drain line, which adds time.

Polybutylene-pipe homes — 1985 to 1995

If your home was built between 1985 and 1995 (much of Bear, Hockessin, Newark, parts of newer Claymont), there's about a 30% chance you have polybutylene supply pipes. Polybutylene was discontinued because it degrades over time and fails at fittings — usually first at the shower valve, where the pipe sees temperature cycling. When we open the wall for a shower replacement and find polybutylene, we recommend replacing the supply lines to the shower valve at the same time. Adds a few hundred dollars to the job; saves a much bigger headache later.

Primary baths in Hockessin / Greenville vs. hall baths in Claymont

A primary bath shower in a Hockessin custom build typically runs 5 by 6 feet or larger with frameless glass and large-format porcelain. A hall bath shower in a Claymont post-war home is more often 30 by 60 inches with subway tile and a framed slider door. Same standards on both — Kerdi waterproofing, shut-off valves replaced, drop cloths down — but the price gap reflects the size, tile selection, and fixture tier.

Our Reviews

What's Covered

Shower Replacement

Complete shower demolition, framing inspection and repair if needed, Kerdi or Schluter waterproofing membrane, new shower pan or tile-ready base, full tile install (subway, mosaic, large-format, marble, or whatever the homeowner chooses), new fixtures (Kohler, American Standard, Moen, or Delta), and finish trim. Shut-off valves replaced on every connection.

Tub-to-Shower Conversion (Featured Specialty)

Removing an existing tub and converting the space to a curbless or low-curb walk-in shower. Includes structural framing changes, plumbing reroute, Kerdi or Schluter waterproofing, full tile install, glass door, and accessibility-grade grab bars where requested. Aging-in-place clients are the biggest users of this conversion.

Shower Door Replacement

Framed slider doors ($1,000 installed), frameless glass doors ($2,000 installed for standard sizes). Pivot, sliding, and barn-style hardware all in scope. Most replacements are same-week if the existing opening is standard.

Tub Replacement

Old tub removal (including alcove tubs, freestanding, and built-in), subfloor inspection and repair, new tub install, new tub-surround tile if needed, fixture replacement, and shut-off valve swap. Cast iron, steel, and acrylic tubs, all in scope.

Shower Tile Repair

Cracked tile replacement, full or partial regrouting, caulk replacement at corners and base, and waterproofing membrane repair where the existing waterproofing has failed in localized spots. Time-and-materials pricing for repair-only jobs — most range from $250 for a single-tile repair to $1,500 for full regrouting on a primary bath.

Waterproofing Membrane (Kerdi & Schluter — Standard)

Kerdi or Schluter membrane is our standard waterproofing for every shower installation — not an upgrade option, not an upsell, not a line item. The membrane goes between the cement board and the tile, sealing the entire wet area so water can't reach the wood framing. Most contractors skip this step and rely on thinset and a coat of paint-on waterproofing. We don't.

What's NOT included: We don't do shower glass enclosures over 96" wide (that's custom glass shop work), steam shower systems (specialty trade), or jetted tub installations (requires dedicated electrical circuit beyond our handyman scope — we'll refer you to a licensed Delaware electrician). We also don't do walk-in tubs at this time.

Pricing

Pricing varies with shower size, tile selection, and whether structural or plumbing work is needed behind the wall. Below are typical ranges from real Precision Home Worx projects in Northern Delaware. Your free in-home estimate gives you an exact written quote good for 30 days — no "day-of-estimate pricing" pressure.

Service Typical Range Notes
Shower tile repair (single tile / partial regrout) $250–$500 T&M
Full shower regrouting + caulk refresh $800–$1,500 No tile replacement
Shower door replacement — framed slider $1,000 Standard opening
Shower door replacement — frameless glass $2,000 Premium upsell
Tub replacement — alcove tub, same plumbing $2,500–$4,500 Tile-around extra
Shower replacement — standard alcove $5,000–$10,000 With Kerdi
Tub-to-shower conversion $7,500–$15,000 Featured specialty
Premium primary-bath shower (large-format tile, glass enclosure) $12,000–$20,000 Hockessin/Greenville tier

What affects the price

Tile selection

Tile selection — subway tile vs. large-format porcelain vs. marble can swing the cost $2,000+.

