Why is the dry-lay step worth the extra time?

Because tile is unforgiving once it is set. Dry-laying reveals where cuts fall, whether the pattern resolves at corners and niches, and how color variation distributes — all of which are adjustable beforehand and expensive afterward. With natural stone it also lets us arrange the variation deliberately rather than accepting whatever order the crate came in.

Is natural stone or large-format porcelain more durable in a wet area?

Porcelain, in most bathroom applications. It is denser, effectively non-porous, and never needs resealing, whereas natural stone is porous and requires periodic maintenance. Where water carries dissolved minerals — as local groundwater can — that maintenance difference compounds. Stone still wins on character, so it is a question of where each belongs rather than which is better.

What is crack-isolation and why does it matter under tile?

It is a membrane layer that lets the substrate move slightly without transmitting that movement into the tile above. Buildings move seasonally, and in a climate with sustained moisture loading, framing moves as it takes on and releases humidity. Crack-isolation is what keeps a hairline substrate crack from telegraphing through as a cracked tile or a grout line that keeps reopening.

Bathroom & Shower Services

Custom Tile & Stonework

Tile and stone are where a bathroom earns its character, and where shortcuts stay hidden longest. Everything we set goes over a properly waterproofed substrate with the layout dry-laid first, so cuts land where they should and the pattern resolves at the corners. Local water matters to the finish decision too: Camas runs on municipal groundwater and much of outlying Clark County is on private wells, and dissolved minerals are harder on polished stone and clear glass than on a matte porcelain — so we match the material to the water it will live with.

What's included

Custom Tile & Stonework

Floor, wall, and full shower-surround tile over waterproofed, crack-isolated substrate
Natural stone and large-format porcelain, dry-laid before anything is set
Mosaic accents, niches, and feature walls planned into the layout
Sealing and finish selection matched to local groundwater mineral content
Slip resistance specified by wet rating, not by appearance, on any floor tile

A custom shower finished with full-height quartzite slab walls, a pebble-mosaic floor, and brushed brass fixtures

How it works

Our custom tile & stonework process

The right choice for homeowners who care how the tile actually meets the corners, and who want the layout, substrate, and material chosen deliberately rather than left to whoever shows up to set it.

1
Select & Layout
Material, size, and pattern are chosen together with the room, because a large-format tile that resolves beautifully on one wall can force awkward slivers on another. We plan where cuts land before anything is ordered.
2
Substrate & Waterproofing
The substrate is built flat and the waterproofing membrane goes in continuous, with crack-isolation where movement is expected. Tile is only as good as what it is bonded to, and this stage is invisible the moment it is covered.
3
Dry-Lay
We lay the pattern out without adhesive first to confirm cuts, alignment, and how natural variation distributes across the installation. Stone in particular varies slab to slab, and this is when it gets arranged rather than discovered mid-set.
4
Set & Grout
Tile is set to the planned layout, grouted, and sealed as the material requires. We clean the haze properly and review the finished work with you against the dry-lay.

Good to know

Custom Tile & Stonework questions

Why is the dry-lay step worth the extra time?: Because tile is unforgiving once it is set. Dry-laying reveals where cuts fall, whether the pattern resolves at corners and niches, and how color variation distributes — all of which are adjustable beforehand and expensive afterward. With natural stone it also lets us arrange the variation deliberately rather than accepting whatever order the crate came in.
Is natural stone or large-format porcelain more durable in a wet area?: Porcelain, in most bathroom applications. It is denser, effectively non-porous, and never needs resealing, whereas natural stone is porous and requires periodic maintenance. Where water carries dissolved minerals — as local groundwater can — that maintenance difference compounds. Stone still wins on character, so it is a question of where each belongs rather than which is better.
What is crack-isolation and why does it matter under tile?: It is a membrane layer that lets the substrate move slightly without transmitting that movement into the tile above. Buildings move seasonally, and in a climate with sustained moisture loading, framing moves as it takes on and releases humidity. Crack-isolation is what keeps a hairline substrate crack from telegraphing through as a cracked tile or a grout line that keeps reopening.

Custom Tile & Stonework by city