How to Buld a Ceramic Tile Shower

Ceramic tile is popular for shower walls because it protects the wall structure from moisture, while providing a hard, easy-to-clean surface that's available in a wider range of sizes, styles and colors than are any other kind of tile. The tiles you buy should be fully sealed, and should be wall tiles and not floor tiles, which are too heavy for wall applications. Cement board is the best backing material for the tiles.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Level
• Tile mortar
• Notched mortar trowel
• Tile saw
• Grout
• Grout trowel
• Sponge
• Caulk

Instructions

1. Make a vertical line up the middle of the first wall of the shower stall, from bottom to top, using your tape measure and pencil.

2. Spread tile mortar over the bottom half of the wall, using a notched mortar trowel. Set the lowest row of tiles in place, starting on the two sides of the vertical line. Put tile spacers between the tiles and below them, to create a space at the floor.

3. Set the rest of the tiles of the bottom course in place, side by side, putting spacers between all of them. Cut the tiles at the ends as needed on your tile saw.

4. Install the next course in a row above the bottom course, again starting at the middle and working your way out to the sides. Repeat and continue, building up the wall course by course. Cut the tiles around the shower fixtures as needed. Do all the walls in the shower. Allow the mortar to set overnight and remove the spacers.

5. Apply grout with a grout trowel, spreading it over the surface from the top downward, pressing it into the spaces. Don't grout the edges of the walls where they meet the floor and each other. Wipe up the excess grout with a damp sponge. Let the grout set for 48 hours.

6. Caulk along the perimeter of the walls, where they meet the floor and each other. Let the caulk dry for a day.

References

• The Tile Doctor: Tile How-to: Showers