Installing your own shower tiles is a rewarding weekend project.
Tiles are essential to keep your bathroom looking new for years. They provide an attractive and waterproof medium to insulate and are ideal for shower enclosures. Tiling your own shower walls, ceiling and floor will allow you to add value and glld looks to your bathroom. Whether they're inexpensive ceramic or costly marble, bathroom tiles may be easily installed in a weekend, using inexpensive materials and tools available at any hardware store.
Instructions
1. Remove old tiles, using a hammer and chisel. You may be able to pry some from the wall easily, using the chisel as a lever. For more stubborn tiles, remove the grout by hammering the chisel around the tile, and then hammering the tile itself until it splits and cracks away. Sand walls so they are clean and smooth.
2. Start on the panel of wall opposite the door. Measure the top and the bottom of each wall with a measuring tape to ensure that there is no slant. Nail a piece of two-by-four lumber at the top of the wall with a hammer to use as a guide. Use the level to ensure lumber is aligned perfectly straight. Maintain this wooden piece in place until you have set several rows of tile.
3. Spread the thin-set mortar with a notched trowel, which will provide spaces for suction, making the tiles adhere more easily. Use the wooden piece nailed to the top as a guide. Double-check the alignment with the level, and use your hands to apply even pressure on the tiles.
4. Wipe away any excess mortar as you set the tiles, using a damp sponge.
5. Insert tile spacers in between each tile mat to maintain consistent spacing. Double-check each row with the level before setting.
6. Repeat the installation with each wall. Use 2-by-2-inch tiles for the floor and ceiling, tiling the floor last.
7. Cut tiles to fit against the edges of the walls with a wet saw to prevent cracking or damage.
8. Mix 1/4 non-sanded grout and 3/4 sanded grout. This mixture is most durable and the grains are small enough to fit into the tight joints of the tiles. Use a rubber float to spread the grout onto the walls, the ceiling and the floor. Wipe away any excess grout with a damp cloth. Allow the tiles and grout to set for at least a week before using the shower.
Tips Warnings
It is advisable to use 2-by-4-inch tiles on shower walls, and 2-by-2-inch tiles on the floor and ceiling. This size is best because the tiles come pre-spaced on mats, which makes installation quicker and easier. Do not separate the tiles when you purchase them.
Use the power sander to lightly sand the edges of any cut tiles, for a more natural look.
Apply grout that closely matches the color of the tiles.
Set floor tiles last, to ensure they do not shift while you tile the other walls.
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