Shower tile

Bhankiii,

Nice bit of work, I live in Friendswood, not far from you, how bout coming over and taking care of this for me... (just kidding Mrs S is expecting me to do it.) BTW where did you buy your tile? I am looking at the tile store on Almeda and the Gulf Freeway.

I really expected that the first bit of advice I would get would be to hire a pro...

I am just doing the showers, and I am planning biggish tile.

We bought it at The Tile Store - I think that's the name. On 45 just south of 59, on the downtown side of the freeway. Just a little hole in the wall. They had to order the tile and it took a month to get the little tiles in. I'd live to come and help, but there are 751,283 people in line ahead of you.

And you're welcome to borrow my saw if you'd like.

"I really expected that the first bit of advice I would get would be to hire a pro..."

Nah! Tile work is pretty easy and can be fun. My best advice is to take what ever is your estimate in cost and time and multipy it by 4.

Borrow a tile wet saw if you can or buy one if you can afford it. They are orders of magnitude better than any other tool.

Just follow directions on the products you buy and check the local libray for books on techniques and ideas.

The only thing I would add is, a good quality 4" angle grinder with a good quality "turbo grooved" diamond saw blade is great for cutting curves that the table saw won't. I've picked up some good tips for the next time from other posters too.

I've done some large and some awkward areas but bathroom and kitchen still to come, I'll refer back to this thread.

You have my sympathy...

Good tip,

Nail a horizontal batten to the wall and work upwards from that.
Place the first tile somewhere near the middle to check the spacing, adjust it such that when you get to the each end you will be cutting 1/2 to 1/3 tiles. Common mistake is to start at one end and find you have to cut a thin sliver at the other end. Same applies to the spacing top and bottom.

Use a good quality waterproof (& mold resitant) tile adhesive, buy a decent sized spreader, don't rely on the little plastic one in the adhesive tub.

Use plastic tile spacers, and wipe of the surplus before it goes too hard.

Best tip is let Mrs S do it...Mrs Cat does a fine job and just leaves me to do the cut tiles around the edges .

Think of the 'brownie points' you'll earn.

Have fun (sound of laughing off left)

Del

Any important tips? Yes 10.

Honestly based on my personal experience - avoid doing it yourself.

1 . You will break your back. After 2 hours of working you cannot straighten up.

2 . They will never be on a straight line and Mrs.S will not like it.

3 . If 1 & 2 fails, try getting tiles from Home Depot with sticker to peel off & stick.

4 . You will still break your back . This is common factor on all type of tiles.

5 . Avoid doing it yourself.

6 . If 5 fails don't sleep on soft bed because you need to sleep on a hard board for it takes over 6 months for the back to heal and the tinging pain to go.

7 . Please read this out to Mrs.S. This is my personal experience.

8 . Jump from the highest diving board to convince Mrs.S that you love her.

9 . If you do 8. then don't splat on the water on your back.

10 . If you do then go to 5.

I agree with all previous comments regarding a wet saw - if you don't own one - borrow or rent one; all the difference in the world.

Use spacers; I liked the rubber ones vs. the plastic ones (I tiled a wall and found the plastic ones were more difficult to keep in place, the rubber ones had some "adhesion" to them).

Whatever time estimate you have in your head - double it. Give yourself plenty of time - gotta do it right the first time.

Grout - ugh..never fun. I used an epoxy grout from Lowe's on my project (Spectralock) - I chose it so I didn't have to worry about sealing the tile; it was a great grout with lots of color-options but tough to work with. If you are doing a small area (I wasn't) - I recommend it though. If you go this route - buy 2x of grout than you think you might need - I ran out 3/4 the way through and epoxy grout has time sensitivity to it - not fun when you have to speed to the store for more... If you don't use what you buy- you can always bring it back.

Sponges...can never have too many. Especially on finishing work - I had a few extra buckets of just clean water and sponges; ended up using them all.

Trowel, I ended up using a small one; despite some areas of large tile - I just found it easier to work with smaller amounts of mastic and grout.

