5 Things to Think About Before Tiling Your Shower

Today I am linking up with Natalie and Annie for....




I mentioned last week that we tiled our master bathroom shower. Here is a picture in the process:

I am waiting to reveal the after picture until we can get the glass shower door put on.  Here is a sneak peek though:

Throughout the process, we communicated with our tile installer every day to make sure we were all on the same page.  There were a couple of items that were missed, and I wish I would have made clear.  So today I am sharing.....

1.  Cement Board

The existing shower was approximately six feet tall with the sheet rock above the shower continuing all the way to the nine foot ceiling.  When our tile installer removed the existing shower, he only replaced that area with cement board and was not going to install cement board above the existing shower stall.  Our new shower was going to be eight feet tall, so he was going to lay the tile on the sheet rock for the remaining two feet.  

I am not a professional tile installer, so it might be ok that they lay the tile on sheet rock for the remaining two feet because it should not get very wet.  This was not ok with us though. In my opinion if the sheet rock gets wet behind the tile and grout, I feel like it has a greater chance of mold growing on the paper surface of the sheet rock behind the tile if moisture is present. I had rather be safe than sorry.

Make sure to talk with your tile installer and make sure you are on the same page about what your tile is being laid on.

2.  Tile Type

I have heard that ceramic and porcelain tile is way easier to clean that marble or natural stone.  I have never had a marble or natural stone shower, so I cannot verify this but think about it before picking out your tile.

 I heard that with some marble and natural stones, you cannot use certain cleaning chemicals to clean it so you can only work with a sponge and water.  I also heard that if you used a polished tile, there is an increased chance that you will have water spots on your tile that can sometimes we hard to remove. Also - polished tile can not be used on the floor because it will be a slip hazard when wet.

We ended up using a porcelain tile for the wall, but natural stone for the flooring.  The natural stone might have been a mistake, but we will soon find out!

3. Tile Color

We used a porcelain tile that had a variety of grey tones.  Some of the tiles were very dark and some even had black sections.  I was wanting to primarily stay with the lighter grey shades which I told my tile installer.  I thought we both had a clear understanding, but his idea of light and mine are definitely different.  There are more darker tiles in the shower that I would have liked, but I still like the way it turned out.  

If I were to use a similar tile again, I would hand pick out the tiles I did not want.  That way you are sure of the tile color.

4.  Make Sure to Check for Grout Holes

When the grout is applied, once it dries it can shrink the grout and cause little holes and cracks.  If this happens, make sure your tile installer comes back to fill in the holes.  You do not want water escaping behind the cement board. 

5.  Double Check Your Price and Hidden Fees

Many tile setters will quote you a price for laying the tile that includes materials.  Many times if you do actually use natural stone or marble, then you will need a coat of sealer over the tile.  Tile setters might charge extra for this.  They also might charge more for patterns, benches, or tile shelf inserts. It is much easier to discuss the options you want in your shower with your installer prior to the work starting.  

I hope these tips will be helpful when hiring a tile setter.