When you decide to tile your shower, you can use a variety of techniques to achieve the results you want. Before you begin, you’ll need to determine which materials you’ll need, including a notched trowel and rosin paper. Listed below are the basic tools you’ll need. Read on to learn more about these methods. Using a notched trowel is important for even distribution of the thinset mortar.
Tiling a shower is a precise craft
You can save money and gain some experience if you tile your shower yourself. The first step is to line up alternative bathing facilities nearby. This task can take a week, or even longer, so you will need to plan ahead. Once you’ve lined up the alternate bathing facilities, prepare the bathroom floor. Make sure the tile boxes are not damaged and store them on an edge. You may also need a guide board, which you’ll remove before tiling the bottom row.
To lay tile on the wall, measure 42 inches on either side. Use a tape measure to determine the horizontal center of the wall. Use a bubble level or a laser level to strike plumb vertical lines off each mark. You’ll want to snap a chalk line so you can keep your measurements straight. Next, measure the height of the shower wall. Mark halfway with a pencil. Now, apply thinset mortar. Apply it in small sections, letting the thinset dry.
It requires a lot of planning
Fortunately, tiling a shower is not as hard as it looks. However, it requires some planning before you start. First, measure the walls. Measure the length and width of the shower walls and divide them by 144 to get the total square footage of the shower. Add this amount to the area of the bench seat and the remaining wall space to get the exact square footage for the entire shower. Remember to add about 10 percent to account for waste and possible future repairs.
Next, decide whether to tile a shower yourself or hire a contractor. A contractor will set small mosaic tiles on a shower floor pan. Small mosaic tiles require a lot of grout, while larger tile requires more cutting, prepping, and setting. Tile can also be expensive. If you hire a contractor, make sure that they have the proper equipment and supplies for the job. Tile showers can be a huge project, so don’t rush it.
It requires a notched trowel
In order to properly install tiles, you will need to use a notched trowel. The teeth of a notch trowel should be spaced evenly between each tile and adhere to the substrate, called the back of the tile. The coverage percentage should be at least eighty percent, and should be no higher than 95 percent. It’s important to ensure complete coverage in all corners of each tile, too. If the tile is too dry to move, you might be using too much mortar. To determine the proper size of the notch, try pulling out tiles and laying them on the floor.
To ensure even coverage, choose a notched trowel that is sized appropriately for your tile. A notch of 1/4 inch high and three eighths wide will provide ample coverage in one or two tiles. A smaller notch will result in uneven coverage of the tile, which can cause problems later. Always check that the tile you’re placing is level, so that it won’t stick out.
It requires rosin paper
Before you begin tiling a shower, you must make a full-scale template. The template should include the thickness of backer board, plywood for the bench seat, existing studs and alcove positions, and tile sizes. You can also find rosin paper at a painting supply store. When making the full-scale template, be sure to follow the steps for a perfect fit.
Using red rosin paper is an effective way to protect the subfloor before tiling. Its cost is not much higher than that of 15 lb. builder’s felt. However, some professional floor installers recommend using 15-pound builder’s felt, which is not a better moisture barrier. Red rosin paper is a cost-effective option for tiling showers, but you may want to try other options first.
It requires painters tape
Besides using a sponge to smooth out the surface, you should also consider using painters tape. Painter’s tape helps you finish your painting job faster and with fewer mistakes. This inexpensive tape does not stick to dirty or greasy surfaces. After applying it to the walls, you should wash it off with a damp cloth and soap and water. Then, you can reapply it again to cover any imperfections.
When masked, apply painters tape along the walls and ceiling. Using this tape, mask corners and wall gaps. Use painter’s tape to control the caulk lines and smooth out the grout. Once the walls and ceiling are dry, you can apply the caulk to the shower floor or tub. If you want to add a pattern, you can use a stencil or make one yourself.
It requires a story pole
You will need to carefully plan the layout of the tile. You will likely want to create a “story pole” which represents the finished wall tiled with accent tiles, border tiles, and decorative inserts. To make this easier, you can build a model of the shower wall with plywood, paneling, or cardboard. Then you can use it to plan the cuts and placement of tiles. It is essential to plan the layout before you start tile installation.
When planning to tile your shower, you will need to prepare the space. First, determine the location of the wall niche and the position of the tiles. Then, decide if you want to tile the entire wall or only a section of it. If you don’t want to make any permanent changes to the wall, you can also use a prefabricated niche that comes with prefabricated niches.
