How to Tile Wheelchair Accessible Bathrooms

Tile a wheelchair-accessible bathroom similar to tiling any other floor.

Tile is the perfect flooring option for wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Though it might sound more difficult, installing tile in a wheelchair-accessible bathroom is no more difficult than installing tile in a regular bathroom. Proper layout and planning will help get professional-looking results. Extra care must also be taken to get a level floor for those in wheelchairs. Besides tiling, make sure the bathroom has enough space for those in a wheelchair to easily move around.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Tiles
• Tile spacers
• Thin-set mortar
• Notched trowel
• Level
• Tile saw
• Grout
• Grout float
• Grout sponge

Instructions

1. Measure the room with a measuring tape. Mark the center of both directions of the room with a pencil. Once measured and marked, the room should have two perpendicular lines running through the center of the room.

2. Lay the tile out on the floor. Begin by laying the tile on the floor along the lines at the center of the room. Place tile spacers between each of the tiles to give you an idea of what the tile layout will look like once the floor is installed. You will also have a better idea of how much tile is needed, as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms require wider doorways and spaces, which means they require more tile than a typical bathroom. Once you have a good layout, mark the floor with a pencil, and remove the tile and spacers.

3. Install the thin-set mortar. Use a notched trowel to spread the mortar on the floor. Begin spreading the mortar at the marked lines on the floor. Press the tile into the thin-set mortar and place tile spacers between each of the tiles. Use a level to make sure the tiles are level with one another. Uneven tiles will be felt by wheelchair users. Cut tiles along the borders of the room with a tile saw. Let the mortar dry overnight.

4. Remove the tile spacers from between the tiles. Spread grout over the tile joints with a grout float. Once all joints are filled, wipe away excess grout by running the float over the tiles diagonally. This motion will help remove the rest of the grout without taking any grout from the tile joints. Wait for the grout to dry for a half-hour. Once the grout has begun to harden slightly, wipe away excess residue from the tiles with a damp grout sponge. Allow the grout to dry 24 to 48 hours before use.

References

• This Old House: How to Tile a Floor