I want to build a shower using tiles,is this possible?
Question:What do I use ?i.e tiles ,grout,flooring etc... this will be a big walk-in type shower.multi shower heads etc
Answers:
Ok, start with the framing and plumbing. Frame up the walls and set up the plumbing work. (if you are using mulitiple shower heads but only 1 control/ mixing valve, make sure the heads have the same length of copper going to both. Otherwise, your pressure will all go to the shorter head.)
Next is the shower pan. B/c this is going to be a large shower, you will need to pour the shower pan. This is not easy to do and should be handled by a professional. If you really want to attempt it yourself, then there are tile books that will explain in detail how to do this.
Then comes the cement backer board. Dura-rock is the brand sold at Home Depot. Get 1/2" thick. Cut the board using a scoring knife or an angle grider with a diamond blade. Hang the board on the studs using screws. Make sure you really fasten those boards. You don't want any movement when you push against the wall. Also, leave no gaps or you'll have a water leak nightmare on your hands.
Next, I like to put a water-proofing, anti-fracture membrane down. It's not manditory, but it really helps in showers and steam rooms. Home Depot's brand is called Red-Guard. It's hot pink and ugly as hell, but it's a great product.
Now that the floor is poured, the backer is in and we have water-proofed the whole thing, we're finally ready to set tile!
Find the best mortar you can afford. It should be heavily latex modified, have a very high psi strength, and acceptable for wall installation. I personally like Tec's Super Flex mortar, but get what you can.
Start at bottom of the walls and work your way up. Use spacers to keep the tile from sliding down. Depending your tile, use a tile cutter/angle grinder or a wet-saw to cut your tiles. I try to put my cut tiles in the shower corners instead of the outside edges. It makes it look cleaner and gives you a little flexabilty if your cut wasn't dead on. Once the walls are done, start tiling the shower pan. I recommened very small tiles or stones, they usually come on mats. Otherwise, you will be fighting the slope of the shower pan and people will stub their toes in your shower.
Whew! Okay time to grout. You'll make a huge mess on the floor when grouting the walls so start the walls first. Use a latex modified grout. Mix it to the consistency of thick, creamy peanut butter. Hold your grout float at a 45 degree angle from the wall start packing it in the lines. This takes some practice to get good at, but it's easy. After it has been drying in the lines for about half an hour (longer in more humid places), take a grout sponge and a clean bucket of water and gently remove the excess grout that I'm sure is everywhere at this point. Keep the sponge damp, not dripping. Now repeat on the floor.
Last step! Use caulking around all your corners, edges, and fixtures. Many times, you can find the same color as the grout you used. After that's done, use a sealent to keep your beatiful shower looking new. The type of sealant will be determined by the type of tile you used (ceramic, porcelain, stone, etc.)
Good luck! It's quite a project, hope this helps point you in the right direction
Yes it is possible to do this. It is just the same as tiling a floor and walls normally. Use the best underlayment that your local lumberyard has. You will have to figure out how to make the floor slope to get it to drain. It will seem like a large project but two long days you should be able to figure it out.
You might want to check out HGTV if you live here in St Paul Mn. They show a lot of remodeling tips and decorating ideas. I watch them quite a lot.
Tiles and grout is a good idea. You might also want to go to a store that specializes in bathrooms and kitchens. They have all of the know-how about finishing these rooms and would be very helpful in picking out colors and materials.
Have a great day.
Mine is being finished tomorrow. You must put Dur-Rock(sp? I have only watched them and heard them say it, I am not sure how to spell it) on the walls, it is water resistant, then you put the tile on next (i bought indoor/outdoor tile) You must build a ledge around the edge and then you put in a pan on the bottom, my pan is made of plastic (looks like a garbage bag) and surrounds the drain, he built the ledge/edge about 3 inches high And the nicest thing of all is the weird pebbles I found for my floor. They are smooth stones attached to matting the tile guy say that he will lay them like tile and put a light coating of grout around them so that the floor will actually feel like we are walking on smooth stones I used oblong 12x18 tiles in a running bond on the bottom, and then I turned 12x12 diamond shaped on the top. Also, if you can afford it, put in a shampoo/bottle caddy box on the side they build it into the wall and then tile around it, it looks professional, and I used two corner soap dishes that match the tile. I put my shower where a closet used to be, and it is 5 feet wide. The problem will be a shower door. The tile guy said that I will have to special order it and will spend $500 before installation. I also tiled 3-4 feet high on the walls for the rest of the room and put a few 4x4 tiles diamond sided on top in the shower for variety. My tile sales in 5 different sizes, so instead of buying decos or borders I changed the tile, and I love it.
Yes it's very possible, here's your list of materials. About six 1/2 inch thick pieces of Hardibacker or Durock, one bag of grey or white thinset (50lb bag), two bags of grout sanded or non-sanded(25lb bag), two bags of mortar mix(only if your making a tiled shower pan), an adjustable shower drain and a 2x4. Making/installing your own shower pan is not easy, figure out if your pan is going to be constructed using tar, rubber bladder or fiberglass. I believe the fiberglass works the best, if installed "right". This may not be something you want to take on yourself, you decide, research it if you'd like. If you decide to go with a fiberglass, you'll need to also buy some metal lath. Be sure to get an adjustable drain, very important. You fall from the outside to your drain should have a fall of a1/4 inch per foot. Your threshold to your shower pan should be at least 2 inches higher that the top of the drain and no more than 9 inches from the top of the drain. I forgot to mention you'll need two 2 1/2 gallon pales of mastic or if you choose, thinset either grey or white. If you have any questions contact me at pisofuerte360@yahoo.com. Good luck.
of course, possible-
mozaic tiles also interesting-
for big scale - i would consider to pay pro- skills to do the construction estimation, design and etc
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