Start with conditions, not a product
Everything that matters gets covered by tile: drain placement, the framing underneath, waterproofing at every transition, ventilation sized to the room, and the access needed to do the work correctly.
Build a complete scope
- Existing condition and its likely source
- Preparation steps and surface protection
- Materials, how they're compatible, and installation specifics
- Permits, testing, cleanup, and finish restoration
- Exclusions, warranty length, and change-order pricing
Naperville context
Bathroom vintage in Naperville-area homes tracks the same construction waves as the rest of the housing stock -- older in-town homes near the historic district may carry original or early-updated plumbing runs, while the ranch and split-level subdivisions built through the postwar decades standardized around fixture layouts and tile work that are now decades past a typical remodel cycle. DuPage County's permitting process applies to plumbing, electrical, and structural changes alike, and a home's original construction era is often the first clue to what's actually behind the wall before a new layout gets drawn.