Need some guidance on tiling shower stall.

16 years ago

I'm going to be tiling my basement shower stall and i have a couple of questions regarding the order of operation.

I'm thinking the ceiling and floor get installed first, and then the walls.?

Is this correct, and also will the tiles i install on the ceiling hold by themselves? or will i have to support them while the glue sets up?

any help or tips on tiling a shower stall would be great.

thanks in advance

steve

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

oruboris
16 years ago
Have you chosen an underlay for this project? Shlutter's Kerdi is probably the most popular right now. With it, you build from the lowest point upwards, so that each succesive layer overlaps the one below like a shingle, funneling water to your lowest point, which had better be your drain.

And you use thinset, not glue...

Have you done much tiling before? Read any books on the subject? Spent any time on tile forums like John Bridge?

A poorly done DIY tile job can end up VERY expensive, if it leads to mold and other problems in your home. I applaud the fact that your trying to educate yourself, but a little more homework might be in order.
steve-u
Original Author
16 years ago
I've had a bunch of tiling experiance. lots of tub surrounds and floors, never a shower stall. I was planning on doing a sand mix floor and then go from there. THe walls are durock, and the ceiling is drywall.

I'm pretty sure i'm capable, i'm just looking for some expert tips and tricks with this procedure
Related Discussions
Planting trees near a well cap -- need some guidance please
Q
Comments (14)
Isabella knows what she is talking about. Has anyone experienced a problem with trees being too close to their municipal water service? It is essentially the same thing - a closed sealed pipe. The tree has no idea that there is water in the pipe and is not staying up at night trying to figure out how to destroy it. Septic systems are a completely different matter as they are made to leach into the soil. They are opened to the surrounding soil and a water source to whatever is around them. Trees don't search out water, their roots grow more vigorously where they get water and not so much where they don't. It follows that they continue to grow toward the water source. Older septic pipes are also vulnerable because they are fitted together rather than being solid since they run on gravity rather than pressure. Those fittings leak creating a water source and the root growth heads to the source and finally into the leaking joint. A sealed water pipe from a well or municipality is not going to attract root growth.
...See More
Need guidance on how to build shower niche
Q
Comments (3)
DH built all of our niches. I don't think he found them difficult to do. He framed them out between the studs (while framing out the walls, pitching them properly), installed the hardibacker, and then applied Hydroban. We had to size and locate them around stuff in the walls (e.g., pipes, electrical wiring that couldn't be moved), and we took storage needs, and aesthetics into consideration as well (the wider, rather than taller shape of the niche in the MB was done so deliberately, to play off the field tile's shape/orientation). Once the tile started going up, DH did have to do some last minute (late at night!) adjusting or tweaking of the niches (and then get three coats of Hydroban on the revised niches before the tile guy arrived at 8:00 AM sharp the next morning!). In some of those instances, it had to be done regardless, and in some, it was our choice to move the niche up, down, or over an inch or more in order to avoid losing that inch or more of niche space (in order to allow for full tiles around the niche, or to allow for pattern continuation, etc.). Our tile guy was meticulous about following, and continuing the tile patterns throughout, above, below the niches, and in keeping full tiles around the niches as well, so despite the extra work (and the late night grumbling by DH), we were more than willing to do our part to facilitate this.
...See More
Standing water in poorly tiled stall shower. Need advice.
Q
Comments (3)
You need to understand that the waterproofing is taken as a "Whole." Much depends on HOW the waterproofing was accomplished. If it's a "Surface Applied Membrane," like Kerdi or Hydroban, you MAY be able to tear out the floor and a row or two of tile and tie the waterproofing in to the wall. If it's a "conventional" pan, with a preslope, rubber liner and a final slope with a PVC/FHA clamping drain you would need to remove the floor entirely, establish a proper preslope, install a liner and attach it up on the studs, with NO nail penetrations lower than 2" above the curb level and do a final slope to tile upon. Personally, I like the Schluter "Kerdi" system as it only requires ONE mudbed and the Kerdi material is attached TO the mudbed and the drain. Smooth & clean...doesn't require a preslope or liner and the mudbed never gets wet. The shower dries out much quicker.....but, hey...that's just me.
...See More
Need some color/finish guidance on my vintage-inspired kitchen!
Q
Comments (11)
I got a wonderful 8" black and white matte ceramic tile for my mudroom in a 1914 Greek Revival in Philadelphia. I love it. It's glazed but it looks like it isn't, so nothing stains it. It took me a long time to find it and it wasn't expensive but I can't remember off the top of my head who made it. I had to get it from an obscure supplier but they happily sent me samples. I'll see if I have their info in my construction records. I did see a picture on Gardenweb somewhere of a floor done by someone who cut marmoleum into 8" tiles and installed it on the diagonal. Looked fabulous but that had to be hard work! If you're on a tight budget, VCT can look good and is dirt cheap. It replaced the VAT that came out in the 1930s and wouldn't unauthentic either, but it is harder to maintain than ceramic or marmoleum.
...See More
gigabit
16 years ago
Definitely I would do the floor first. You will probably also want a waterproofing membrane for the shower floor before applying the mortar and tile. For the ceiling you want to be sure the adhesive or thinset mortar has good grab to hold the tile in place.

See Ceramic-tile.com, FloorFacts.com, tile-assn.com for some further help.
oruboris
16 years ago
Sorry if my first response was a little condescending: was worried you were getting in over your head.

Check out the videos on the Kerdi system: not cheap, but makes for a leak proof shower [assuming you do it right, of course] with no concerns over weep holes and the like, and with much less hassle than any other method. Plus, you get a really cool square drain that integrates into most tile floors much nicer than a round one.

Videos can be found here:

Here is a link that might be useful: Kerdi
ilmbg
16 years ago
gigabit- what do you mean by a waterproof membrane under the morter? I guess there is the wood subfloor? If you put a membrane down- what will the bottom of it stick to? I am imagining a rubber/plastic type 'sheet'= loose and floppy. Put morter over that? (just trying to gather knowledge). Thanks
gigabit
16 years ago
There are both trowelable and sheet applied waterproof membranes. As example, Bostik / Hydroment have a product called Ultra-Set Advanced that comes in a bucket and is troweled on. You can do a search using 'hydroment Ultra-Set Advanced waterproof' to read more about their product. Laticrete also makes a waterproof membrane that is applied with a paint roller, see: http://www.unicorpbrunei.com/Products/lacticrete/waterproofing.html.

Also, I found an article that might help you as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tiling Showers
ilmbg
16 years ago
Thanks!

Need some guidance on tiling shower stall.

Comments (7)

oruboris

steve-u
Original Author

Related Discussions

gigabit

oruboris

ilmbg

gigabit

ilmbg

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need some guidance on tiling shower stall.

Comments (7)

oruboris

steve-uOriginal Author

Related Discussions

gigabit

oruboris

ilmbg

gigabit

ilmbg

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

steve-u
Original Author