SUPPLIES
- 15 lb. roofing felt
- Hammer
- Boards
- Concrete backerboard
- Straight edge
- Tape measure
- Roofing nails
- Galvanized screws
- Screw gun
- Level
- Drain
- Board
- Pencil
- Portland cement
- Sand
- Trowel
- Mixing pan
- Thinset
- Fabric membrane kit
Overview
Two areas require most of your attention when you install a ceramic tile shower. The first is making sure that the shower pan you build is watertight. The second is laying out the tiles so they are level all the way around and don't have tiny pieces at the ends. Both can be conquered by not attempting to rush the job. Plan to take several days to accomplish all the work necessary when you install a ceramic tile shower in your home.
Step 1
Plan the layout of the shower. You'll need to not only have an adequate plan but also have the rough in plumbing and walls in place before you begin your the shower pan. Take measurements of the area once the framework is in place. You'll need to measure the distance from the center of the drain to the outside wall. From this measurement, multiply 1/4 inch times the number of feet to the wall and that's the height you'll need on the outside for the concrete. This slopes down until it's flat in the center of the drain, of course you won't have concrete there but it means you'll have a thin layer at the edge of the drain.
Step 2
Mark the height on the outside wall that you calculated. Use a level and straight edge all the way around so you have a guideline for laying the concrete. Put a layer of 15 lb roofing felt on the floor, making certain to overlap it where the ends meet. Top it off with a layer of galvanized wire lathe. Nail it down ever 6 inches. Set the drain in place but don't clamp it down.
Step 3
Mix the concrete. The formula is normally 3 to 4 parts sand for every 1 part of Portland cement. The mixture should be somewhat dry. Fill in the outside edge first, then around the drain. These areas are your guides for the slope. Check the slope with a level and smooth the concrete with a board. Allow it to dry overnight.
Step 4
Nail backerboard onto the walls and threshold on all sides. Apply a layer of thinset around the concrete pan and use the precut portion of the fabric membrane to cover the floor. Remove the drain and attach the piece for the drain. Seal it and clamp the drain down. Cover any of the pan with additional strips of fabric membrane.
Step 5
Fold strips of membrane to find the center, apply thinset and put the top half on the wall and the bottom on the pan to seal the seams. Cover the threshold with the fabric membrane. Put extra strips in the corners to seal them. Hang sheets of the fabric liner on the walls like you would wallpaper. You want the entire area covered with no open spots. Allow this to dry and then perform a water test the next day to check for leaks.
Step 6
Lay out the tiles the way you want them. A storyboard is a great aid to this. Cut a board slightly shorter than the shower is wide and one the height of the shower tiling. Lay out the tiles on the board so you have them evenly spaced with room for grout. Use this to start your rows of tile in the shower area. Start at the top first and work toward the floor. This prevents thinset from falling on the floor and starts the tile at eye level.
Step 7
Apply thinset only in an area you believe you can finish in 20 minutes. Put on your tiles. Allow the tiles to dry overnight. The next day you can grout the tile. Clean any grout from the tile with a soft cloth first, after it's dried. In the case of cleaning grout, the less water you use, the better. You'll need to clean them several times to remove any haze. Once they're clean, let it set for a few days and then apply the sealer to the grout.
