Tile is the decorative jewelry on top of the actual waterproofing system. Don't worry about it so much as how the contractor plans to build the shower to be waterproof under that tile. Educate yourself on that before you start to get bids. There are various methods, but all will start with a presloped site made mortar shower pan or pre manufactured sloped pan that is put into place. Be sure you understand the differences in construction methods with both, and you'll be able to evaluate the abilities of any of the contractors that you interview. The failure of the waterproofing is why you have a 6 year old shower that needs to be rebuilt.

Not to say that the decorative choices aren't important, especially to creating an attractive appearance. Just that they are secondary to stuff behind the walls. Once you find a contractor that talks the talk about proper waterproofing, if he prefers that you shop at a local tile store for your choices, then just talk to him about supplying tiles that you prefer in consultation with him as to the suitability of your selections.

The reason tile installers want to work with a known element is that they fully understand it's installation requirements and how long it will take. If you want to introduce elements of the unknown into both of those job factors, you will probably pay more than "just" the material cost differences to account for the research that the tile pro will need to do, as well as the longer time frame for the install to happen. In contractor land, time is money, and when you increase the time factor, the money has to also increase.

What holly said. The tile isn't part of their "patented system," whatever that happens to be. Find out what products and methods they use behind the tile and research to make sure their proposed products and methods are good ones.

And tell them you don't like their store's tile selection and want to use something else. They should be willing to work with you.

Independents can be just as good as tile store-linked installers. And store installers are no guarantee of good work. Just ask them both questions about method of install and do the same due diligence.

You've gotten good advice so far. I don't think I'll add anything new, but I'll write anyway... lol

The type of tile used had nothing to do with any "patented system." It's your shower, Get the tile you want, from where you want to get it. I could see if you went to a tile store and the tile store recommended an installer to you, and you then hired that installer. The installer might be hesitant about the tile store not making the sale.

But if you found an installer yourself, and you hired him, and he agreed to the job, guess who he's working for? You. Not the tile store. Even if he is "affiliated" with a tile store, you hired him, not the store.

For the life of me I'm trying to put "patented system" in some sort of context. All I can think of is some sort of patented gimmick for making a preslope.

When you talk to the prospective installer, do ask what type of membrane will be installed on the shower floor, and make sure that the membrane itself will be sloped to the drain. The membrane can not sit flat on the subfloor with sloped mud and sloped tile on top of it. the membrane itself needs to be sloped.

Good luck.

Remember. It's your money. You set the tone. These folk can work for you. Or they can work elsewhere.

Thanks for the advice! I will keep looking!