| Tiling a shower is no doubt an ambitious undertaking. | | | | you then have a waterproof liner which is run up the |
| It is a challenge that many homeowners take on | | | | wall several inches too. |
| though. The most mysterious part of building a | | | | Now above the liner a second layer of mortar is |
| shower is the constructing of a shower pan. How do | | | | poured that is sloped toward the drain to serve as |
| you keep it from leaking? Well, you can use a | | | | the base for the tile. After the mortar dries for a |
| prefabricated shower pan and avoid the conventional | | | | couple of days the tile is set using thinset adhesive. |
| masonry construction. But many folks tackle building a | | | | Then the tile is grouted and the floor is ready. |
| shower pan themselves. So where do you start | | | | Ceiling |
| when building a shower? | | | | If you will tile the ceiling, this step comes next. You |
| The Shower Floor | | | | can support the ceiling tiles with strips of plywood |
| Build the shower floor first. The shower floor you | | | | over each course. Hold the strips with lengths of 2x4 |
| see as ceramic tile and grout is not waterproof. The | | | | wedged between the shower pan and the ceiling. |
| tile and especially the grout are porous and so a liner | | | | Walls |
| under the surface of the floor is needed to keep the | | | | Mark lines on the back wall and then on the sides. |
| water from damaging the area around the shower. | | | | You'll need horizontal and vertical lines. If the shower |
| When a shower pan leaks, some part of the | | | | walls partially enclose the front of the shower, you |
| waterproofing plan has failed. | | | | can use the back corners as the vertical working lines |
| A shower floor is constructed on top of a solid base. | | | | as long as the walls are plumb. |
| It could be subfloor or it could be concrete. A special | | | | Spread adhesive on the back wall and set the tiles |
| shower drain is set in place first. This drain has two | | | | until complete. Then complete the sides and then the |
| sets of drain holes, one above the other. A layer of | | | | front. Put in place any fixtures like soap dishes as you |
| masonry is poured in place sloped to the bottom set | | | | move around. Finally, complete the trim around the |
| of holes. Place on top of the sloped mortar a special | | | | door or threshold. |
| vinyl membrane. This vinyl sheet is actually the | | | | A ceramic tile shower is a challenging project but one |
| waterproof layer of the floor. | | | | that many homeowners successfully tackle. |
| The membrane is glued to the base of the drain so | | | | |