How to Remodel a Bathroom With a Tile Shower

Tiled showers add good looks to a bathroom.

A new tile shower can update almost any home. Remodeling a bathroom with a tile shower involves a lot of hard work. The good news is that most homeowners can successfully tile their bathroom shower without the help of professionals. Knowing how to start the project will help you on your way to your newly remodeled bathroom.

Things You'll Need

• Cement backerboard
• Drill
• Screws
• Drywall tape
• Thinset mortar
• Tile mastic
• Tile spacers
• Tile saw
• Tape measure
• Diamond-grit hole saw
• Grout
• Rubber float
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Cut the cement backerboard with a utility knife and screw it into place above the tub, using screws and a drill. Seam the backerboard joints with drywall tape and thinset mortar. Allow the mortar to dry for 24 hours.

2. Apply tile mastic to the cement backerboard with a notched trowel. Leaving a ¼-inch gap above the tub, begin pressing the tiles into place on the shower surround. Place tile spacers between the tiles. This will ensure proper spacing between the tiles, and will keep them from sliding down the wall as they dry.

3. Measure and cut border tiles, and tiles that surround the shower fixtures, using a tape measure and tile saw. If a shower fixture is in the middle of a tile, drill the hole from the tile with a diamond-grit hole saw. Let the tile mastic cure overnight.

4. Apply grout to the tile joints with a rubber float. Once the grout has set for 15 to 20 minutes, wipe away the excess with a damp grout sponge. Allow the grout to dry for 24 hours before use.

References

• This Old House: How to Tile Around a Tub