Starting a shower tiling project can be exciting and challenging. Whether refreshing your bathroom or embarking on a complete renovation, proper planning and attention to detail are key to achieving a professional finish.
This guide breaks down each process step, offering clear, practical advice to ensure your shower turns out beautifully. From laying out the design to applying the final tile, you’ll find helpful tips, recommended tools, and essential techniques to make your tiling project successful.
Let’s get straight to the point.
To tile a shower, start with the back wall for symmetry, ensuring it’s centred and level. Dry-lay the tiles to plan the layout and cuts before installation.
Begin tiling from the bottom, using spacers to fill the grout lines. Ensure the first row is level for a stable foundation. Use a laser level for accuracy as you work your way up, row by row.
Once the back wall is done, please move to the side walls, ensuring they align with the back. Carefully add decorative tiles and finish by tiling the ceiling or niches, if needed.
Tools And Materials You’ll Need
Tools
- Laser Level: Ensures your tile installation is straight and level, providing accurate horizontal and vertical guidelines.
- 1/16″ Spacers: Helps maintain even spacing between tiles, ensuring uniform grout lines.
- Horseshoe Shims: Used to adjust the height of tiles during installation, especially if the surface is inconsistent.
- Pencil: This marks measurements and guidelines on tiles or the wall.
- Tile Cutter or Wet Saw: A tile cutter makes straight cuts on tiles, while a wet saw is better for larger or harder tiles and more intricate cuts.
- Tape Measure: Measure spaces tiles and ensure accurate cuts.
- Trowel (1/4″ notched): Used to spread thin-set mortar evenly across the surface where the tiles will be placed.
- Buckets for Thin-set Mortar and Water: One bucket for mixing the thin-set mortar and another for keeping your tools clean.
Start With The Back Wall For Symmetry And Precision
The back wall is your shower’s largest and most visible section, so starting here ensures that your overall design appears balanced and seamless.
By beginning with the back wall, you also ensure that small imperfections, such as uneven cuts, will be hidden on the side walls, making the result look more polished.
Step-by-step process:
- Mark the centre: Begin by measuring and marking the centre point of the back wall. This is critical because aligning the first tile with the centre mark ensures that the tiles will be evenly distributed on either side of the wall, creating a balanced look.
- Set the first tile: Once you’ve identified the centre, align the first tile with the mark, making sure it’s level and straight. This tile will serve as the foundation for the rest of the wall.
- Use spacers for grout lines: Place spacers between each tile to ensure the grout lines are even and consistent throughout the wall. This will give your shower a uniform, professional appearance.
Measure And Dry-Lay The Tiles For A Flawless Layout
Before applying any adhesive, measure and dry-lay your tiles. This allows you to visualise the final design and identify any potential issues, such as awkward cuts or uneven spacing, before adjusting.
Steps to dry-lay tiles:
- Dry-lay from the bottom up: Lay the tiles on the floor or a flat surface, starting from the bottom and working your way upwards. Use spaces to simulate the grout lines and ensure proper spacing between each tile.
- Account for cuts: As you lay the tiles, you’ll likely find that some edges or corners require cutting. Mark these tiles so you can cut them in advance, minimising any surprises during the installation.
- Check alignment: By dry-laying the tiles, you can check whether the pattern and alignment look correct and make any necessary adjustments to the layout at this stage.
Begin With The First Row At The Bottom For Stability
Once the back wall is prepared and the layout is planned, it’s time to install the first row of tiles.
Start at the bottom of the back wall, just above the shower pan or tub. This foundational row will support the weight of the subsequent tiles, so it’s essential to get it right.
Steps for tiling the first row:
- Use spacers for expansion: Place 1/16” spacers between the tiles and the shower pan or tub. This small gap allows for expansion, which helps prevent cracks in the tile over time.
- Ensure level placement: Use a laser or bubble level to ensure the first row is perfectly straight. If the first row is crooked, the entire wall will be off, so this step is critical for maintaining alignment.
- Cut the bottom tiles if needed: Shower floors are not always perfectly straight, so you may need to cut the bottom row to fit. Ensure that the cuts are clean and precise to maintain a professional appearance.
Use A Laser Level For Accuracy
The laser level is one of the most important tools in your tiling arsenal. It helps you maintain straight, evenly spaced tiles across the entire wall, essential for achieving a professional finish.
Using the laser level:
- Set the laser level: Position the laser horizontally at the height of the first row of tiles. This will give you a consistent reference line as you tile upward.
- Mark the wall: Use the laser line to mark the tile height along the wall, ensuring that each row remains level as you go.
