Tiling a Shower Stall Starts with a Shower Pan

Building a Custom Ceramic Tile Shower

Tiling a Shower Stall Starts with a Shower Pan

Tiling a Shower Stall Starts with a Shower Pan

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Tiling a Shower Stall Starts with a Shower Pan

Tiling a Shower Stall Starts with a Shower Pan

The most important feature in a ceramic tile shower stall is the shower pan. The shower pan channels water to the drain and prevents the shower from leaking. Consequently it is critical that the shower pan be installed correctly and that it is waterproof and durable.

The shower pan is actually a mortar bed consisting of a flexible shower pan liner sandwiched between two layers of mortar. The shower stall walls are framed with 2 x 4 studding and faced with some type of backerboard underlayMent designed for receiving ceramic tile.

The installation of a shower pan starts with the spreading of a layer of mortar. The mortar needs to be slopedproperly to enable water to run off towards the drain. The flexible plastic shower pan membrane liner is then installed on top of the sloped mortar bed.

The shower pan membrane liner should be cut to size and hand molded into the shower base.

Note: The shower pan should be cut to size such that several extra inches of shower pan material can be run up the shower stall side walls to enable the shower pan to be secured with nails to the studs. Also, the shower pan should be installed prior to the installation of backerboard on the shower walls.

After the shower pan membrane is secured, the second layer of mortar should be installed in the base of the shower, again maintaining the slopeof the mortar towards the drain.

Once the shower pan mortar bed has set up, you can install the backerboard to the walls and begin to install the ceramic tiles.

Start the installation of tiles in the center of the shower pan area and work your way outwards.

Next, install ceramic tiles on the walls. Use a plumb line to run straight lines down the length of the walls. Position the plumb line at the ceiling and centered on a wall. Snap the line, so that you have a vertical line running the length of the wall.

Next, Install your tiles outwards from the line toward the edges of the wall. Repeat this process for all the walls.

For tile cutting, a wet saw works best, as you can obtain very accurate cuts and minimize ceramic tile waste.

Afterthe ceramic tile has had 24-48 hours to set up, can then be applied grout to the tile.

Finally a sealer should be used on the grout to minimize moisture seeping through the grout lines.

For more information on installing a shower pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation EBook from http://www.HomeAdditionPlus.com The Shower Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly teach you the step-by-step process for installing the shower pan membrane liner correctly. It includes instructions on framing the shower stall, pouring the pre-slope and base mortar shower , and installing the shower pan membrane liner.

Tiling a Shower Stall Starts with a Shower Pan

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Tiling a Shower-Floor, Ceiling, Walls

Tiling a shower is no doubt an ambitious undertaking. It is a challenge that many homeowners take on though. The most mysterious part of building a shower is the constructing of a shower pan. How do you keep it from leaking? Well, you can use a "prefabricated" shower pan and avoid the conventional masonry construction. But many folks tackle building a shower pan. So where do you start when building a shower?

Tiling a Shower-Floor, Ceiling, Walls

Tiling a Shower-Floor, Ceiling, Walls

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Tiling a Shower-Floor, Ceiling, Walls

Tiling a Shower-Floor, Ceiling, Walls

The Shower Floor

Build the shower floor first. The shower floor you see as ceramic tile and grout is not waterproof. The tile and especially grout are porous and the so a liner under the surface of the floor is needed to keep the water from damaging the area around the shower.When a shower pan leaks, some part of the waterproofing plan has failed.

A shower floor is constructed on top of a solid base. It could be subfloor or it could be real. A special shower drain is set in place first. This drain has two sets of drain holes, one above the other. A layer of masonry is poured into place sloped to the bottom set of holes. Place on top of the sloped mortar a special vinyl membranes. This vinyl sheet is actually the waterproof layer of the floor.

The diaphragm is glued to the base of the drain so you then have a waterproof liner which is run up the wall several inches too.

Now above the liner to second layer of mortar is poured that is sloped toward the drain to serve as the basis for the tile. After the mortar dries for acouple of days the tile is set using thinset adhesive. Then the tile is grouted and the floor is ready.

Ceiling

If you will tile the ceiling, this step comes next. You can support the ceiling tiles with strips of plywood over each course. Hold the strips with lengths of 2 x 4 wedged between the shower pan and the ceiling.

Walls

Mark lines on the back wall and then on the sides. You'll need horizontal and vertical lines. If the shower walls partially enclose the front of the shower, you can use the back corners as the vertical working lines as long as the walls are plumb.

Spread adhesive on the back wall and set the tiles until complete. Then complete the sides and then the front. Put in place any fixtures like soap dishes as you movearound. Finally, complete the trim around the door or threshold.

A ceramic tile shower is a challenging project but one that many homeowners successfully tackle.

Tiling a Shower-Floor, Ceiling, Walls

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