Shower size

Shower size — primary baths in Hockessin and Greenville often cost twice as much as a hall bath shower in Claymont.

Structural condition behind the wall

Structural condition behind the wall — rotted framing or failed subfloor adds carpentry hours.

Plumbing

Plumbing — moving the drain or replumbing the valve adds time. Polybutylene-pipe homes (1985–1995 builds) often need supply-line replacement at the same time.

Fixtures

Fixtures — Kohler/Moen entry-tier vs. premium finishes like brushed brass or matte black.

Discount stack

10% off the first $1,000 of labor for new customers, military, and seniors (65+). Must be mentioned at the estimate. Multi-service bundles (shower + bath remodel, shower + tub conversion + door) qualify for additional bundled pricing — ask Jimmy at the estimate.

How Your Shower Replacement Actually Happens

Written estimate by email, valid 30 days

Itemized estimate covering demolition, materials, labor, waterproofing, fixtures, and finish work. Every selection — tile, fixture, finish — comes with a link to the exact product so you see what we're ordering before we order it. If the polybutylene supply lines need replacement, that's quoted separately so you can decide.

Plumbing + electrical rough-in (days 2–3 if needed)

Shut-off valves replaced. Drain reroute if you're converting a tub to a shower or moving the shower head. Electrical for lighting or in-shower fixtures is handled in-house under the handyman scope; anything requiring a licensed Delaware electrician (rare on a shower job) gets coordinated with our partner.

Fixture install + final walk-through

Shower head, valve trim, drain trim, glass door, grab bars (if requested), and any accessories. We pressure-test the valve. You walk through with Jimmy at the end. overnight cure time on the grout before you use the shower.

Order lead-time — about 10 days for stone, faster for stock

Custom-cut stone counters or large-format porcelain typically run 10 days from template to install. Standard tile and stock fixtures we can pick up that week. Frameless glass doors are usually 1–2 weeks from the order date.

Waterproofing membrane (Kerdi or Schluter)

Membrane installed across the entire wet area — walls, floor, niches, and curb. This is the step most contractors cut. We don't. Every seam is sealed; every penetration is gasketed. About a full day of work — half the labor most contractors skip when they install a shower.

One-year warranty

Comprehensive warranty on workmanship and materials, dated from completion. If something isn't right, you call Jimmy directly at (302) 321-3577 — we handle it from there. No call center, no "please open a ticket, and we'll get back to you."

Free in-home estimate (within about a week)

Jimmy comes to your home with samples and measuring tools. Booties on before the front door opens. He looks at the existing shower, checks what's accessible behind the wall, and asks what you actually want — finish, layout, and accessibility features. No sales pressure, no "sign today and save 15%" tactics.

Demolition + framing inspection (day 1)

Drop cloths and runners go down from your entry to the bathroom door before any tools come out. Old shower demoed and hauled away on demolition day. Framing inspected for rot or water damage — anything found gets quoted as a written change order before we proceed. No "oh by the way" surprise charges.

Tile installation

Subway, mosaic, large-format, marble — laid out with the homeowner's sign-off before mortar goes down. Niches and accent rows are planned to line up cleanly with the field tile. Grout color confirmed in writing before mixing. Most showers take 1–3 days to tile, depending on size and pattern complexity.

Why Precision Home Worx for Your Shower

Shower replacement is our top-requested service

Per Jimmy, shower and tub replacement is the single most profitable service at Precision Home Worx and the one we're most often hired for. We do this every week, across every type of Northern DE home, from pre-1940 Wilmington row houses to 2010s Hockessin custom builds.

Kerdi and Schluter Waterproofing — Standard, Not Upcharged

Discount shower installs skip the waterproofing membrane to come in under our quote. Adding proper Kerdi takes about an extra day of labor — roughly $400–$600 in cost. Two years later, water gets behind the tile, and the homeowner is paying for a full rebuild. Our standard install includes the membrane every time.

