Tile Installation in Franktown, CO

Tile is usually the last visible layer of a Franktown bathroom or kitchen project, but the work that decides whether it lasts happens underneath it: waterproofing, a tested shower pan, and plumbing rough-in that has already cleared county inspection. Douglas County does not issue a separate permit for tile itself; instead, tile work rides along with whatever permit covers the bathroom or kitchen remodel it belongs to, and the county’s inspection sequence is built to catch waterproofing problems before tile ever gets set.

This page covers the Douglas County checkpoints we plan around for tile scopes in the Franktown area. It is a planning guide, not a substitute for a project-specific inspection determination, and we confirm current requirements with the county before scheduling a wet-area installation.

Tile Follows the Bathroom or Kitchen Permit, Not Its Own

Douglas County does not publish a tile-specific permit page. A tile installation that is part of a bathroom or kitchen remodel is covered under that project’s building permit, alongside the plumbing, electrical, and any structural changes the remodel involves. A standalone tile refresh, such as replacing floor tile with no plumbing or wall changes, may fall outside permit scope, but we confirm that with the Building Division rather than assume it based on how the job looks on the surface.

Because tile scope is folded into the larger remodel permit, we treat the tile schedule as dependent on the same rough-in and inspection sequence as the rest of the bathroom or kitchen, not as an independent finish trade that can move on its own timeline.

Shower Pans Get Water-Tested Before Tile Goes On

For a built-in-place shower base, Douglas County’s inspection sequence requires the pan to be lined per code and filled with water so it can be checked for leaks, and that inspection is commonly requested alongside the drywall inspection, well before tile setting begins. That order matters: once tile and thin-set cover a pan, a leak that slipped through is a full teardown, not a caulk-line fix.

On every Franktown shower with a built-in-place pan, we schedule that water test as a hold point and do not set tile in that area until the pan has passed, even if other parts of the bathroom are ready to move faster.

Waterproofing Behind Tile Has to Clear Inspection First

Wet-area waterproofing behind tile, whether it is a liquid membrane, sheet membrane, or another county-recognized method, has to be complete and pass inspection before the project moves to the finish and final steps in Douglas County’s inspection sequence. We do not set tile over a wall or curb that has not been signed off, because tile itself does not create the waterproof layer; it sits on top of one that either works or does not.

We document the waterproofing method and coverage with photos before tile covers it, partly for our own record and partly because it is the only practical way to verify coverage once the tile is on. That record also helps if a warranty question comes up years later.

Plumbing Rough-In Comes Before Any Tile Touches a Wet Wall

Any shower or tub valve, drain, or supply line that a tile project relocates falls under the currently adopted International Plumbing Code edition Douglas County has in effect, and that work is inspected at the plumbing rough-in stage, before insulation, drywall, or tile close the wall. If a tile scope includes moving a shower valve or drain even a few inches, that move is plumbing work first and tile work second, in that order.

We sequence every wet-area tile project so the plumbing rough-in inspection clears before backer board or membrane goes up, which keeps the tile crew from getting ahead of a rough-in that has not yet been approved.

The County Doesn’t Publish Numeric Slope or Membrane Standards Separately

Douglas County has not published a standalone bulletin stating numeric standards for shower-pan slope, curb height, or waterproofing membrane type; those details are governed by the currently adopted plumbing and building code edition itself rather than a separate county document. We build to the applicable code section for slope-to-drain and curb height and confirm the specific section and any local amendment with the Building Division when a design detail, such as a curbless shower, pushes outside a standard configuration.

That is also why we do not quote a slope or curb figure as a fixed number on this page: it depends on which code edition is currently adopted and how that edition treats the specific shower configuration, which the Building Division can confirm for the exact project.

How We Sequence Tile on a Franktown Project

We start by confirming the tile scope against the governing bathroom or kitchen permit, since tile does not carry its own permit in Douglas County. Plumbing rough-in for any relocated valve, drain, or supply line is scheduled and inspected first, followed by waterproofing installation, then the shower-pan water test where a built-in-place pan is part of the design.

Tile setting begins only after waterproofing and, where applicable, the pan test have passed inspection. We document waterproofing coverage with photos before it disappears behind tile, and we confirm any code-specific slope, curb, or membrane detail with the Building Division rather than relying on a generic industry number that may not match the currently adopted edition in Douglas County.

Common Questions

Does tile work in Franktown need its own permit?
Douglas County does not publish a tile-specific permit. Tile that is part of a bathroom or kitchen remodel is covered under that project’s building permit. A standalone tile refresh with no plumbing or structural change may not need a separate permit, but we confirm the specific scope with the Building Division.

Why does a shower pan get water-tested before tile is set?
Douglas County requires a built-in-place shower pan to be lined and filled with water for a leak test, usually scheduled with the drywall inspection and before tile goes on. Testing before tile matters because a leak found afterward means removing the tile to fix it.

Does moving a shower valve or drain affect the tile schedule?
Yes. Any relocated shower or tub valve, drain, or supply line is plumbing work inspected at the rough-in stage under the adopted plumbing code, and that inspection has to clear before backer board, waterproofing, or tile go up on that wall.

What slope or curb height does a Franktown shower need?
Douglas County has not published a separate numeric bulletin for shower-pan slope or curb height; these are governed by the currently adopted plumbing and building code edition. We confirm the applicable code section with the Building Division for the specific shower design rather than quoting a fixed figure.

Talk to Us About Your Project

Tell us whether your tile project involves a new or relocated shower, tub, or drain, and whether it is part of a larger bathroom or kitchen remodel. We will sequence the plumbing rough-in, waterproofing, and pan testing so tile goes on only after each inspection has cleared.