How to Tile a Shower Floor: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tiling a shower floor can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be completed quickly and efficiently. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to tile a shower floor, focusing on the importance of proper tile layout.

The Importance of Tile Layout

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Before you begin tiling your shower floor, it's essential to understand the importance of proper tile layout. The correct placement of tiles is crucial in ensuring that your shower floor looks professional and lasts for years to come. In this article, we will explore the different techniques used to create a perfect tile layout.

Dry Fitting Sheets of Tile

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The process of tiling a shower floor begins with dry fitting sheets of tile on the shower pan. This step is critical in determining the overall look and feel of your shower floor. Using 2x2 ceramic or porcelain tiles, we carefully place each sheet onto the shower pan to get a sense of how they will fit together.

Cutting Tiles to Size

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As we work our way from the plumbing wall toward the drain, it becomes apparent that we may need to cut out four tiles and center the tile sheet on the drain. This is an excellent opportunity to adjust our initial layout and make any necessary cuts. In this case, we discover that we have more than half a piece of tile left over on the side wall, which is great news!

Cutting Down Tiles

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To avoid having a sliver of tile along the perimeter of your shower, we need to cut down tiles to size. This is where the CGX115 diamond blade and angle grinder come in handy. By cutting down a quarter inch off the last tile on the main wall, we can create a smooth surface for our next tile layer.

Curb Tiles

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The curb tiles are an essential component of any shower floor. In this case, we luck out against the curb and have a bit more room to fit in a full row of tile. This means that we can avoid having to cut down tiles too much, which is always a plus!

Gaps Between Tile and Back Wall

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To cover the gap between the tile and the back wall, we use wall tile. In this case, we have about an eighth to a quarter inch gap between the last row of tile and the Wedi backer board along the perimeter. This may seem like a small gap, but it's crucial in ensuring that our shower floor looks professional.

Using the Right Tools

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In this article, we will focus on using the right tools for the job. The Ishii Big Clinker is an excellent tool for cutting tiles to size, and the CGX115 diamond blade and angle grinder are essential for making cuts along the perimeter of your shower floor. By using these tools, you can create a perfect tile layout that will last for years to come.

Silica Dust Respirator

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When cutting tiles to size, it's essential to wear a silica dust respirator to protect yourself from inhaling fine particles. This is especially important if you're not using a sponge to wet down the tile. By wearing a respirator, you can ensure that your workspace remains safe and healthy.

Wall Tile for Expansion Joints

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In this article, we will discuss the importance of wall tile for expansion joints. When tiles are too tight against the wall, they need to be cut to size to create an eighth inch or quarter inch gap along the perimeter. This is where wall tile comes in handy – it can cover that gap and create a seamless transition between the tile and the back wall.

Grout Joints

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The grout joints are an essential component of any tile installation. In this article, we will discuss how to set tiles on thinset mortar and provide tips on creating even and attractive grout joints.

Next Steps

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In our next video, we will provide you with a wealth of information on setting tiles on thinset mortar, including the tools and techniques used to make it easier. We'll also share tips on how to create beautiful grout joints that will last for years to come. Don't forget to like this article if you found it helpful, and subscribe to our channel for more tutorials and guides.

Supporting Our Channel

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As a token of appreciation for your support, we invite you to join our online course, Bathroom Repair Tutor, or shop from our online store. By doing so, you'll be able to access exclusive content, tools, and resources that will help you tackle any bathroom renovation project with confidence. Thank you for watching, and we look forward to seeing you in the next video!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enToday we’re going to show you how to tilea shower floor.This is Part 1 of Part 2.We’re specifically going to go over howto do the tile layout in today’s video andwhy that is so important before you set thetile.So these quick tips are going to make yourproject a lot easier and faster.Tiling a shower floor begins with simply layingout or dry fitting sheets of tile, again,in this case 2x2 ceramic or porcelain tiles,on the shower pan.So we cut that third sheet to size, and thenwe worked our way from the plumbing wall towardthe drain.And it became apparent that we might be ableto cut out those four tiles and center thattile sheet on the drain.As you can see here, we didn’t have a sliverat the side wall and the plumbing wall, andwe’re actually left with more than a halfpiece of tile on the plumbing wall which isgreat.You definitely don’t want to be left witha sliver of tile along the perimeter of yourshower.So again we just had to cut down a quarterinch off of that last tile on the main wall,and then we could cut down a full row alongthe curb.So that worked out well, and we continuedthe dry layout, these sheets of 2x2, towardthe shower bench.So again we’re left with a little bit ofa large grout joint on the drain, but aesthetically,it doesn’t look too bad.And so we continued to do the dry layout forthe rest of the shower.Again we lucked out against the curb thereand had a bit more room to have a full rowof tile.And then along the back wall, we are goingto cover that gap between the tile and theback wall with the wall tile.Now we used the CGX115 diamond blade and anangle grinder.We cut the tile using those over top a scrappiece of Wedi.And again, we were left with about an eighthto a quarter inch gap between that last rowof tile and the Wedi backer board along theperimeter; that’s what you want.You can also use a tile cutter to cut thesetiles down to size.We used the Ishii Big Clinker in this case.You can also use the Masterpiuma by Montolit.These are great tools that make wonderfulcuts with these 2x2 inch ceramic or porcelaintiles.So again you just want to have a gap betweenthe curb and the tile.In this case, our curb is bellowing out alittle bit, so we used the CGX115 diamondblade to cut that down to size.We’ll put the links to all the tools andmaterials that we used in this video downin the description, by the way, to help youout with that.You also want a silica dust respirator wheneveryou’re cutting these tiles to size; it helpsout a lot, especially if you’re not usinga sponge to wet down the tile.So again, our wall tile will cover that gapthere along the plumbing wall, along the perimeterof the shower.If your tiles are too tight to the wall, you’llhave to cut them to size because you needan expansion joint of eighth inch or one quarterinch along that perimeter.So again, just using the angle grinder todo that really helps out if you don’t wantto use a wet tile saw.So again, for tile cuts that were a half tileor more, we used the Ishii Big Clinker, leavingthat eighth inch to one quarter inch gap betweenthe last row of tile in the shower bench.Again, using the angle grinder with the CGX115diamond blade helps out a lot whenever youhave a little bit of an awkward cut.So that last row of tile, make sure that youget it to fit to size.It is like a big puzzle piece, and you wantto make sure that all your grout joints looknice and even before you move on with yourdry layout.Now in the next video, we are going to giveyou a lot of tips on how to set these tileson thinset mortar, what tools do you use tomake that easier as well.Give us a thumbs up if you like today’squick tips.If you want to support us, and you enjoy ourvideos over here on YouTube, you can do thatone of two ways.You can go join Bathroom Repair Tutor, whichis our online course for bathroom remodeling.Or you can get your supplies from our onlinestore.We’ll put links to both of those down inthe description and within this video.We really appreciate your support, we enjoydoing the videos over here on YouTube, andwe love helping you out.All right.We’ll see you in the next video.Take care.\n"