How to Remodel Your Shower like a Pro: A Brief Guide

Outdated styles, water damage, or tile you've never liked are all great reasons to overhaul your bathroom. With a quick trip to your local home improvement store, some tiling tools and some time on your hands, you can completely remodel your shower tile to get that customized look you've always desired. Unique shower tiles are also a great way to modernize a bathroom or tie together the rest of your décor, so without further ado, read on to discover just what you need to know about the process.

Preparation

After the fun task of choosing your tile color and pattern, you will need to ensure that your shower wall is properly prepped. After completely stripping it of any old tile, a cement backer board needs to be installed as the foundation for your new tiles. While your shower should have an old one, it might need to be replaced if damaged. After this installation, you will also need to paint a waterproof membrane onto the cement board to prevent any water damage behind the wall after you have laid your tile.

Patterning

It is a good idea to first lay out the tiles in the desired pattern you want, and mark appropriate increments onto the cement backer board as a layout guide for each and every piece. Straight tiles are key! Starting your layout at the second row from the bottom (as some shower floors are not straight), attach a level board to the cement that will provide a temporary base to guide your tile placement. At this point, any tiles that need cutting should be measured and trimmed using a tile cutter or wet saw.

Setting the Tile

After the preparation and pattern planning is complete, a thin layer of pre-mixed mortar will need to be spread in the area you plan to begin tile placement. Using the edge of your spreading tool, ensure the mortar has ridges or slight bumps to improve its ability to attach tile to the wall. While placing your first line of tiles (using the board installed in the pattering step), it is also a good idea to regularly check the straightness with a level tool. As you place the tiles, manufacturer-supplied spacers should be placed in between to account for grout.

After all of your tiles have eventually been placed, you need to let the project settle for a few hours to a few days before inserting grout between each tile. To do so, simply remove the spacers and work grout into the joints using a float. As the grout hardens, you can move onto the next area and slowly begin to appreciate the hard work that went in to your glamorous new shower.