She Chose the Cheapest Bathroom Remodel Quote — Then the Shower Tiles Literally Fell Off the Walls....

(image is AI rendered. Not the actual photos but the story is true)

A few months ago, I walked into one of the most beautiful older bathrooms I had seen in Albuquerque.

The home had classic Southwest character that you simply do not see very often anymore.

In the center of the room sat an old clawfoot tub resting on worn Saltillo tile floors. The walls around the tub were covered halfway up with colorful handcrafted Mexican tile that had probably been there for decades. Behind the tub was a large 4x4 operable window that brought natural light into the room.

The homeowner loved the charm of the space, but she wanted to modernize it.

Her goal was simple:She wanted to remove the old tub and replace it with a custom walk-in shower.

Like many homeowners remodeling older bathrooms in New Mexico, she wanted something cleaner, brighter, and easier to use while still maintaining the character of the home.

We walked through the project together and discussed the proper way to rebuild the space.

I explained that converting an old bathroom into a modern custom shower requires much more than simply installing tile.

The project would need:

• Full demolition of the existing tile and wall materials

• A properly waterproofed shower pan

• Waterproof wall systems

• New plumbing valves and fixtures

• New tile installation

• Frameless shower glass

• Replacement of the large operable window with waterproof glass block for privacy and moisture protection

I also explained that the old tile and drywall behind the walls were not designed to function inside a modern walk-in shower environment.

Bathrooms experience constant moisture exposure. If waterproofing is not done correctly behind the tile, the shower will eventually fail.

Within 24 hours, I emailed her a detailed written estimate breaking down every part of the project:

• Demolition

• Plumbing

• Waterproofing

• Tile work

• Glass installation

• Materials

• Labor

Everything was clearly outlined.

A few days later, she contacted me and politely explained that she had decided to hire another contractor because his price was significantly lower.

Unfortunately, that is where the story changed.

A few months passed. Then my phone rang.

It was the same homeowner.

Her voice sounded frustrated and stressed.

She explained that the new shower had started leaking and tiles were literally falling off the walls.

When I arrived to inspect the bathroom, the problem became immediately obvious.

The contractor had never removed the original tile system.

Instead:

• He left the old tile on the walls

• Installed a shower pan directly over the existing floor

• Tiled above the old tile directly onto drywall

• Skipped proper waterproofing entirely

The moment daily shower moisture entered the wall system, the installation began failing.

Water penetrated behind the tile.The drywall absorbed moisture.The tile adhesive failed.The walls started deteriorating.

The bathroom was now sustaining water damage.

Then came the worst part.

When the homeowner tried contacting the contractor, he blocked her number and disappeared completely.

Now she had already paid once for the remodel……and needed to pay again to tear everything out and rebuild the shower correctly.

The difficult reality was that the repair cost was now higher than my original estimate because:

• The failed work had to be demolished

• Water damage had occurred

• Additional repairs were now necessary

Unfortunately, stories like this happen far too often in bathroom remodeling.

Many homeowners assume all remodel quotes are pricing the same work.

They are not.

One contractor may include:

• Proper demolition

• Waterproofing systems

• Licensed plumbing

• Modern building methods

• Quality materials

• Detailed preparation

Another may simply install tile over existing surfaces and hope the homeowner never notices what is happening behind the walls.

The problem is that tile and grout are not waterproof.

A properly built shower relies on the systems behind the tile:

• Waterproof membranes

• Proper drainage

• Correct backer materials

• Moisture protection

• Proper sealing around windows and penetrations

Without those systems, failure is only a matter of time.

In Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico, many older homes have unique construction conditions:

• Saltillo tile

• Adobe walls

• Older drywall systems

• Aging plumbing

• Poor ventilation

• Previous remodel layers

These homes require experience and proper remodeling techniques.

The cheapest bathroom remodel quote is often cheaper because something important has been removed from the scope:

• Waterproofing

• Demolition

• Plumbing upgrades

• Preparation work

• Permits

• Quality materials

• Skilled labor

And unfortunately, homeowners usually discover those missing items after the project fails.

When homeowners compare bathroom remodeling estimates, the most important question is not:

“Who is cheapest?”

The better question is:

“Who is rebuilding this bathroom correctly so I only pay for it once?”

At Extra Mile Builders, we believe remodeling is about more than making a bathroom look beautiful on the surface.

It is about building a waterproof, durable, long-lasting space that protects the home for years to come.