What a Shower Remodel Costs in Florida: Real Ranges
A shower remodel — retiling or rebuilding an existing shower without necessarily removing a tub or changing the footprint — costs $4,500–$16,000 in Florida depending on the scope. Retiling an existing shower pan that's structurally sound runs on the lower end; a full teardown to the studs with new waterproofing, pan, and premium tile runs on the higher end.
| Scope | Florida Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Retile Only | $4,500–$7,000 | Remove existing tile, new waterproofing membrane, standard tile (12x24 porcelain), existing pan reused if sound, new glass or curtain |
| Full Shower Rebuild | $7,000–$11,000 | Demo to studs, new pan, waterproofing system, mid-range tile, niche, new fixtures, frameless glass door |
| Custom / Luxury Shower | $11,000–$16,000+ | Full-height designer tile, linear or curbless drain, rain shower head, bench seat, premium frameless glass, natural stone accents |
Florida Building Code Waterproofing Requirement
Florida Building Code Section R702.4 requires a waterproofing membrane in every shower installation, verified by a mandatory pre-tile inspection. This applies to every shower remodel that involves new tile, regardless of whether the project is a small retile or a full rebuild. Common approved systems: Schluter Kerdi sheet membrane, Laticrete Hydro Ban liquid membrane, RedGard liquid membrane, and traditional mud-bed with CPE liner. The inspection typically requires 3-7 business days advance scheduling in busier Florida counties.
What Drives the Price Up (or Down)
Existing Pan Condition
If your existing shower pan and waterproofing are sound — no cracking, no soft spots in the surrounding floor, no musty smell — you can often retile over a properly-maintained pan, keeping cost on the lower end. If the pan is compromised (a very common finding once we open the wall in Florida's humidity), a full rebuild is required, which raises the scope significantly.
Tile Size and Material
Large-format tile (12x24 or larger) requires a flatter substrate and more precise setting but reduces grout lines. Natural stone (marble, travertine) requires sealing and costs 40-70% more than porcelain of similar size. Mosaic tile (common for shower floors and niches) is labor-intensive to install and adds cost per square foot versus large-format tile.
Glass Enclosure
A framed sliding glass door runs $400-$800. A frameless glass enclosure (the modern standard look) runs $1,200-$2,800 depending on size and configuration. This is one of the most visible cost differences homeowners choose between.
The most common discovery when we open a Florida shower for remodeling is a compromised pan liner that's been slowly leaking into the subfloor — often for years without visible symptoms beyond a faint musty smell or a slightly soft spot near the drain. In Florida's humidity, once a liner fails, mold and subfloor rot progress faster than in drier climates. We check for this before quoting a retile-only job, because retiling over a failed liner just re-covers the problem rather than fixing it. If we find it, we tell you before signing — not mid-demo.
Permit Requirements
A shower remodel that keeps the existing plumbing locations and doesn't touch electrical typically doesn't require a permit in most Florida jurisdictions — but the waterproofing inspection requirement still applies to the tile installation itself, verified through your licensed contractor's process. Moving the shower drain, valve, or adding new electrical (a niche light, for example) does require a permit.
How to Get an Accurate Shower Remodel Quote
An accurate quote requires checking your existing pan and waterproofing condition, confirming tile and glass selections, and knowing whether any fixture relocation is planned. D&Co provides a written, itemized shower remodel quote within 48 hours of a site visit — including pan condition assessment, waterproofing scope, and material costs broken out separately.