Tub Surround Tile & Materials
Six materials we set on Farmington tub walls — with honest notes on each.
There is no bad tile for a tub surround, only tile matched badly to its owner. A landlord needs dark epoxy-grouted porcelain that survives tenants; a forever-home bath can carry handmade-look zellige that needs a squeegee habit. These are the six materials we install on Farmington tub walls, ranked by what actually matters once the installer leaves.
- Porcelain subway — the default: dense, cheap, wipeable, timeless.
- Ceramic subway — lighter price, softer body; fine for walls, never floors.
- Large-format porcelain — fewer joints, modern calm; needs flat walls.
- Mosaics & penny rounds — pattern and grip; more grout to keep.
- Natural stone — marble, slate, travertine; seal yearly, love forever.
- Epoxy grout — the upgrade that matters most: stain-proof joints.
Farmington notes
The Farmington pattern: a 1980s fiberglass shower pan gone dull and flexy next to dated brass trim. Shower-floor and pan re-tiles outnumber full redos here, and buyers notice new shower floors first. For most Farmington baths we recommend porcelain walls with epoxy grout — it is the combination that still looks new when we drive past five years later.
Materials we set in Farmington
Surround tile we set most in Farmington — each suits different baths and budgets.
Common questions
Polymer-modified cement grout minimum; epoxy grout for rentals, kids' baths and anyone who hates scrubbing. Epoxy adds roughly $100–$200 per surround.
Cement grout and all natural stone get penetrating sealer as standard, included in the quote. Epoxy grout needs no sealer.
Yes — we'll verify quantity, quality and suitability at the measure. Customer-supplied tile carries our labor warranty but not a material warranty.
Glazed porcelain subway for most Farmington baths: dense, stain-resistant, affordable and timeless. Upgrade to mosaics for pattern or stone for luxury — the waterproofing matters more than the tile.
