How to Build a Tile Shower

Building a tile shower is usually high on the list of bathroom remodeling projects. A tile shower is a great way to create a custom look in your bathroom, but where do you start? Most of the tile work involved in building a tile shower is straightforward-the real trick is in the preparation.

Building A Tile Shower Like A Pro

Tile is the perfect medium for building a shower-the luxurious look of tile is available in almost endless variety. Incorrect construction techniques, however, can turn your dream bathroom into a never-ending nightmare. Here's how to get it right the first time:

• Start in the back. The high humidity environment of a tile shower calls for the proper building materials. Traditional gypsum drywall is no match for the burdens of a shower-you'll need to provide a stable waterproof foundation for your tile walls with cement-based backing board. Although backing board handles like drywall, it is designed to stand up to the high moisture environment found in the bathroom.
• Pandemonium. The base of your tile shower is called the pan. The pan creates a stable, waterproof platform for the floor tile to be installed on. Many pans are created using mortar built up around the pre-installed drain. The mortar base is covered by a vinyl liner, a second layer of mortar and finally, the floor tile. Several companies make "tile ready" shower pans systems with built-in drains for easier installation. An even easier method is to use a preformed fiberglass shower pan. While you'll loose a bit of the custom look of a full tile shower, the fiberglass pan will give you some piece of mind with its waterproof integrity.
• Kick it to the curb. The raised part of the pan under the shower door is called the curb. The curb is in place to keep water in the shower. A simple curb can be built from sections of backer board wrapped around a 2"x4" or similar wooden foundation. Fiberglass shower pans typically have a curb formed into them.
• Setting wall tile. After you have the pan taken care of, the next step is to tile the walls of your shower. If you have small or square tiles, measure and mark the center of each wall. Start by placing a tile in the center of the wall and working toward the corners. For larger or rectangular tile, try dry fitting a row of tile along the base of the wall to get a feel for the best arrangement. Once you've established the best pattern for tile installation, transfer it to the top of the wall and begin installing tile.