How to Tile a Bathroom Shower Floor
While typically left to professional tiling experts and plumbers, installing a shower floor can be a successful DIY project for someone who has at least some experience working with plumbing, building materials and tile. Having all materials at the ready, the time and patience to follow all of the installation steps in sequence and unhurriedly will ensure a professional and durable finished job. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Metal or plastic shower pan/liner
- Nails
- Hammer
- Cement
- Wire mesh
- Level
- Tile and tile cutter if needed
- Tile mastic, spacers
- Grout
- Bucket
- Notched trowel
- Finish trowel
- Float
- Sponge
- Rag
- Grout sealant, foam applicator
Instructions
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1
Place the shower pan liner over the sub floor and run it up the sides of the walls at least six to eight inches, making folds at the corners instead of cuts. Nail the liner to the rough framing within an inch of the top edge. Cut a hole in the liner just as big as the drain pipe assembly so it can pop through.
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2
Pour concrete mud bed two to three inches thick with a gentle and uniform slope on each side converging on the drain. Embed a sheet of heavy wire mesh into the concrete for strength, making sure it is covered by at least an inch and a half of concrete on top of the mesh. Allow to dry and cure for at least 48 hours before proceeding with the tile installation.
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3
Butter the tile backs with mastic and arrange tiles on the shower floor according to the desired pattern. If tiles are not backed with mesh for placement, use tile spacers to keep grout lines uniform. Allow the tile adhesive to set for at least 24 hours before grouting.
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4
Remove spacers if they were used and apply the grout to the tile with a float. Allow the grout to set for 10 to 20 minutes before wiping off excess with a clean damp sponge. Let grout set up and dry for at least 36 hours undisturbed.
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5
Buff the tile with a damp sponge and dry towels to remove any remaining grout residue. Apply a grout sealant with a foam applicator brush and allow to dry for at least 24 hours before exposing the shower to water or standing weight.
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