You Can Learn How to Tile a Shower That Won't Leak

You can learn how to tile a shower like many others have done. The shower is usually done first in a bathroom since it involves the most cuts. The real key to getting a tile shower right is the shower floor. But there are some basics that must be right on the other surfaces too.

The shower floor is more than meets the eye. That's because water seeps right through the tile and grout on the floor. That's why some kind of waterproof layer must be in the pan. Many times a tile ready shower pan is used that is designed for tile to be installed right over it. Now this isn't an acrylic pan like you see at a building supply house. It's a special pan.

Now the traditional shower pan is built on the job using layers of masonry and a special drain. It's a special drain because it has two levels of drain holes. The lower level catches water from a waterproof vinyl layers that's built in to the masonry pan. That's the trick to a pan that doesn't leak, the waterproof vinyl layer and the special drain.

Once the tile floor is done, working lines are marked on the back wall and the sides. Spread adhesive on the walls and then apply tile. Install tile from back to front so cut tiles are in the front and hidden in the corners.

If you want to tile the ceiling this is usually done before the walls. The ceiling tiles will usually stick without support. If not, support each course with a piece of plywood supported by 2x4's.

Building the curb is another project. The curb can be formed with wood or brick. The curb is then trimmed out as part of the finish trim out work. Grout work is done after the tile adhesive is dried. Then some careful caulking is completed. Especially important is caulking in corners and between the pan and the walls.

You can learn how to tile a shower. The shower pan construction is the most challenging part and it's often left to the pros. That's partly because the shower pan is something of a mystery. That special drain and the waterproof membrane properly installed is the key to getting it right. The best way to really learn how to do this is to watch a shower pan being built.

You can get access to video tutorials showing how to tile a shower the professional way including how to tile shower walls and put in accessories too.

Al Bullington invites you to visit http://InstallingCeramicTile.net for answers to your tile questions.

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