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? for Bill V re shower tile

15 years ago

Hi Bill,

The masterbath of the fixer home we bought 2 yrs ago has been out of commission since we bought it. Now we're finally in a position to gut that puppy and redo it completely. We've been able to find answers to most of our questions in the forum (which is awesome!), but this one is still stumping us so we turn to you for some guidance.

We want to install a walk in shower with some type of glass door. We want the interior to be tiled from floor to ceiling which is 8 ft with a typical fixture set up on the wall. The tile of choice is a slate quartz with lighter coloring called baoding creme from The Tile Shop. The GC has suggested tiling the ceiling which has raised a couple of questions.

1. Are there structural reasons for doing that and if those safeguards are worth the additional cost(s) involved to do it.

2. The room has a window and decent lighting, but we're afraid that even though we're usig a lighter colored slate, tiling the ceiling would make the shower too dark.

We're not looking for an uber fancy highend upgrade, but prefer a more simple asthetic with quality materials and workmanship. If there's no structural reason to tile the ceiling and both tiled and untiled are accepted asthetics, we'd probably rather not tile it. Can you offer your feedback on the best option from both a structural and visual perspective?

I'm really looking forward to reading your thoughts, thanks so much - Lukki & her DH

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Comments (4)

bud_cline
15 years ago
We love ya Bill! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
bill_vincent
15 years ago
Bud, PLEASE!! People will talk!

1) Although tile WILL help with the longevity (it'll protect the ceiling much better than paint will) it's not necessary, so long as the shower isn't completely enclosed by the glass. If it's completely enclosed, then tile is pretty much a must.

2) Install a light in the shower! most people do, anyway, whether or not it gets tile on the ceiling.
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thanks jjaazzy! i too finally got to speak with john yesterday. my uneasiness about ordering from a source on another continent was put to rest. he is sending me three samples of the hammershell tile. i wanted to see the square and the rectangle patterns so he is making them up for me. the backing is porcelain and i knew about the coating from the website. so, for the hammershell tile the price is $28 US per square and he told me the shipping for 80 sq (my guesstimate) would be $300 US via UPS. i was planning to use it on the floor as a trim/border for marble or porcelain under the tub so it wouldn't be in a high traffic area. i had my suspicions about it's softness. i think by the tub would be safe though, just as long as we don't bring it out too far. i guess i'll make my decisions about that as we get a little closer. that's very strange about the shimmer under the halogens. i wonder if it would make a difference if viewed from another light source? i'll have to see it when it comes in. we don't have any lighting yet (they've just gotten to our roof) so i think i'll take it to a lighting showroom. THANK YOU for the heads up! in the meantime, let me know how you do with shelltile.net. i'll have to look them up as i haven't come across them before. i'll let you know when my samples come in. ...oh, and which of the tile are you looking to buy? thanks again!
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User
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh I'm so glad I asked because there is a chance it will be fully enclosed. I had never thought or heard of putting a light in it, that would certainly fix the problem! Thanks so much.

Bud...I think you've made him blush!
bud_cline
15 years ago
The only things that get addressed to me these days are Summons.:) I was jealous!

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