How to Lay Shower Floor Tiles
Tiling a shower floor involves a complicated layout process because of the drain. As with other floors, you want to tile in a grid, starting at the center and working outward. Since that's usually where the drain is, you have lay out the grid first as if the drain isn't there, then tile the rest of the floor, then cut and tile around the drain. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Level
- Pencil
- Square
- Thinset mortar
- Mortar trowel
- Spacers
- Tile saw
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
Instructions
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1
Divide the shower floor into four square sections, using your level, pencil and square. The shower drain will typically be at the intersection of the lines.
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2
Lay floor tiles along the lines, without mortar, to assess their positions. Lay tiles right over the drain as if it isn't there. Remove all the tiles except those that cover the drain.
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3
Apply thinset mortar over the floor (except the part directly around the drain, where the loose tiles are still sitting). Press tiles into the mortar along the lines you marked. Put spacers between the tiles. Tile the whole floor, except the drain area. Let the mortar set for a day.
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4
Mark the tiles sitting over the drain to show where the drain perimeter is. You will be able to judge it through the spaces between the tiles. Make the curved lines on the tiles about 1/4 inch wider than the edge of the drain.
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5
Cut the curved marks on your tile saw. Mortar the tiles around the drain, leaving about 1/4 inch between the cut edges of the tiles and the drain. Let them set for a day.
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6
Spread grout over the shower floor with a grout float, pressing it into all the spaces between the tiles, including the 1/4-inch perimeter around the drain. Wipe up the excess grout with a dampened sponge. Let the grout cure for four to five days.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear goggles when cutting tiles.
