Scituate · Tile And Waterproofing
Retiling a Scituate bathroom near the water or in an older house? See how flood risk and old floors change what goes under the tile, then reach an independent local remodeler.
Scituate, Massachusetts
Tile in a Scituate bathroom can face water from two directions: shower spray from above and, in low-lying parts of town, floodwater from below. The town says nor'easters cause most of its flood hazard, and Storm Grayson brought significant flooding to Scituate Harbor village on January 4, 2018.
That's why what goes under the tile matters as much as the tile itself. In a ground-floor or basement bathroom in a flood-prone neighborhood, cement board, a waterproof membrane, and setting materials that tolerate soaking recover far better than wood-based underlayment. Upstairs in the town's many prewar houses, the challenge changes to flattening old floors and plaster walls before any tile goes on.
South Shore Bathroom Remodeling Finder is a guide and referral service. When you call or send a request, you're put in touch with an independent tile or bathroom remodeler who works in Scituate.
Grout that looks wet long after a shower suggests moisture is getting behind the tile, often through a failed membrane or none at all.
Tiles that sound hollow when tapped have lost their grip on the floor. Left alone, they tend to crack and let water through.
A crack crossing several tiles usually follows movement in the floor framing below, which needs fixing before new tile goes down.
If floodwater reached a tiled floor, look for lifting tiles and damp underlayment. Moisture trapped underneath can feed mold.
Local knowledge
Three local facts shape how tile should be set in a Scituate bathroom.
Flood Threats
The town lists high tides, storm surge, large waves, and heavy rain as its flood threats. For a ground-floor bath in a low area, choose backer, membrane, and grout that can be soaked, dried, and kept.
Source: Town of Scituate
Storm Grayson, 2018
The town's 2018 flood mitigation report records significant flooding in Scituate Harbor village on January 4, 2018. If your home flooded then or since, have the remodeler check the subfloor and framing before setting new tile over them.
Source: Town of Scituate
Prewar Floors
A quarter of Scituate's housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, according to the 2025 Housing Production Plan. Floors that old are rarely flat or stiff enough for large tile without added plywood, leveling, or framing work.
Source: Town of Scituate
Right now
A few checks keep a tile project from failing early.
After a flood, keep clear of wet outlets and appliances and have an electrician check any circuit that got wet. Let the floor dry fully before any tile decisions.
The town's flood zone information can tell you whether your home sits in a mapped area, which affects the materials you choose for a ground-floor bath.
Decide on backer board and membrane first, then pick tile that suits the floor's flatness and the room's moisture.
Ask the installer to leave a box of extra tile and grout. Matching a discontinued tile years later is nearly impossible.
What to expect
Most bathroom tile jobs start with demolition down to the subfloor and studs. In older Scituate houses, expect the installer to check the floor for flatness and stiffness, add plywood or leveling compound where needed, and replace old plaster around a shower with cement board and a membrane.
Tile alone rarely needs its own permit, but when the job also moves a shower valve or drain or adds a heated floor, plumbing and electrical permits are applied for online with the Building/Inspections Department and inspected through the town portal. Ask your remodeler which permits your scope triggers.
With about 74% of Scituate housing built before 1980, removing old tile, plaster, or painted trim can disturb lead paint in homes from before 1978. Federal rules require renovation firms to use lead-safe practices in that work, so ask how the crew will contain and clean up dust.
Hire smart
In Massachusetts, contractors who remodel an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units must be registered Home Improvement Contractors, and the plumbing and electrical parts of the job must be done by a plumber and an electrician who hold Massachusetts licenses, under permits.
A good answer names the backer board, membrane, and setting material, not just the tile. Vague answers are a warning sign.
For a ground-floor bath near the water, ask which materials they use that can get wet and dry out without being replaced.
Check the contractor on the state's Home Improvement Contractor lookup before you sign or pay anything.
In a house built before 1978, ask whether the firm follows federal lead-safe renovation practices and how dust will be contained.
Costs
Preparation often costs as much as the tile. Flattening an old floor, adding plywood, installing backer board, and applying a waterproof membrane take time, and older Scituate houses usually need more of that work than newer ones.
Tile size, pattern, and layout drive the rest. Large-format tile needs a flatter floor, small mosaics take longer to set, and niches, benches, and borders add labor. Ask for a written estimate that lists prep, materials, and tile setting as separate lines so you can compare installers fairly.
More help in Scituate
Every page below is written for Scituate homes. Or start from the Scituate bathroom remodeling guide.
Learning Center
Massachusetts gives homeowners real protections on remodeling jobs, but only if the contractor is registered and the contract follows the law. Here is what to check before you hand over a deposit.
Read the guide
The decisions you make before demolition shape the cost, the schedule, and how the room works for the next twenty years. Here's what to settle first.
Read the guideQuestions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
Choose cement board or another water-tolerant backer, a waterproof membrane, and porcelain or ceramic tile with cement-based setting materials. Skip wood-based underlayment in a room that may flood.
It can work when the existing tile is firmly stuck down and the floor beneath is level and rigid. In many older Scituate homes it's safer to remove the old layers and check the subfloor first.
Tile alone often doesn't, but moving plumbing or adding a heated floor does. Those permits are applied for online with the Building/Inspections Department.
If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead paint on trim or walls. Ask the installer to follow federal lead-safe practices and to contain dust during demolition.
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