Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
Schluter Bathroom Remodeling: The Los Angeles Owner’s Guide
Schluter bathroom remodeling in Los Angeles typically runs $10,620 to $33,040 for a full bathroom, and if you’re dealing with a failed Kerdi membrane, a cracked shower tray, or a wall that’s been leaking behind tile, we stock the Schluter parts to fix it without ripping everything out. Most homeowners discover the problem the same way: grout stays dark after it dries, the tile near the shower floor sounds hollow, or water shows up on the ceiling below the bathroom. That’s a waterproofing failure, not a cosmetic issue, and it’s exactly what the Schluter system was designed to prevent when it’s installed correctly.
Which Schluter Models This Applies To
The two main systems we work with are Kerdi (the orange waterproofing membrane and Kerdi-Board wall panels) and Ditra (the uncoupling membrane that goes under tile floors). Within those lines, the parts that commonly need attention are Kerdi-Drain assemblies, Kerdi corners and Kerdi-Band, shower trays in 32×60 and 48×48 configurations, and Schluter edge trim profiles like the Rondec, Quadec, and Dilex series. The compatibility gotcha most Los Angeles homeowners run into: Kerdi-Board thickness matters. A 1/2-inch Kerdi-Board cannot be swapped for a 5/8-inch panel without throwing off the finished plane of the tile, which means your shower door jamb or niche trim suddenly doesn’t line up.
Sawyer Remodeling is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Schluter. We use Schluter parts because they’re what the system calls for, and we’ve seen what happens when a homeowner or a handyman substitutes a generic shower pan or a different drainage assembly: the warranty dries up and the waterproofing stops being waterproof. If you don’t know which Kerdi version you have, check the drain grate. Kerdi-Drain and Kerdi-Line are different animals, and installing the wrong grate kit means pulling tile back up.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your Schluter Bathroom Remodeling Is Failing
- Grout that stays dark long after the shower dries. This means water is trapped in the substrate. In a properly built Schluter shower, water drains through the thinset and into the Kerdi-Drain. When grout won’t dry, the waterproofing has been punctured or the drain is no longer doing its job.
- Hollow-sounding tile near the shower floor or corners. Tile that’s no longer bonded to the Kerdi beneath it means moisture got between the layers. Once that bond fails, the tile is floating on a sponge.
- A musty smell that returns days after cleaning. That smell is standing water inside the wall or under the floor. Schluter’s system is meant to keep water moving toward the drain, so a recurring odor means the path is broken.
- Cracks in the grout joints at changes of plane. The corners where walls meet floor should have Kerdi-Band bridging the seam with a movement joint left open. When someone skips that step, the first seasonal temperature change in Los Angeles cracks the joint.
- Water staining on the ceiling below a second-floor bathroom. By the time you see this, the failure has been leaking for weeks. The Schluter waterproofing is gone or was never there, and the water is traveling through your subfloor.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
A full Schluter bathroom remodel in Los Angeles runs $10,620 to $33,040, and where your project lands depends on whether we’re replacing a shower only or gutting the room to the studs. A smaller Schluter shower rebuild with Kerdi-Board, a new tray, and new tile typically falls in the $5,900 to $14,160 range. A complete gut-and-rebuild with a Kerdi-Line drain, custom niche, and premium tile pushes toward the top of the range.
Every quote includes the Schluter parts at our cost plus labor, and we put the number in writing before a single tool comes off the truck. That written price covers demolition, waterproofing, tile work, plumbing connections, and the finished room. If the number changes, you hear about it before it happens, not after. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise means if something fails in the first year, we come back and make it right at no charge.
| Schluter Project Type | Typical Los Angeles Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Full Schluter bathroom remodel | $10,620 – $33,040 |
| Small bathroom with Schluter shower | $5,900 – $14,160 |
| Walk-in Schluter shower installation | $5,310 – $14,160 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion (Schluter waterproofed) | $4,130 – $11,800 |
| Shower replacement with Schluter system | $3,540 – $10,030 |
DIY or Call Us?
There’s one honest thing to know before you grab a trowel. Schluter waterproofing only works if every seam is overlapped, every corner is reinforced, and the thinset is mixed to the right consistency. One missed Kerdi-Band seam and the shower leaks for months before you see the damage. You can absolutely check the easy stuff yourself: look for cracked grout, press on tile to feel for movement, and check whether the drain grate is loose. You can even re-caulk the change-of-plane joints with a silicone caulk.
But opening the wall, replacing a drain, or rebuilding a shower pan is not a weekend project. It’s not just the waterproofing. It’s the plumbing, the framing, the flood test, and the tile layout. We’ve fixed enough DIY Schluter showers in Los Angeles to know that the fix usually costs more than doing it right the first time. Call (254) 272-5876 and we’ll tell you whether it’s a repair or a redo, and what it costs either way.
FAQs
A properly installed Schluter Kerdi shower will last 20 to 30 years in Los Angeles before the waterproofing needs attention, though tile finishes may show wear sooner depending on hard water and usage. The California advantage is that we don’t get freeze-thaw cycles, so the membrane isn’t subjected to the expansion and contraction that kills bathroom waterproofing in colder regions. The California disadvantage is that hard water from LA’s supply lines builds up on shower floors and can accelerate grout erosion if the shower isn’t squeegeed or dried regularly. Good work doesn’t need a sales pitch, it just needs to be done right. Call (254) 272-5876 for an exact assessment of your shower’s condition.
Small failures, like one cracked grout joint or a corner that’s pulling away, can often be repaired by removing the affected tile, patching the Kerdi, and reinstalling the tile. A failed Kerdi-Drain or a shower pan that’s been leaking into the subfloor almost always requires pulling the shower floor and the first row of wall tile. We’ll tell you straight which situation you’re in, and the repair quote is free.
A full Schluter shower replacement from demo to finished tile takes 5 to 10 working days in Los Angeles, depending on the size of the shower and the tile you choose. The flood test alone runs 24 hours before we set the final tile, because that’s the only way to prove the waterproofing holds. We give you a written schedule up front and photo updates as the work goes in, so you’re never guessing what’s happening in your own bathroom.
We stock Kerdi-Band, Kerdi corners, Kerdi-Drain grate kits, Rondec and Quadec trim profiles, and the specialized Schluter thinset and screws on every truck that rolls to a bathroom job in Los Angeles. If your project needs a Kerdi-Line drain, a custom shower tray, or Kerdi-Board panels, we order them the same day and schedule the work when they arrive. Sawyer Remodeling also works with KraftMaid, Cambria, and Silestone surfaces, so your bathroom remodel can pull from one material list instead of chasing three different suppliers.
If your Schluter bathroom is leaking, cracking, or just feels wrong underfoot, call (254) 272-5876. We’ll give you a written price and a straight answer, and Luca Romano will make sure the work holds up long after the invoice is paid.
Written by Luca Romano, Owner, Sawyer Remodeling at Sawyer Remodeling, serving Los Angeles and nearby areas.
