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Do you need to waterproof shower walls before tiling?
Applying a waterproofing sealer to cement backer board before tiling. Since a tile tub or shower surround gets wet, it requires a waterproof backing, rather than just drywall.
What goes behind the tile in a shower?
Install cement board behind tub and shower enclosures. Install cement board or an equivalent moisture-resistant backing material on walls behind tub and shower enclosures composed of tile or panel assemblies with caulked joints.
How thick should cement board be for tile?
Floors: A 1/4-inch minimum thickness is needed, but thicker panels are also fine. Walls: Use 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch-thick cement board, not 1/4-inch. The extra thickness is needed when spanning the studs and it provides a solid base for the tile.
Do I need cement board for wall tile?
A backer board is not required for all wall tile. For instance, a tile backsplash in your kitchen can be installed over standard drywall. This is because the wall tile in your kitchen is exposed to minimal moisture compared to shower walls.
How thick is backer board shower?
Cement backer board comes in two standard thicknesses, 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch. The industry standard is to use 1/2-inch-thick backer board on wall tile installations, such as a tub surround.
How hard is it to tile a shower wall?
Tiling a shower by yourself can be especially hard. If you’re able to keep the shower pan in place, it will remain an overall straight-forward project for the most part. You can build up a shower pan by scratch using tile and mortar. Or, you could even use a ready-made fibreglass pan.
What size tile spacers for shower walls?
Spacers Size For a standard look, you should have 1/8 inch grout lines for the floor and 1/16 inch for the walls. If you are using regular sized tiles from 16 by 16 inches to 12 by 12 inches, you can go up by 3/16 inches, depending on the overall look you want.
What is the best backer board for a shower?
Cement board is a good, reliable backer board that works well on both floors and walls. Keep in mind that most tile setters err on the side of caution and brush a waterproofing membrane on top of cement board when it is in wet areas like showers or tub surrounds.
How much does it cost to build a tile shower?
According to estimates from The Home Depot, the average cost to tile a shower is $1,500 based on this breakdown: Tile cost: $2 per square foot. Setting materials: $1.37 per square foot. Installation: $8 per square foot.
How thick should the shower pan be?
The shower pan base mortar layer thickness should be approximately ½ to 1 inch thick. Since the shower floor already has a pre-slope, just apply a base mortar layer that has an even thickness throughout the shower floor area.
How much space do you need between shower base and tile?
Bathtubs, believe it or not, will expand when filled with water. Leaving a 1/16″ gap between the tub and tile will prevent the tile from cracking when the tub expands. Plus, a 1/16″ gap allows the caulk to properly fill the space and waterproof the transition between the tile and tub or shower.
Should you silicone around shower base?
It is essential to caulk areas like a shower or tub where any moisture could damage walls, flooring, and other nearby areas. When possible, opt for caulk that is a siliconized acrylic or latex caulk to keep moisture out. Give your caulk application time to dry at least 24 hours before resuming use of your shower.
Should I grout between tile and shower base?
Grout is generally the best choice for filling joints between tiles in showers or elsewhere. Grout in these particular seams is more likely to crack due to settling. Some tile setters fill these seams with matching color caulk because it’s more flexible should movement occur.
Can I tile over drywall in shower?
You can tile over drywall in areas that are not exposed to excessive moisture, and it is safe. It is not safe to tile over drywall in areas that are exposed to wetness like in the shower. Water in these areas can eventually seep behind the tile and cause damage, mold, or pest infestations.
What kind of tile do you use for a shower wall?
Ceramic / Porcelain One of the most popular and traditional types of tile used on shower walls are ceramic or porcelain tiles. This man-made material comes with a baked-on clear protective glaze. That makes it super low maintenance and an extremely durable tile option.
Can I just screw down cement board?
Screw and Joints Do not use drywall screws as they are not recommended to be used to hold the backer board in place. All of your backer board pieces should be cut before they are placed on the floor. It is important to highlight that screws shall not be installed all the way down to the floor joists.
Do I need thinset under cement board?
Using thinset under cement board is a commonly skipped step amongst many contractors. Proper installation would be to follow the manufacturers installation instructions for applying cement board to a subfloor. Thinset is going to create a solid surface under tile and prevent flexing that could lead to cracking.
Can I tile directly onto cement board?
12mm HardieBacker cement boards, holding up to 200kg, can be used instead of plaster or plasterboard which typically holds 20-32kg, so almost any tile can be fixed. When tiling with a cementitious-based tile adhesive, prime the face of the board with one coat of BAL Primer – diluted 1:1 by volume of water.
