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Design Dilemma Bathrooms

How high to put tile on the wall around the tub?

Charlene Ambrose

6 months ago

Even after years of doing design work, I can get hung up and indecisive when it comes to my own home. I have a very small main bathroom which I am redoing. As I hate cleaning grout, I'm using a 12x24 inch tile for the shower and it will extend around the tub. In the second picture you can see where the old tile stopped on the wall. If I want the tile to stop there, I would have to have one full tile and one half tile. If I put 2 full tiles, they will come up to where the blue tape is. Seems like it might be a bit high, but I'm not sure about having 1 1/2 tiles. (My tile installer would rather do the 2 tiles.)

Any pros out there who do a lot of bathrooms who might have an opinion?

The first picture shows the wall tile on the right. The pattern tile will be on the floor. The shower is right to the left of the tub.

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Comments (9)

arcy_gw
6 months ago
No the blue line is not too high. I would take it to the bottom of the window. That way you have just one horizontal line. Tile is prettier than wall so why not keep it going!
Charlene Ambrose thanked arcy_gw
PRO
JAN MOYER
6 months ago
Are you certain that tub fits after waterproofing?
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Yes, the plumbing needs to be done first. Yes, you may be able to just get another acrylic shower wall to cover over everything, if the wall is not moldy or wet behind the tile that you are looking at. There is no need to replace the tub itself if it is in good shape, even if you do decide to take down the wall tile and replace everything from the studs out. Just make sure the workers cover the tub well to protect it while the work is being done. I am with Monicakm_gw, get some more bids for the work. You might want to have them bid on just replacing the walls with new fiberglass, and on doing the whole new tile job, too. You can see new walls at Lowes, Home Depot, and Menard's online. There is also the whole Marbleite wall option to look into. Local dealers for Marbelite are supposed to be cheaper than buying from big box stores, if I remember right. While you are fixing plumbing, you should probably put in a proper mixing valve to protect from scalds. It is the code now. No one will be able to turn the water too hot to burn themselves and flushing the toilet or using the water elsewhere in the house will not burn the person in the shower anymore, either. I have read the experts here on the forum say that the Symmons Temptrol system is very good and is a good value. Here is one that comes with the shower head and tub spout for under $100. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Symmons-Temptrol-1-Handle-Tub-and-Shower-Faucet-in-Chrome-S-96-2/100643619
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HU-862725558
6 months ago
That tub does not work in that space unless you are building a deck to drop it into. A free standing tub needs at least 6" of open space all the way around it.
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PRO
Norwood Architects
6 months ago
Will this be a tub alone or will there be a shower as well. If there is a shower, of course, the tile need to go higher. If it is a tub alone I would recommend going to bottom of window.
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chispa
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
I used that floor tile in my secondary mudroom (have separate garages) and I don't think I would pair it with that porcelain tile, based on the photo.

If you want to avoid grout, I would go bigger with the wall tile and find a 24 x 24 porcelain tile or even a 30 x 30.
0
S J
6 months ago
I'd go all the way to under the window. But, as to your two options, the blue line is better than 1 and 1/2 tiles.
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Charlene Ambrose
Original Author
6 months ago
Thanks for your suggestions. The tub is the original tub and built in. If I were younger, I would have replaced it, but I’m old, I like the tub and mainly needed to get new tile in the shower. I have limited funds and a ton of work to be done on the exterior of the house.
0
millworkman
6 months ago
If that is a shower as well as a tub, be sure to plan to waterproof behind all the tile as well as the window. That drywall will all need to come out as well or have a waterproof material put over the top.
0
Charlene Ambrose
Original Author
6 months ago
Thanks, millworkman. The tub is separate from the shower. That’s why there was only a rim of tile around the tub.

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