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Transforming your bathroom into a serene oasis often begins with the shower. There’s value in learning how to tile a shower, as bathroom tile is an opportunity to make a bold statement, showcase your personality, and make a longtime investment thanks the level of difficulty to remove or replace. As a key visual and structural component to any shower, tiling is important to get right the first time. And even though it can be a daunting DIY project for any homeowner, few projects have a higher rate of return on investment than a bathroom remodel. So if your bathroom needs to go from drab to decadent on a budget, keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to tile your shower yourself with a complete list of materials, tools, and hacks to make the endeavor as easy as possible.
Few things add as much personality to a space as bathroom tile.
Regardless of whether you’ve got a number of DIY projects under your belt or if you’re embarking on your first home improvement venture, tiling a shower wall can seem like a difficult project to get right. According to Sarah Snouffer from DC-based Third Street Architecture, “Tiling a shower takes patience and attention to detail that can feel overwhelming to the novice. This is both coming from my experience as an architect and tiling my own showers. That being said, there are things that can be done to set you up for success.” These things include tile selection, plumbing placement, and proper waterproofing. It’s important to have your shower wall and shower pan inspected for proper waterproofing, given the risk for leaks and damage if done incorrectly.
This depends on your level of familiarity with tilework, the size of the space, and how complex the tile design is. Typically, you can expect to spend around three to four full days tiling a shower that has a tub and closer to a full week for larger spaces that require tiling the shower floor. This can go faster if you work with a friend and don’t move any structural or plumbing components.
When approaching tiling a shower, it can seem overwhelming to know where to start. According to Snouffer, there are three critical foundations to help with the ease of the project. She says, “First is the tile selection. To make it easy, avoid mosaic tile or very large tile on the walls. Mosaic tiles slide down the wall easily when installing and large tiles require temporary supports while the mortar dries. The easiest wall tile to install is within 3" to 14", either height or width. Secondly, make sure to select the plumbing and the placement prior to any installation. Work with your plumber to make sure your plumbing features will align with the tile grout lines. Full tiles should be at the ceiling to avoid small, odd-looking tile slivers; work your way down to determine the location of the plumbing fixture placement. Finally, [you need] proper waterproofing—without this you’ll be removing your hard work and dealing with moisture and potential mold issues.”
Plan ahead to save yourself time and money.
Time Required: Approximately three to seven days, depending on size and complexity
Tip: If you encounter a metal mesh layer behind your backer board, cut it away with wire cutters. Now is also the time you would want to bring in a professional electrician or plumber to reroute or do any major structural changes.
Tip: If you’re looking for an alternative to cement backer board, you can use tile membrane. It’s typically less labor-intensive to install since it’s lighter, easier to cut, and requires fewer tools.
Tip: Make sure you have at least 10–15% more tile than you’ve measured, so you can easily correct mistakes and errors
Grout is the last but most important step.
Before embarking on the first row of tile, there are a few things to keep in mind. According to Snouffer, it’s important to take the time to plan and research the process. She says, “There will always be things that happen during the process that require a pause and maybe creative thinking—as any experienced DIY’er knows. Planning and making sure the foundation of surface is level, the proper tile back is there, and waterproofing is in place will make the actual tile installation much, much easier.” Other common mistakes to avoid, according to designer Evelyn Pierce Smith, include using glass tile (since it’s the hardest to install) and not prepping the area well. Smith says, “Make sure your surface is completely level and smooth before starting to tile.” She also adds, “Make sure the basin of the shower holds water before starting to tile.”
With any DIY project, it’s important to start out with design selections and planning. After that, according to Snouffer, it’s best to go: plumber valves, drains and tubs, tile backer, shower pan or tub, waterproofing, installing tile and edging with mortar/thin-set, grouting, caulking, plumbing, and then installing finished fixtures like shower heads, controls, and trim plates.
Unfortunately, there’s no hack that will allow you to skip the tough or tedious parts of this tiling project. So before laying your first tile, the most critical step is getting the foundation for the tiled area ready. According to Snouffer, “Make sure the tile backer is level-pad or adjust the framing as needed to make this happen. The waterproof membrane should not have any folds or uneven surfaces. Play with the dry fit of the tiles to have a game plan of how to start. And lastly, take your time—installing tile itself is not the difficult part but it does take attention to detail.”
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