- Check frequently: As you progress, check the alignment of the tiles against the laser line periodically to ensure that everything remains straight. Walls and floors are not always perfectly square, so the laser level will help you compensate for these imperfections.
Work Your Way Up The Wall, One Row At A Time
With the first row in place, you can begin tiling upwards. This method reduces the risk of tiles shifting due to gravity, ensuring each row remains securely in place.
Tiling the wall:
- Apply thin-set mortar: Use a notched trowel to spread a layer of thin-set mortar on the back of each tile. The notches ensure that the mortar is applied evenly, helping create a strong bond between the tile and the wall.
- Use spacers: Place spacers between each tile to maintain consistent grout lines. This is essential for achieving a uniform and professional look.
- Press firmly: Press each tile into the mortar, wiggling it slightly to ensure it adheres properly. Be sure to wipe away any excess mortar that squeezes out between the tiles.
Tile The Side Walls For A Seamless Look
Once the back wall is complete, you can tile the side walls. The side walls are typically smaller and less prominent, so any cuts or imperfections will be less noticeable.
Steps for tiling the side walls:
- Cut tiles for a seamless fit: Where the side walls meet the back wall, you’ll need to cut tiles to fit the space precisely. Use a tile cutter or wet saw to make clean, straight cuts, ensuring the edges align seamlessly with the tiles on the back wall.
- Start at the bottom: Like with the back wall, begin tiling at the bottom of the side walls and work upwards. Use spacers and a laser level to ensure the tiles remain straight and evenly spaced.
- Check alignment with the back wall: As you tile the side walls, constantly check the alignment with the back wall to ensure a seamless connection between the two surfaces.
Add Decorative Tiles Or Borders For Visual Interest
If your design includes decorative tiles or borders, plan their placement carefully to avoid awkward spacing. Decorative elements add visual interest to your shower but can be tricky to incorporate without disrupting the overall pattern.
Placing decorative tiles:
- Plan placement in advance: Before installing the decorative tiles, measure the space and mark their placement on the wall. This will ensure that the decorative elements align properly with the surrounding tiles.
- Use spacers for consistency: As with regular tiles, use spacers to maintain consistent grout lines between the decorative and standard tiles.
- Check alignment: Double-check the alignment of the decorative tiles to ensure that they don’t disrupt the flow of the overall design.
Finishing Touches: Ceilings And Niches
Once the walls are complete, you can move on to tiling the ceiling or any additional niches in the shower. These finishing touches can be more challenging, but they add a polished look to your project.
Tiling ceilings and niches:
- Ceiling: If you’re tiling the ceiling, start at the back of the shower and work your way towards the entrance. Be sure to use extra mortar to ensure that the ceiling tiles adhere properly and don’t sag.
- Niches: To simplify installation, use smaller tiles or pre-cut sheets for niches. Ensure the niche tiles align with the surrounding wall tiles for a cohesive look.
Conclusion
Tiling a shower is a rewarding project that requires patience, precision, and the right tools. You can achieve a professional-looking finish by starting with the back wall for symmetry, carefully measuring and dry-laying your tiles, and using tools like a laser level for accuracy.
Taking the time to follow these steps—working from the bottom up, ensuring level placement, and paying attention to the details on side walls, decorative elements, and finishing touches—will result in a stunning and durable shower space. With proper planning and attention to detail, your shower tiling project will enhance the look of your bathroom and provide long-lasting beauty and functionality.
FAQs About Shower Tiling
What Type Of Tiles Are Best For Shower Walls?
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are popular for shower walls due to their water resistance and durability. Natural stone tiles such as marble and granite can also be used but require additional maintenance.
What Type Of Grout Should I Use For Shower Tile?
It is recommended that shower tile installations use cement-based, epoxy, or urethane grout. These grouts are more water-resistant and less likely to crack than traditional grouts.
Do I Need To Seal Shower Tile?
Sealing the grout lines of the shower tile is recommended to prevent water penetration and staining. Some types of tiles may also require sealing to protect them from damage.
How Do I Clean And Maintain Shower Tile?
Regular cleaning with mild detergent and water is recommended to keep the shower tile clean and free of dirt and soap scum. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, which can damage the tile’s surface. Keeping the grout lines clean and free of dirt and debris is also important to prevent staining.
Can I Install Shower Tile Myself?
Tiling a shower is a complex task that requires experience and skill. If you have experience with tiling or are willing to invest time in learning proper techniques, you can install shower tile yourself. However, it is recommended to hire a professional to ensure a high-quality and long-lasting installation.
