How to Install a Tumbled Tile Shower

Tumbled marble tile shower.

A tumbled tile shower, not much more difficult to install than a regular tile shower, provides a much more elegant effect. The characteristic pitted look of these tiles is achieved by "tumbling" them in a special machine with coarse material or acidic chemicals to round the corners and pock the surface of the tiles. The most common types of stone used for tumbled tile include limestone, travertine, marble and slate; marble is the kind most commonly used in shower installations. The instructions below assume the shower is already framed, the pan and drain in place, and the pipes run appropriately.

Things You'll Need

• Green-board /waterproof drywall Drywall saw Tape measure Pencil Screws Drill Thin-set Mastic Notched trowel Tumbled marble tile Wet saw Angle grinder Spacers Grout Grout float Sponges

Instructions

Installing a Tumbled Tile Shower

1. Stuff drain with a sock or rag. Insulate walls if necessary and cut green-board to fit. Mark pipe placement and cut holes as needed using drywall saw. Attach green-board to studs using 1-1/4 inch screws at 12-inch intervals.

2. Draw a level line as close to bottom edge of shower as possible, around all three walls. Check back corners of shower for plumb, and mark a vertical line if needed. Check pitch of floor. If pitch is insufficient, floor may be pitched with extra thin-set as floor tile is laid.

3. Apply thin-set to shower floor with notched trowel and set floor tiles, starting at leading edge and working back, or in center and working outward. Cut around drain with angle grinder or wet saw. Pitch floor if necessary by using less thin-set near the drain and more at the wall edges. Let cure 12-24 hours.

4. Use notched trowel to apply mastic to bottom edge of shower wall, extending up the height of one tile. Lay first row of tiles all around three walls, starting at leading edges of side walls and laying the back wall last. Use spacers for uniform grout joints and shims to ensure level and plumb. Scrape away excess mastic and let cure 12-24 hours.

5. Finish laying tile up pipe wall first, using angle grinder to cut holes in tile for valves. Cheat the tiles slightly at back wall, widening or narrowing the grout joints to minimize the crooked effect if it is slightly off plumb. Lay tile up the other side wall, then the back, adding a soap dish in the corner if desired. Let cure 12-24 hours.

6. Remove spacers and clean up any stray bits of mastic. Grout walls first, then floor. Apply grout with side of rubber float, pressing grout into joints with float held at a 45-degree angle. Let rest for 15-20 minutes, then use a sponge to carefully wipe away excess. Rinse sponge after each pass and use care to not pull grout out of joints. Let grout dry for 12-24 hours.

7. Use a damp cloth to remove haze from tile. Apply a sealer to prevent dirt and grime from sticking to the tumbled tile's uneven surface. Hang shower doors or curtain and install hardware and shower head.

Tips & Warnings

• Use accent tiles to form a pattern about shoulder high. An inset can also be formed on the back wall by turning tiles on a 45-degree angle. Accent tile can be purchased on a mesh backing for easy installation. Tile saws can be rented at home improvement outlets

• Tumbled tile is often pocked heavily, so a sealer is very important. Use a cleaner that will not harm your sealer and save extra sealer for reapplication every six months.

References

• About Tumbled Tile
• Tile Tumbling Process on Video

Resources

• Floor and Decor