Healthy House Plans

house plans, floor plans, blueprints

How to tile a shower floor
Home Improvement

How to tile a shower floor?

Grab a cup of tea or coffee, sit back and relax. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an introduction to tiling, shower floors in particular. I will cover the main basics; What you need, how to layout your project and finally how to tile it. There are links provided throughout this article for further reading on any subject covered in more detail.

How to tile a shower floor?

How to tile a shower floor

Assemble tools and materials Typically, for a shower floor you will need: Mixer drill, Tiles (amount depends on size of room), Tile adhesive, Glueing mesh, Grout, Sponge, Rubber float, Float, Sealant, Plastic sheet 4 inch by 2 inch tile spacers.

This list may vary depending on the type of tile and adhesive you choose, but this list will provide a solid starting point. Read also: How do you make a mosaic shower floor?

Draw out your plan/layout This is where most people go wrong when tiling, having drawn lines on paper to mark the tile layout I recommend using chalk to draw these lines directly on the floor of the bathroom as it dry’s clear. This way you will be able to see how certain tiles relate to others as well as doorways and windows. This drawing can also help you work out the quantities of tiles required as well as allowing you to experiment with different layouts.

Mix up your adhesive! The next step is mixing your adhesive. I recommend using a notched trowel, this allows you to have a large working area and reduces the chances of missing a tile. Depending on the type of adhesive you chose, follow it’s mixing instructions, typically this involves adding water to a bucket and stirring with a notched trowel for 90 seconds before allowing it to stand for 5 minutes.

Layout your tiles! This step is critical when tiling a shower floor or walls. You will need to lay your tiles at the right spacing and level across the wall. Depending on the tile you chose you may be able to achieve this by eye, but for more detailed work I recommend using your chalk lines as a guide.

Grout! Grouting is another critical step; if grouting is done incorrectly it can result in a number of problems such as: Mould growth Under grout joints. To avoid these problems you will need to cut your grout lines at the right size and clean them out regularly. Again this is another step where the advice from a professional would be beneficial, but if your feeling confident give it a try!

Cleaning! It’s important to seal the grout joints within 24 hours of grouting. To do this mix some sealant with water in a spray bottle and use this to clean out any remaining grout lines before allowing the sealant to dry for 24 hours. Step back and admire your work, job well done!

What to consider before tiling a shower floor?

The size of the room is a factor when tiling a shower floor, you want to tile from one side of the room to the other to avoid having tiles that are different sizes. Ensure you have enough tiles by laying them out before hand and adjusting the layout if necessary.

The joint can be made as thin or thick as required, but for a good standard I recommend a minimum thickness of 3mm.

There are many different adhesives on the market from thinnest to thickest being: thinnest slurry medium setting adhesive thick setting adhesive To determine which adhesive you should use ask yourself these questions: What is the purpose of this adhesive? To hold a tile in place or to fill a gap. How thick will the joints be? The thicker the joint, the stronger and more resistant it will be. Will it be able to cure under water? If you are using your shower then you will need an waterproof adhesive that cures under water, this will give you peace of mind.

Tiling a shower floor does not need to be too difficult, but it is important to get the layout right before starting. If you are looking for some professional advice then I recommend taking along some photographs of the room and explaining what you want doing, this will help find someone that can give you the best service possible while advising on some processes you might not have thought about.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.