Outlets...if you have any; plan in advance how you are going to tile around them... I learned the hard way...

Enjoy! I had never tiled anything before and did my whole kitchen; came out awesome with plenty of kudos from neighbors and spouse (except for the outlet thing..which I fixed later...). I've since sold that house and was told by realtor that the kitchen was the primary selling point...(sold in 24 hours...man, those were the days...)

Recently my mother asked me to do hers. She picked out some lovely tile, about 1"sq on a mesh backer. She wanted to do some pretty simple decorative back splash stuff. So I went to the hardware store and got grout and the above listed goods, including saw.

I snapped a quick photo of the bathroom to be remodeled and then went to 51st street. There I asked a couple of nice looking and very polite Hispanic men if they new how to lay interior tile. After a little discussion about the photo in hand, we agreed on an estimate.

$275 worth of labor 5hrs later Mom had the bathroom she wanted.

No stiff boards or aching knees required.

cr3

Having been involved in thousands of square metres of tile laying, I commend you, Steve S, for self-laying your own.

Give us a few photos when the Works are complete...

Sparkstation - I salute you. I did 2 bathrooms & 1 kitchen . Been 2 years the back still hurts.

When you say shower; is this a walk-in or a tub?

If it's a walk-in; be very careful removing old tile, as not to mess up your pan. If you have green-board drywall on the walls, you should replace it w/cement backer-board. Cut the old drywall out about 4" shy of finished tile edges, assuming you're using 2" edging tiles. Now my little trick I use: When I replace the DW w/backerbd, I lay the floor tile first, grout and all. I then install the backerbd on the walls leaving about a 1/4 inch gap at the bottom; in-which I caulk in. When I do the wall tile, I fasten a strip (level) across the bottom about 1/4" shy of a full tile above the lowest point on the perimeter of the floor or tub. I do the back wall first center to out-wards not worrying about them corner cuts because they will be hidden by the tiles coming from the other direction anyway. Start from outside edge of tub, allowing for edge tile and work tile back into corner and scribe cut last cuts. Remove strips and cut in bottom tiles and set border and let it set at least 12 hours(24 is better). When grouting, try to get as much as you can get into them joints as possible and as much spread as possible without it getting out of control. When floating the grout, I go at a 45 degree angle and get as much as I can off as to a film will appear. Do a light sponge over to remove film. Sponge another time and just when it's about dry, I use cheesecloth to achieve a sheen on the grout and it removes anything you missed with the sponge. I sure hope you have two bathrooms; cause re-doing a shower raises allot of havoc.

Laying tiles in bathroom is not a easy job. You need proper experince and skill to do the proper job.I will suggest please dont try to save few hundred $ but assign job to professional man. Otherwise you may break your back, cut tiles wrong, may not provide proper slope for drainage and regret latter on for money you saved.

All have given great answers and condolences. My only addition would be to seal the grout well. This keeps mildew or stains from entering the grout. Makes cleanup afterwards much easier. My first attempt, about 35 years ago, I missed a couple small lines and over time the water and cleansers weakened the gout and it started to crumble and fall out as powder. The new grout didn't match as well so I had to remove it and do it all over. Still looks good after many years and no tile discoloration from moisture.

Been doing tile work for some time. best suggestion that seems no one has given You.

get a roto zip tool for cuting around openings (pipes, faucet ect.) with this tool You can cut a hole in the middle of a tile. Only good for wall tile. floor tiles are to hard.

oilcan13

Well wasn't that nice of your wife to find you something to do on your time off.

As the saying goes idle hands are the devils workshop. Or something like that.

Ok now on to your question. Are we talking floors or walls?

If walls, I've found its easier to tear down to the studs and start from scratch. The make a new sheet rock that is more mold resistant than even the old green board or the concrete stuff. Other than that not much has changed in materials or techniques.

Floors are another matter. You have more choices in materials these days. They even make a Pergo type floor that is designed for wetter areas like baths. And with this you don't have to do all the grout work. I would also suggest looking into the under floor heating systems that can be used. Nothing like stepping onto a cold tile floor to wake you up in the morning. The best advice I can give you is to visit a store that specializes in flooring to find out all your options. Then you both can decide what materials and options you want.

