Tile shower tips can help you design and install your own ceramic tile shower. There are some mysteries about how to build a tiled shower, but the answers to your questions are out there. You just have to know where to get the answers. The construction of a shower is done step by step, starting from the floor and going up. Here are the basic steps.

Building the tiled shower tray

The first section of a tiled shower to be built is the floor and shower pan. The floor must be impermeable. Ceramic tile and grout construction is not waterproof, so there must be a liner under the tiles that stops the water and directs it into the shower drain.

The traditional way to build a shower tray is to first build a concrete base sloped towards the drain. Then cover the base with a vinyl waterproof coating. A special drain is used with drainage holes below the surface to which the waterproof membrane is attached. Tiles are then laid on top of this second layer and grouted to finish the floor.

Ready-to-tile shower trays can also be installed. You have several different systems to choose from, including Tile-Redi, Schluter, and Wedi. They all use a basic, polyurethane pan, and different ways to mount the pan and install curbs, walls, and drains. The emphasis is on the “system” as every part of the shower floor is included and some systems include backing for walls and ceilings.

shower ceiling

After the floor is built, the roof is installed. Will the tile fall on you? Nope! The adhesive will hold it, but if you like, you can cut pieces of plywood to hold each row of tiles. Although it is not necessary. The main problem will be the mortar that falls on you. So you will need a hat!

wall shower

The best backing for a shower ceiling and walls is Hardibacker cement board. The tile is installed right on top of the cement board. The wall should be laid starting at the back and then the sides and front. Use a level and mark lines to stay on course. Use spacers to keep grout lines even. After you finish installing the tiles and grout, seal the joints between the floor and the walls with silicone caulking. Also consider caulking at the corners of the walls and between the walls and the ceiling.

Ceramic showers are a great luxury and, if built correctly, will be trouble-free for decades. But what if it’s not built correctly?