That is my two cents. If you want that same gorgeous look quartzite is a perfect substitute. Below, you'll find instructions for prepping the old floor tile, installing new tile over it, and finishing the job. A medium-bed mortar resists any shrinkage, creating a secure and long-lasting bond that compensates for any substrate and tile irregularities. If they are not quite the same size when comparing 10 pieces = non rectified. Layout the cuts surrounding the drain opening, using the drain cover as a template. Plus, I dislike all the grout lines of the mosaic he is suggesting. Shower floor sheet tile has several rows of small tile that are held together with a mesh backing. Just out of curiosity what was his reason for not wanting to do linear drains? I suppose tile with deep rough texture would be better on wet soap? Therefore, you dont have to worry about slip-and-falls in the shower that result in injury. For a standard "bowl"-shaped slope, again, it depends on the size and shape of the bowlbut usually four inch squares is a safe starting point. Wait 24 hours before continuing. Instead of installing the traditional and old fashioned 2 x 2 mosaic tile on your shower base, you should consider a large format tile (24 x 24 or larger). This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The people who are good at this are artistic enough to know what does and doesn't look good and have an obsessive level of attention to detail. A linear drain works fine, even if the drain is in the center, as long as the drain runs pretty much the full width of the shower.. My shower is 55"X84", with a 48" linear drain across the center. Any problems with puddling or installation? @pipdog the shower floor looks amazing. If youre having trouble choosing the best tile options for your shower floor, call an expert. Are they within a whisker of being PERFECT? What I'm saying is to not assume you need a teak grate until you see what the floor is like after the install. If youre itching for bigger tiles and less grout joints, consider the linear drain option mentioned above, which wont limit you when it comes to tile size. Does anyone have any photos of large format tiles installed in a shower floor with a center drain? Attractive Aesthetics Large tiles on the shower floor enhance your bathrooms aesthetic, lifting your property demand and value. Many shower floors have cut tile with sharp or rough-looking edges. They provided a bit more traction underfoot. @pipdog Did you use matte finish tiles for your large format? Soyou have a slab that was probably in the $2.50 - $4/sf range for subfloor prep. I am also going to get a large piece of the tile wet and throw some soap on it to see how slippery it really is. If you are working in a larger shower, start at a far corner and work back toward the door. When carpet is specified as part of the "interior finish" the flooring guys do NOTHING to improve the initial pour.NOTHING. Lightly press the shower floor tile into the wet thinset with a clean grout float. The floor slopes to the center from both ends. It does have a texture, so it might work just fine in the shower. I would not trust the drywall above to hold two layers of tile, grout, and thinset. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Tile nippers chip clean up tight corners that the grinder cant reach. in a linear drain shower but not ok in a center drain shower. A low spot lets water puddle. Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the A center-drain inverted (and truncated) pyramid slope with four distinct sloping planes can take large format as four triangular pieces. Let's assume you can get the slope right in a pre-formed center drain shower. OKso they actually did a little bit of work and they did the crack reduction membrane (albeit as a cost you were not expecting). Continue to stir the grout until all of the dry powder has mixed and the wet grout has a uniform color. Billbeee at en.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (htt. We have a Duravit tub that does not have a slip-resistant surface, and we've showered in it for years with no problems. I bought tile on the end cap at Home Depot that said they are 50% more slip resistant and they show pictures of kids running in on the tile floor all wet and dripping. It dries completely, immediately after use, and has never grown so much as a speck of mold or mildew. The bad cuts can turn an otherwise good-looking tile floor into an amateurish-looking maintenance nightmare. Inspect each grout joint for thinset. I'd already decided on a 2" x2" hex so he was happy and the floor came out well with a center drain and no lippage under foot. I'm seeing quite a few decent looking installations of larger format tile with center drains, so I'm hopeful that this look is not limited to linear drains. