How to Put Tile on a Shower Base

A shower base is generally poured or formed of mortar that's been sloped slightly toward a drain. Your shower floor tile goes on top of the base, to provide additional protection from moisture and a finished surface on which to stand. It's a similar process to tiling a floor but more complicated because of the drain. Make sure the floor tiles you get aren't so slick that they will create a danger on the shower floor.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Level
• Square
• Thin-set mortar
• Notched mortar trowel
• Sealed floor-grade tiles
• Spacers
• Wet saw
• Grout
• Grout float
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Draw two lines over the shower base, in perpendicular directions, intersecting in the middle. Use a square to get them perpendicular to each other. If the shower drain is in the path of the lines, proceed as if it isn't there.

2. Lay floor tiles loosely alongside the two lines, putting spacers between them. Lay the tiles end to end in both directions along the lines. Add enough extra tiles, in a grid pattern off the lines, to completely cover the drain.

3. Trace the outline of the drain onto the tiles that are over it, using a pencil. The spaces between the tiles should allow you to see the position of the drain. Set the mark 1/4 inch back from the actual drain perimeter.

4. Cut the tiles on a wet saw, cutting around the curved line on each tile so it will fit around the drain with a 1/4-inch setback.

5. Lay thin-set mortar onto the floor around the drain using your mortar trowel. Set the cut tiles into place in the mortar, so they surround the drain.

6. Lay down additional mortar over the floor. Press the rest of your tiles into place, building out from the drain toward the walls, using the lines as guides. Put spacers between all of them. Cut the tiles at the edges of the floor, by the walls, as needed on your wet saw.

7. Let the tiles set overnight. Pull out the spacers. Spread grout over the floor with a grout float, pressing it into the lines. Wipe up the residual grout with a dampened sponge. Let the grout set for 48 hours.

References

• The Tile Doctor: How-to Tile Showers