Installing Ceramic Tile

When installing ceramic tile in a shower it is essential that you starts with the proper foundation. The foundation should consist of cement board such as wonder board or durock on the walls and a rubber membrane liner on the shower floor, if the shower floor is to be tiled also.

Cement board is resistant to water and is an ideal material for installing ceramic tile to in high moisture locations such as shower enclosures or bathtubs. Cement board can be hung directly onto wall studs however remember that galvanized nails or screws should be used.

Fiberglass mesh tape should be used on the cement board joints when installing ceramic tile adhesive in the installation process.

When installing ceramic tile on the floor of a shower enclosure it is important to remember that a waterproof continuous membrane should be applied to the plywood prior to the installation of the cement board on the walls. The water proof membrane should extend up the walls for at least 6 inches underneath the cement board.

Installing Ceramic Tile-Shower Floor Membrane

A layer of mortar should be laid onto the membrane and angled to slope towards the drain to prevent water pooling on the shower floor. This layer can be either beneath or above the membrane, however if the membrane is installed directly onto the plywood it is imperative that any sharp edges or grit that could cause membrane failure are attended to before membrane installation.

There are a few of types of shower pan membrane liners available, with each having their own benefits. Regardless of the membrane material chosen, the installer needs to form and fold the material into the base of the shower area and secure it to the sides of the shower wall frame with staples or nails. Also an opening in the membrane should be cut out to allow the adjustable shower drain assembly to slip through.

When the shower floor membrane has been installed, the lower cement board should then be installed onto the wall studs over it being careful not to puncture the membrane with the fixings for the cement board.

After the cement board is completely installed, a final coat of mortar needs to be applied on top of the shower floor membrane to protect it and to provide a solid base for installing ceramic tile onto.

Installing Ceramic Tile-Grouting

Now that the floor membrane, angled mortar bed and cement board are all complete the project is ready for installing ceramic tile that any professional would be proud of.

After installing ceramic tile and taking care of all necessary grouting, the shower drain assembly will need to be adjusted to allow the drain to sits flush with the finished ceramic tile floor.