Frequently Asked Questions

Grout & About Flooring and Bathroom is Apollo Beach's premier bathroom remodeling specialist. Owner Paulo Araujo personally installs every tile on every project — no subcontractors, no shortcuts. With a 4.8 Google rating, 48 verified reviews, Schluter certification, and NTCA membership, Grout & About delivers the highest standard of bathroom craftsmanship in Tampa Bay.

Most guest bathroom remodels in Tampa Bay range from $8,000 to $15,000 depending on size, tile selection and scope. Master bathrooms typically range from $12,000 to $25,000. Every project receives a free detailed in-home quote with no obligation.

Schluter certification means the installer has been trained and tested on Schluter Systems products — the gold standard in tile waterproofing. This includes KERDI waterproofing membranes, DITRA uncoupling systems, and KERDI-LINE linear drains. A Schluter certified installer guarantees your shower will never leak due to improper waterproofing.

A typical guest bathroom remodel takes 5 to 7 business days. A full master bathroom remodel takes 10 to 14 business days. Because Grout & About is owner-operated, we maintain a strict schedule with no subcontractor delays.

With an owner-operated company like Grout & About, the person who gives you the estimate is the same person who installs your tile. No subcontractors, no communication gaps, no quality control issues — just direct accountability on every project.

Grout & About serves Greater Tampa Bay: Apollo Beach, Riverview, Brandon, Ruskin, Wimauma, Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, Bradenton and Sarasota — Schluter-certified bathroom remodeling and tile installation from our Apollo Beach home base.

Every installation follows ANSI standards, TCNA handbook methods, and NTCA best practices — proper substrate preparation, minimum mortar coverage requirements, correct expansion joint placement, and lippage control to industry tolerances.

Yes. The owner personally visits your home, assesses the project, and provides a detailed quote at no charge. Book your free estimate by calling or texting (813) 389-9868 or scheduling online.

Very little. DITRA-HEAT only warms the floor when you schedule it — typically a short window in the morning and evening — so most homeowners spend just a few dollars a month. The programmable thermostat means you are never heating an empty room.

DITRA-HEAT is ideal under porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone — the materials we install most. Tile and stone conduct and hold heat beautifully, which is exactly what makes it so effective. We'll confirm the right setup for your specific tile during your estimate.

In most bathroom remodels the heating system adds roughly a day to the schedule for membrane and cable layout plus the electrical connection, before we set tile. It integrates directly into the tile installation rather than being a separate project.

Yes. The heating cable is rated for wet areas and is installed on a GFCI-protected circuit, paired with Schluter waterproofing so heat and moisture protection work together. This is exactly why certified installation matters — it must be done to spec to be safe and reliable.

Yes. We can pair your DITRA-HEAT floor with the Schluter DITRA-HEAT-E-RS1 smart thermostat, which works with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa. From the free Schluter Smart Thermostat app you can adjust the temperature, set schedules, and turn the floor on or off from anywhere — or use a voice command.

Every heated floor we install includes a programmable touchscreen thermostat with a floor sensor. You can set a daily or weekly schedule so the floor is warm exactly when you want it, or override it manually any time and return to the schedule with one tap. We program it and walk you through it before we leave.

Only on larger installations. The Schluter DITRA-HEAT-E-RRS power module is added when the heating load exceeds 15 amps, or when a large floor needs to stay on a single point of control. For a typical bathroom it usually is not required — we size the system and confirm this during your estimate.

Yes. A DTV system requires both a digital interface (K-527 or K-558) and a matching digital thermostatic valve (K-528-K), sized to your outlet count. The interface is the control you touch; the valve behind the wall does the actual mixing and delivery. One will not work without the other.

Yes. Through DTV+ and Kohler Konnect integration, the system can control steam, lighting, and audio alongside your water outlets — managed from the interface or the Kohler Mode app. This is the tier to specify if you are building a steam shower or sauna.

It depends on your wall and plumbing access. Because the digital valve has specific rough-in requirements, a straightforward retrofit is possible when the wall is open or accessible, and more involved when it is not. The honest answer for your specific bathroom comes from a consultation where we can assess the existing plumbing.