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. This option might be a good choice for anybody whos nervous about their skills with dry-packed mortar. These pans are made by several companies (Noble and Schluter are two mainstays), may be foam or plastic, and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Thanks. An adapter can convert a round drain cover into a square cover. I've done that in showers and once on a tiled exterior balcony. https://www.tcnatile.com/images/pdfs/DCOFBrochure_Aug2013_Comp.pdf, So I've run into a scenario where the tile I want for my shower floor has a DCOF of greater than or equal to .42. And the installer. If the thinset rolls with the trowel, add a little more water to the mixture. Are you sure you can do this successfully? Looks like the best marble and is as hard and non-porous as granite or quartz. Question: I have been told by several tilers that you cannot put tile over tile because it will crack. At Coco Tile, we have developed a unique way to install a large format tile into any size of custom shower base. Look for colours and designs that match your bathrooms colours and consider contrasting colours to bring more life and light into the room. This logic can help, A recessed toilet paper holder and cabinets, diagonal large-format tiles, frameless glass and more helped maximize every inch of the space, Slip resistance, curves and even the mineral content of your water all affect which tile is best for your shower, Choose From a Palette of Grout Colors for a Warm, Unified Look, San Francisco's Sustainable Landscape Design & Installation, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, When Bigger Is Better: The Dramatic Look of Large-Format Tiles, Wasted Space Put to Better Use in a Large Contemporary Bath, Color Feast: Yes, You Can Use Blue in the Dining Room, 8 Reasons to Nix Your Fireplace (Yes, for Real), See the Clever Tricks That Opened Up This Master Bathroom, 9 Ways GroutYes, GroutCan Add to Your Design. But, if youre thinking of installing a tile shower floor, youve got some decisions to make when it comes to your method of installation. Most shower floor repairs do not need this amount of work. The small pieces let the tile follow the slope of the floor. Tile is then adhered to the top of the membrane using thinset cement. Everyone else will simply lay whatever you give them and then tell you AFTERWARDS that you got what you paid for. Now for the material chosen/purchased. Most shower floors require about one gallon of thinset. The membrane also extends several inches up the walls of the shower framing, creating a waterproof pan. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Mix a white-colored thinset in a bucket, using the thinset manufacturer's instructions. The tile setter came up with the arrangement and would review it with me and DH before he started (no one likes to redo work), but I don't recall having to change anything. Or remember to rinse Aaron's soap off the floor before you walk in? Thanks, all. The wall tile is often possible. Preferably, you want a tile offering a COF of 0.6 for your new shower floor. Each settlement crack in the grout creates a pathway for water to seep into the concrete subfloor. The last thing you need is to slip on your tiles whilst taking a shower. We have 2-inch white tiles because we could not find a mosaic match the stone and wood look of our walls. By Hardyplants (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Only if there is a 3" deep whole or a 3" tall stone pocking out will they do anything more if carpet is called for. The backing keeps the grout joints between each small piece even. What Is the Coefficient of Friction on a Large Shower Tile? Maybe we can just wear flip flops. Thanks, Stonetech. Question: My shower tile floor doesn't have any cracks. This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. I've done a few of those. Use the nipper's blades to shape the tile so it fits tightly against the floor drain. Can I tile over a tiled shower pan? This thinset will bleed through the grout covering it. Tamp high spots down with the grout float. Choose wisely. MongoCT, good to know. That means the floor stays in one or two flat planes and any size tile can be used. I have heard some mixed advice, and have seen very few related articles on the subject. Techniques weve learnt from European Master Tile Setters in Italy are now implemented on our very own jobs, right here in Ottawa. I'd offer that a fourth option, that I'd place at #1, would be the Schluter Kerdi shower system. I don't know how much it would cost to use them as countertops but my hunch is that the cost would be prohibitive across the board too. Question: My tiles are crack due to foundation settlement. Remove any raised tile using a hammer and chisel. Your email address will not be published. Remove the shower drain cover and set it aside. This method is usually much more expensive than the traditional or thin-bed approaches, but it does provide more predictable results. Why does this matter? Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. The tiles are 12"X12" and they are not slippery ar all. MongoCT, very helpful advice. Waterproofing a window in a tiled shower There are a few different ways to approach this project. Doesn't etch either. Answer: I wouldn't want all the extra weight on the ceiling. I'm not going to fuel the greed of contractors and Co. We recommend you determine the right tiles for your shower floor by matching them to your bathrooms theme. If you redo the shower floor, remove everything down to the subfloor. Can you use large tiles on a shower floor? Both of these issues promote mold and mildew growth in the grout and subfloor, which darkens the grout in the problem area. According to professional tilers, small tiles help you achieve two primary objectives when fitting a shower floor. Anyway, the porcelain thin slabs themselves are just so expensive to install on the walls and floor (around $50-60 per square foot) that we put that idea to rest. Is the person who did it related to the GC? How slippery tiles are varies greatly. The first I installed close to ten years ago has performed as advertised. I have never done a new build, but I have had four full bathrooms and two powder rooms remodeled. Carpet removed.ooooh dear. Measure the space between the full sheets of tile and the adjacent wall. He then cuts in the floor's slope with a straightedge. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. As a result, you get a shower floor that floods easily. Wait about one hour before continuing. Can I put new tiles over the cracked tiles? Costs a lot and you have to be careful when buying it. Double-check the floor for slope and dips with the level. Tiling Project Guide. Here's how it turned out in our guest bath: I'd say no, due to needing a slope, and that they will be really slippery once wet/soap on them. A tile shower floor uses a mortar and sand mixture as a subfloor. Those numbers should be on the box the tile came in. I can't figure out why large format tiles are ok (not slippery??) They think its because each batch may be different. Those are the "good guys". Once dry, the mortar gives the tile a solid surface to rest on. The tile setter dry packs the mortar mixture in the shower pan. So, lets start with understanding why showers typically use smaller tiles over larger ones. Check the floor for high and low spots with the bubble level. Larger tiles look good on shower floors if they match the bathroom dcor. So I didn't press forward with it because even though I like the look of linear drains, I wasn't willing to pay a fortune for one. You need a good-quality mortar to ensure a safe and secure surface. Yes, I understand the topography, which is why I went with 2 x 2 hex. And it seems a skilled tile installer could figure out a slope. Thanks! many thanks. Traditionally, shower floors feature smaller tiles, but why? I'll keep you all posted on how it works out and if we can figure a solution. As a tile shower floor ages, its imperfections quickly turn into an eyesore. It really does depend on the tile and its wet coefficient of friction. Grout affords you a non slip surface, particularly on the more slippery tiles. Thankfully the "tile guy" told them before the job started and they obviously added that cost/material to the job before anything else started. Another perk is that with a thin-bed installation you only have one mortar bed instead of two, which means less time waiting for the mortar to cure (about 24 hrs), and eliminates the weight of the mortar. Run a straightedge across the floor's surface and shave off any high areas of thinset. The square cover makes cutting the tile around the opening easier. I've found a couple inspiration photos on Houzz where larger format tiles are used in a shower, but my tile installer is reluctant to do this and is pushing me to get mosaic tiles for the shower floor. If I were you, I would pose this question in a thread over at the "Tile Forum". The more slippery the tile, the smaller you want it. When measured from the drain opening to the furthest wall, the level should show about 1/4-inch of slope per foot. There are ways though that you can check what you are really getting. @Jessica Uhler Hi there, We ended up with not doing the remodel of our small bathroom at all. The grates can feel pretty nice underfoot. I saw a site built fiberglass shower pan in Austin , Texas recently and was pretty surprised it met code. Two tile setters have told me that it can be installed on top of the existing floor, but people at the tile store said it is was not a good idea. Answer: As long as the existing floor is solid with no major settlement issues or loose tiles, then the tile setters are correct. Getting the slope of the mortar bed right isnt unreasonably difficult, but there are ways to get it wrong, especially if this is your first try working with dry-packed mortar. However, I hate the style and color, and I want to install a pebble floor. If your existing shower floor flexes, the new tile will crack in the same areas. With a linear drain the slope is only from one end to the other, or from both ends to the center. Answer: The new tile will not crack when properly attached to a non-flexing solid subfloor. Thats the concept for a thin-bed mud pan installation. It "looks" nice. Note that the sloped mud bed is still providing the drainage, just like in a traditional pan, but the mud pan wont be getting saturated. Make sure the subfloor is solid and then install a pan membrane, slope the floor, and install the tile. My instinct tells me if it is a small space that using the same tile on both the floor and in the shower would give a more cohesive look. However, modern ceramic tiles come with textured surfaces for grip in the shower. Because it takes them longer to get a good result with non-rectified, they will charge more so that they don't get a complain about how it looks. The size issue only relates to whether shower floor slope/geometry will allow a larger tile. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Transfer the measurement to a sheet of tile. All three of these methods will result in a professional-quality installation, but the one you choose will be dictated by how much labor youre willing to put in (or pay for), and how custom you want the job to be. And it's great to have few grout lines to keep clean. I think it will be ok as a large format shower floor. Looking through images of contemporary and modern bathrooms on Pinterest or other social sites provides some confusing thoughts about the right tiles to use for your shower. Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. Do you have any information on this, like how to seal the drain to pan? We have an excellent start to finish article, Installing a Leakproof Shower Pan, on the process, but heres whats involved: After the shower has been rough framed, a thin layer of Portland cement and sand (aka mud), just wet enough to cling together, is laid across the subfloor and pitched toward an adjustable drain in the center, or to a linear drain along one of the edges. Can You Use Large Tiles on a Shower Floor? If it's not slippery in one, why would it be slippery in another? I've done a few of those. Slide the level across the floor and mark all high and low areas with a wax pencil or permanent marker. Upgrading to a Tile Shower Learn from a pro tilesetter how to remove an old bathtub and replace it with a custom tile shower. A planar surface like a curbless can take large format, uncut, as long as the tile is not too slippery. I put matte finish tile on shower by my pool and it feels ok non slip until my grandson uses half bottle of body wash. Yes, its entirely possible to use larger size tiles on your bathroom floor. Any size tile w any drain , hire wisely smart people. Put on all safety equipment, including safety glasses and leather work gloves. Check the coefficient of friction both wet and dry. It could be labeled as COFW and COFD or letters to that effect. I would strongly urge you not to do marble in the kitchen. Lay each full sheet of uncut tile on the shower floor. Do not worry about damaging the neighboring floor tile. Doing that is of out-of-the-box, so it depends on the tile, and of course, the owner. Note that there are companies that sell forms that help get the slope right. We took our large format tiles (marble in one bathroom, porcelain in the other) and had them cut into 3" squares. White-colored thinset will not bleed through the new shower tile's grout. The rag prevents debris from falling down into the drainpipe. Large shower floor tiles require a medium-bed mortar mix, as thin-set mortar shrinks as it dries. We have bought 12"x24" porcelain tiles and a Sicis glass mosaic for the "vanity" wall already so the remodel will happen ultimately but not until those crazy prices go down. However, you need to ensure your shower pan meets the criteria listed earlier. I will post over in the tile forum. After the new tile floor dries, the ring will hold the drain cover flush with the new shower floor tile's finished surface. If you fit a shower floor, avoid any tiles with COFs under 0.5. Typically, smaller tiles provide ridges between the tiles, giving you more grip on the floor to prevent slips. Since most showers are small spaces, using large tiles on the floor interferes with the shower pan slope. However, other issues need to be kept in mind, such as, the extra tile thickness means the shower valve often requires longer escutcheon screws, glass enclosure's size needs to be adjusted, and so on. Thoroughly clean the entire shower stall, using any household cleaner that removes soap scum and hard-water deposits. The pattern of the layout is called Envelope Cuts or X-Pattern Cuts, which are designed to properly slope water directly to the shower drain. Look for large grout or tile cracks that run across the entire floor. I called the tile place and they looked up the specs from the Spanish manufacturer, and it's not available. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page. A redesign gave the room a luxe hotel feel, Quell your fears of cooking splashes, cleaning nightmares and dust with these tips from the pros, The sky's the limit for beautiful blues in your home's dining spaces; here's how to make it work, Large-Format Rectangular Tiles GIve a Bathroom a Fresh New Look, Dare you consider trading that 'coveted' design feature for something you'll actually use? I have never heard of having to provide a tile layout to someone who is supposed to be a professional tile setter. Our master bath has extra large format floors (48x48), and we have a bunch of leftover tile, and I am trying to figure out if we can use the same tiles in the shower, just cut down in size a bit. I dont know where youre getting it, but I dont think anyone has suggested that particular tiles have their slipperiness change based on the type of drain thats not true. One other thing I've done a couple of times with large format that we figured would be too slippery in full tile size was scoring light lines across the surface of the tile. There are plenty of large-tile designs, and you feel its the right choice for your new shower remodel. Germain, I suspect the reason my contractor didn't want to do it was because he hadn't done many before. My tile setter recommended nothing larger than 4" x 4" on the floor of my shower. Its important to note the Coefficient of Friction (COF) of your shower tiles to prevent slips-and-falls. By Famrnylongras CC-BY-SA-3.0 | Wikimedia Commons. Read on to learn how to tile over an existing shower floor! Remodelling the bathroom is one of the best ways to add value to your home. These cracks are evidence of a subfloor problem that needs to be addressed first. Mix sanded tile grout, using the grout manufacturer's directions, in a bucket with water. Carpet hides a plethora of problems. If the gradient is only in one plane then larger tiles should work just fine. Large tiles only work well with a linear drain. Hold one end of a bubble level on the drain opening and slide the other end of the level across the existing tile's surface to check the floor's slope. The grate can also slow evaporative drying. Start your subscription today and save up to 70%. In my neck of the woods: $1/sf for carpet removal/disposal $1-$4/sf subfloor prep (includes sanding and leveling workwhich includes materials) $4-$12/sf labor to lay large format porcelain tile (which would include the anti fracture membrane) Tiles = extra I know some installers who charge MORE to lay non-rectified because of the complaints (everything you have said above is exactly what people complain about re: non-rectified). The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. 2022 Coco Tile Flooring Contractor Inc. Do you mind me asking what tile the floor is as well as what you used for the curb that makes it look so put together? Keep the tile full size and install a linear drain. Having money given back to you at the end of the day is not something to sneeze at. If the added thinset created a high spot, rub the high spot with a sanding stone or cinder block. Sorry I cannot be of more help. I'm not affiliated with Schluter in any way, but am a big fan of their very well engineered products. If the drain is in the center, the tile you choose cant be more than 4 in. Your email address will not be published. I've done a few of those as well, I have one in my own house up in Maine. Not introducing a new material, making the shower floor nonslip and solving the slope problem. Earlier I mentioned the option of a form that helps you create a perfect slope. Lots of variation in a small space can tend give a room a "fractured" look as in the photo (although what you are using would be less frenetic than the photo attached). Fill any dips or missing tile in the existing tile floor with the thinset, using a flat trowel to feather the thinset into the surrounding tile. That should have included sanding (which they did) plus leveling (which they didthat's the 1/8" you paid for). Do they lay perfectly flat or very close to being perfectly flat? Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. Bath tile: large format porcelain vs. engineered quartz slabs? Hold the grout float at a 45-degree angle to the tile floor. Make a bucket of white-colored thinset, using the manufacturer's wet-mix ratio, if applicable. After the grout has dried, polish the tile's surface with a clean dry rag. Coco Tile sells, fabricates, and installs large format tile, thin slabs, and countertops throughout the Ottawa area. In smaller showers you may have to go smaller. Dump the grout on the tile floor and press the grout into the joints with a rubber grout float. Is your grate teak or ipe wood? Smaller tiles are easier to adjust to a gradient, allowing the water to run away freely down the drain. So far they were on the up and up. This thin-bed mud approach is also the method of choice when building a barrier-free bath, where the floor of the bathroom connects directly with the floor of the shower rather than being separated by a curb (see A Sloping Floor for a Barrier-Free Bath, and also our full video series on the same topic: Tile a Barrier-Free Bathroom). I know what you want to do is being done successfully. Hoping to do the same with my shower. I also like the warmth the wood grates bring to the space, since the tile is all white. A single raised tile can hold enough water to create a puddle. There are plenty of tiles that have minimal slipperiness, even in large format. Do not install the tile surrounding the drain opening or any cut pieces of tile near the shower walls yet.
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