And by the time you get all the research done you'll be done with your vacation and won't have to do the job.

First let me say thankyou to all! I have recieved some pretty darn excellent advice (with the exception maybe of diving off a tall diving board to show my love to Mrs S.)

Today is the day to start demolition on the first bath, so I may be out of pocket for a while..

The first project is the tile around a bath tub/shower combo in the kids bathroom so it should be fairly simple. Right now there is no tile, but rather a sort of ugly plastic liner (not attached to the tub). The house is thirty years old, and this is original equipment. If it goes well I will carry on with the next, if not I will find professionals.

Thanks again!!

They make a wall sealer to put on before you adhere the tiles. It a rubberized seal coating on the wall. If you use mortar to set the tiles to the wall and floor look to acrylic additives reduces drying time and gives better adhesion . Specially on large tiles where the edge is far from the center takes a while to dry. There is all so epoxy base grout that will not mildew.

Over the holidays visited a good friend that is putting in another bath in his home. He has been tiling a large walk in shower stall. He all ready has a bad back. So he sure was paying for that DIY pride.

So have fun.

Well, it has taken about three times my original time estimate, but Mrs. S has engaged in scope creep as she often does. Now I am doing the front porch as well. My daughter is putting together a blog for me, so when she has it going I'll post a link. My back definately hurts.... Well back to tileing....

Hello Steve S,

"My back definately hurts.."

Your wife is worried about you, and she has advised that you may be turning into

The best way to get over that, is to stop moaning about the soreness of your back.

Just get back down on your knees, and get on with the job,and stop thinking of yourself.

When the Works are completed, you will be able to sit and enjoy watching your fine achievement, as you sit

.........

I am always weary when it comes to stuff like this (not tht I have done any of this myself) . I have worked in enough different locations that have had their tile floors pulled up and ended up calling an abatement crew in because of the asbestos fillers in the old tile/grout-glue. Usually; though, it was in a commercial environment and the tile in question was the generic sheet tile. Be careful and wear something to cover your mouth. Also, be up on your tetnus(?) shot as you can never be TOO sure can you?

Nice blog...the blood could have been more theatrical .

Looks like a lot of work...

Del

Nice work, Steve,

There must be some photos I missed, though.

If your new work is Slate then remember to use 2 coats of non-yellowing 2 pot resin seal, or solvent based Slate-Seal, before the slates are exposed to soap or you walk on the slates.

Remember if you use either of the above, to use an organic molecule filter cartridge breather, chemical grade gloves too, (ordinary rubber ones dissolve in the fumes), and ventilate well.

If you use the Solvent type Slate Seal, keep all ignition sources well away, until the Slate Seal Solvent has fully dispersed, and the seal coating has fully set.

Ignition sources include: Static charge build-up from nylon stockings worn with synthetic soled shoes, (most are synthetic soled these days), smoking, motor-mowers, cars, electric switching or heaters etc.

We don't want to read about a house and contents 40,000 feet in the air, along with you and your loved ones, in many pieces.

Kind Regards....

In that case it is a good job you are on the other side of the planet. With a name like sparky.....

I was going to work on sealing the slate today your advice is timely..

Hmmm, the research I have done, the consensus is to grout the slate, and then wait 30 days to seal it, I guess I will grout today...

I had thought I needed to seal it first to keep the slate from soaking the moisture out of the grout.

Then about half of the internet sources say don't seal it at all...

Any other opinions?

Thanks again Sparky, still have not grouted, so now I know... I'll seal it today, and grout tomarrow.

I think you did a great job. Your wife totally owes you a new 48 inch plasma screen.

I am not even going there.... besides I am working on a new gutar amp...

How 'bout a pic?

Saw it on the Blog.

