10 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Tile Shower

I always encourage people to think about completing their own home improvement projects. Now, why would I do that? Doesn't that lose me money? No, the people who are already searching for how to do it themselves most likely aren't going to call me anyway, so I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I get to spread information on how to complete projects on your own and have the accomplishment of completing something beautiful in your own home!

Now, here are 10 things I think you should know/do before starting your tile shower

1) Watch a tutorial by the company (Schluter, Laticrete, Wedi, etc.) to learn about each waterproofing method and how to install it to specifications

This one, I believe, is the most underrated tip for do-it-yourselfers. I think this because if you choose a waterproofing system you like such as schluter, wedi, or laticrete (to name the big 3). The company will most likely have a YouTube series dedicated to “Start to Finish” Installation of your system. Once you watch these videos you know almost everything possible on how to install it correctly and successfully. 

2) If you’re using a pre-formed base, the subfloor has to be perfectly flat so water will drain correctly

Some manufacturers will tell you about this extremely important step, but others I have noticed do not. Not to mention most short-form videos skip this step. To make sure the pre-formed pan works correctly the subfloor needs to be perfectly level. This makes sure the ¼” per foot slope keeps that required slope. If the subfloor is off that will cause that slope to lose slope in one area and gain a steeper slope in another spot.

3) Mix your mud extremely loose when installing waterproofing membranes or pre-formed shower bases, it should barely hold a notch when combed onto the surface. Schluter ALL-SET has exact water ratios for this purpose 

Read the back of the bag of thinset to see how much water you should use in your mix. And double check that the water ratio is for installing the membrane and not the tile. The membrane mix ratio will be much wetter than what someone would use to install tile. 

4) Before installing wallboard, your wall needs to be perfectly flat, there cannot be any humps or dips across the studs

THEE MOST OVERLOOKED STEP IN TILE. Do not skip this step, it will make your life so so so much easier and even allow you to make all your cuts at once. Working over a perfectly flat wall that is also level is possibly the best possible circumstance as a setter. 

5) Epoxy grout is the best option for shower floors

It might sound scary, but using an epoxy grout on a shower floor is very doable and attainable for everyone. It is a little more expensive but it makes a much more stain-proof and solid floor. There is one exception to this…

6) DON’T USE WHITE GROUT ON A SHOWER FLOOR

White grout, no matter what, whether it be epoxy, sanded, or unsanded will change color in time. Epoxy grout will most likely yellow in time, while the sanded and unsanded grout will likely brown or yellow in time if proper maintenance is not done. I recommend a darker grout (if possible) on all shower floors and floors in general.

7) Lay out out the wall tile on the floor with spacers to get a sense of where grout joints will end up, this allows you to know where niches or shelves will end up

This tip needs to be completed right after waterproofing and if you're super good, you do it even before waterproofing. This step can make any installation look like a professional did it.

8) ALWAYS line up the niche with grout joints and if possible have full tile on the top and bottom 

This step is one that also makes the installation look more professional. This is because it shows that time was taken in the planning stage.

9) Use the right size notch for the tile and collapse the ridges all the way- 

This helps maintain proper coverage when installing tile. Lots of installations don’t have proper coverage behind the tile. This is something that will set any installation above the rest. It will also ensure that the shower is virtually bulletproof.

10) Silicone changes of plane (inside corners and where the wall tile meets the ceiling and shower base.

Use of silicone in all changes of plane is a standard practice set by the T.C.N.A. (Tile Council of North America). These “soft joints” are needed in case of movement of the walls or floor, if these joints were filled with grout they would crack out.