Shut-Off Valves Replaced At Every Connection

Per Jimmy's verbatim on the current site: "It is appalling when other tradesmen will not go the extra mile and install a $25.00 shut-off valve when the existing one is in poor condition." The valve adds 15 minutes and $25. Skipping it costs $400 when the old valve fails 5 years later.

Drop Cloths From Your Entry To The Bathroom — Every Job

Bathrooms are typically the back of the house — often 30–40 feet of carpet and hardwood from the front door. We use about 200 square feet of canvas runners, taped at the seams. The setup adds 30 minutes before any tools come out. Most contractors skip this and track grit the whole way.

Brands You Actually Want — Kohler, American Standard, Moen, Delta

Parts available at every plumbing supplier in the region. When something breaks in 8 years (it happens), any local plumber can find a replacement cartridge in stock. Off-brand fixtures from big-box installers go end-of-life within 5 years and the parts disappear.

FREE Second Opinions On Outside Quotes

Already have a quote from a shower-remodel chain or a competitor? Jimmy reviews it for free — walks through what's included, what's missing (waterproofing, shut-off valves, demo disposal typically don't show up in cheap quotes), and tells you whether the price is fair. No pressure either way.

Why Kerdi Waterproofing Matters (And How to Spot a Contractor Skipping It)

Most shower failures aren't caused by tile or grout — they're caused by what's behind the tile. The waterproofing layer separates the wet zone (the tile surface and grout) from the dry zone (the framing, drywall, and floor structure behind it). When that layer fails or doesn't exist, water reaches the wood, and the rebuild clock starts ticking.

Before about 2010, the standard residential shower build was tile over cement board over plain framing. Cement board resists water — but it isn't waterproof. Grout absorbs water by design (it's not a sealant; it's a structural filler). Over years of daily use, water passes through the grout, through any micro-cracks in the cement board, and into the framing. Mold starts. Two years later, you're not regrouting — you're rebuilding the wall.

Kerdi (made by Schluter Systems) solves this with a true waterproof membrane between the cement board and the tile. The fabric-and-polymer layer bonds to the cement board with thinset and overlaps at every seam. Every penetration — the mixing valve, the shower-head pipe, the drain — gets a gasketed boot. The result is a fully sealed wet zone where water physically cannot reach the framing.

Spotting a contractor who's skipping it isn't easy, because the membrane disappears under tile. Signals to look for during a quote: Is waterproofing listed as a line item? Does the contractor say "Kerdi," "Schluter," or "membrane" by name? Vague "we waterproof the shower" answers usually mean Redgard paint (1990s technology) or worse, just thinset. Both will fail within 10–15 years in a daily-use shower. A Kerdi install adds roughly $400–$600 in materials and a full day of labor over a no-membrane install — that's why discount contractors skip it. Two years later, they're long gone, and the homeowner pays for the rebuild.

Real Precision Home Worx Shower Projects

Case Study #1

Kingsridge Primary Bath Shower (M.P.) "We were selling our home and had a number of small and large projects to finish before putting it on the market. I had done a few DIY projects, but was falling behind in both time and skill level. We had Precision Home Worx complete a job I couldn't handle. Once we saw the quality, speed, and cleanliness, I realized Jimmy could help us with so much more. He did the job right and so much faster than I could. He remodeled our master bath from the studs out, including a beautiful tile job in our shower, built a new wall in a closet, installed drywall, installed new door casing that perfectly matched existing molding, did ceiling repair, and enclosed skylight openings. We had a damaged piece of 65-year-old hardwood right in the center of our master bedroom closet floor. He replaced the damaged area, and the wood matched perfectly! Amazing! Jimmy is a Master craftsman!"

Case Study #2

Brandywood Shower & Multi-Project (L.C.) "We've used Precision Home Worx for multiple projects around our house, and Jimmy and his son have done consistent great work. They show up on time, do careful, high-quality work, and always make sure our home is left clean at the end of each day, even on multi-day projects. They've handled everything from drywall replacement and painting to installing a shower liner and pan. We also had a mix-up with our paint colors (our fault), and Jimmy was extremely easygoing about correcting it, which we really appreciated. Professional, dependable, and easy to work with."