Tube? I love the sound of a good tube amp all warmed up, add a lil' reverb and a bunch of overdrive, crank the bass and the mids... I use to own a Carvin X-100b 100 watt full stack (had to get rid of ot 11 yrs ago in order to pay rent), now I have my trusty stand by, my Dean Markley.

I am angling for a Mesa Lone Star 2X12 with switchable power 15, 30, 100 watts...

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Lonestar/Lonestar.htm

I know that mesa boogie is a killer brand name-I haven't had the opportunity to play one though. What kind of music do you play, have any schooling?

70's style rock, a little bit of country, love the blues, and I play at church, so contemporary Christian...

I have taken lessons on and off since I was 12. No university type schooling. My current teacher is an incredible jazz player. Made his living in the New Orleans French Quarter for years..

Made his living in the New Orleans French Quarter for years..

I once new a woman who had done the same, though not a musician per se.

I had 6 years of lessons and 2 years in jr college (of theory), I really enjoyed learning about how all of that structure ties together. I was going to (starting in 89-90) go to UCSD, out here in San Diego, and get my degree in either classical guitar, didn't matter if it was in instruction or performance. That is what I was planning,oh and with a stop over in Hollywood at the musicians institute thrown inbetween my junior and senior years. What happened? I started to listen to others and their views that I needed to find a "real" career to get into. I still play on occasions, mainly because my hands and fingers start going numb after a little time (approx 10-15minutes) of playing; especially, when I am playing chords. Being in the trade that I am in doesn't help either. Whether I am carrying bundles of conduit on my shoulder or tightening wirenuts onto wire my hands start going numb. Jazz is a really cool form of music. I really only paid attention to classical when I was taking lessons - it is stricter in the theory. Jazz has a lot of rules that I did not want to deal with at the time (like the melodic minor scale and how it changes tonality ascending versus descending - from a natural minor to a minor with a raised 6th or something like that... just thinking of it makes my head swim hahahahaaa). Good luck with your lessons. Playing music is a lot like life: You never learn everything there is too learn.

Aaaaaargh! Hazard warning!

The two home development skills that require practice to get right, and look b.awful and expensive if they go wrong, are plain-wall plastering and tiling! Both are skills that can only really be learned by practice and experience, and that means getting it wrong a few times along the way.

Which means that risk assessment is the top priority. Consider this:

• If it's just a few tiles for a basin splashback, then go ahead DIY and learn from the experience; build on the experience for increasing the confidence for larger projects. "Oh well, never mind. You tried, but I do want it sorted out. You can re-do it on Saturday instead of going to the ball game." (Temporary problem).
• However, if the final finish is mission-critical, perhaps with a view to it adding significantly to the perceived resale value of the home by tiling a large area to a very high standard, then seriously consider contracting-out this task to someone with the appropriate skills on-board, for the cash expenditure will return eventually via the selling process on the property. "You plonker! You made a total mess of the bathroom. It's ruined! Why didn't you just pay someone to do it? I'm moving out until you sort it all out!!" (Longer-term, serious problem.)

Remember it is the alpha-female that determines the suitability of the home, as periodic 're-nesting' is on the top of her agenda. The present individual, and the as-yet unknown future prospective purchaser, in this category is the one that needs to be suitably impressed with the final finish.

So think very carefully on this matter before proceeding!

Too late PW, it is done, and it came out decently.

There are a few places where you can tell that a professional did not do it. The grout lines in the little design were not always exactly straight and true, but Mrs. S is happy with it, as are the teenagers who shower there each day.

As for the front poarch, that is really beautiful. Although I still have not grouted it, so I have plenty of opportunity to mess it up still...

I've been away for a while and haven't checked in but looks like you did a wonderful job. And if that tiny little nick on your finger on your daughters blog is the only blood you drew then I congratulate you. I get worst nicks than that just unloading the materials from my truck. And I REALLY like the porch. Want to come over and do my porch and walk that way? Its been on my to do list since we moved in 3 years ago.

A good amateur job is better than a bad "professional" job. The many non core skills I've learned have been to fix up after the "professional" job, jobs that I hate like fixing bloody motor vehicles.