Both projects featured Kerdi waterproofing, full tile installation, and one-year warranty coverage.

Brands We Install

These are the bath fixture brands Precision Home Worx installs for shower and tub projects:

Kohler

Full line of valves, trim, shower heads, and drain covers

American Standard

mid-tier reliable trim, especially Cadet and Town Square lines

Moen

finish options across chrome, brushed nickel, matte black

Delta

Touch2O and standard valves; popular for tub-to-shower conversions

For tile, our local supplier is Avalon Flooring in Wilmington

For stone counter work on adjacent vanity projects, we partner with Elegantly Set in Stone in Claymont. Both have showrooms you can visit before finalizing selections — Jimmy will set up the appointments as part of the design phase.

FAQs

Most standard alcove showers take 5–7 working days from demolition to grout cure. Tub-to-shower conversions usually run 7–10 days because of the additional plumbing and structural work. Premium primary-bath showers with custom large-format tile can run 2 weeks. You'll have a specific timeline in your written estimate.

Wait 24 hours after final grout cure before using the shower — the waterproofing membrane and silicone caulk both need that window to seat properly. Once the demo starts, the shower is out of service for the full project. If this is your only shower, we'll talk through the staging at the estimate so you have a plan for the gap.

Standard shower plumbing — valves, drains, shut-off valve replacement — we handle in-house. Major plumbing work, like moving a drain across a joist bay or replumbing polybutylene pipe (common in 1985–1995 homes), is also in scope under our handyman-plumbing umbrella. We don't do tankless water heater installs or sewer main work.

They're both Schluter Systems products and we use both. Kerdi is a fabric membrane that gets bonded to cement board with thinset. The Schluter shower system uses pre-fabricated foam-board panels that double as backer board and waterproofing in one. The Schluter panels are faster on a tight schedule; Kerdi is slightly more forgiving on irregular surfaces. We pick whichever fits your project — both are warrantied the same.

Not currently. We accept major credit cards, Zelle, checks, and cash. For projects over $5,000, most customers pay 50% on order and the balance at completion.

Our work is backed by a one-year comprehensive warranty dated at end of project completion. The warranty covers workmanship and the materials we supply. It does not cover damage caused by misuse, neglect, improper maintenance, or modifications by others. Manufacturer warranties on Kohler/American Standard/Moen/Delta fixtures pass through directly to you. If a callback is ever needed, you call Jimmy at (302) 321-3577.

Yes — for localized issues (one or two cracked tiles, a section of failed grout, a single failed silicone joint) we do repair-only work on a time-and-materials basis. If the waterproofing membrane behind the tile has failed in multiple spots, we'll recommend full replacement instead because the cost gap narrows once we're already opening the wall.

Where We Do Shower & Tub Replacement

Precision Home Worx serves Northern Delaware and southern Chester County, PA — within roughly a 15-mile radius of Wilmington. Our most-frequent shower replacement markets:

Wilmington (19801–19809)

Older row homes, primary bath remodels, tile work on plaster walls.

Claymont (19703)

Post-war housing, vinyl-surround replacements.

Greenville / Centreville / Montchanin

Premium primary baths, large-format tile, custom glass.

Winterthur / Rockland / Yorklyn

Brandywine Hundred premium tier.

Hockessin

Pike Creek and Hockessin Greens area, primary bath remodels.

Newark

University area + Pencader Hundred, mid-tier showers.

Bear • New Castle • Delaware City • Saint Georges

Newer construction needing tile and waterproofing refresh.

Garnet Valley • Glen Mills • Chadds Ford • Cheyney

Brandywine Valley premium tier.

Ready to Schedule?

Ready for a New Shower? Call Precision Home Worx

Call Jimmy directly at (302) 321-3577, or fill out the contact form. We respond within 24–48 hours and schedule your free in-home estimate within about a week.

Hours

Monday – Sunday, 7 AM – 8 PM

Location

221 New York Ave, Claymont, DE 19703

DE License #223872998 BBB A+ Accredited Fully Insured