Top 10 Tips for Choosing Shower Tile

Several things come into play in deciding on the ideal shower, and often the bathtub’s design will dictate the sort of tile that can or should be used.

By way of example, if you like a curved shower bench, you’ll have to use a smaller tile. That might seem to be a simple task, but keep in mind, you want a tile that’s suitable for floor and wall use. This same tile also needs to be approved for a moist site. So when it’s set up, 95 percent of the rear side of the tile has to be in contact with the thinset (tile concrete). Many times, thinset is set up using a notched trowel, and not all tiles — such as many mosaic tiles — can reach 95 percent protection.

Using a large-format tile is great for barrier-free design and aging in place. However, is that tile safe? Smaller tiles provide more grout lines and slip resistance, so if you’re searching for a large tile, look for one with a good slip-resistance rating. A tile using an A or B rating is far safer than a tile using a C slip-resistance rating.

A little-known truth is that if you’re using glass tile or any sheet mosaic tile, it is up to the retailer or manufacturer to notify you if the tile is more acceptable for submersion or pool usage. Like it will be submerged, your bathtub flooring should be constructed. It is also the obligation of the producer of glass tile to specify the kind of placing materials you want.

Keep searching for 10 more important things to keep in mind when picking your shower.

John Kraemer & Sons

1. Use smaller tiles. Depending on your shower bench design, you may want smaller tiles to handle the curves. Tiles handle curves far better. By getting the tile on site prior to the shower’s bench is designed, the angle of the curves and natural arcs could be worked out.

T.R. Builder, Inc..

2. Consider how it will feel. A slab feels nicer to sit over smaller tile, along with a curved edge will feel great on the back of your legs. Sitting on a bathtub bench without a eased edge can be difficult on the backs of your legs. Plan to use a slab or a tile that provides a bullnose or a radius edge for your shower bench.

RID, Carolina V. Gentry

3. Be cautious when selecting mosaic tile. Pick out a mosaic tile that provides at least 95 percent contact from the tile to the backer board. You need that contact from the wall to the tile! You don’t want to trust the glue on a sheet of tile.

Here is a wonderful example of mosaic tile set up by Carolina Gentry. I would wager that the tile is a paper- or film-faced mosaic, because the installation appears seamless.

Christopher’s Showroom

4. Small colored glass is a lot easier to work with than big clear glass. Glass is tricky to work with. A few crystal clear glass tiles can display moisture trapped behind these and make a fantastic shower seem awful after only a few uses. Picking smaller colored glass is better. Many glass tiles also have directional arrows so they all can be set up with the same orientation.

Prestige Custom Building & Construction, Inc..

5. Use another tile option to make a feature wall. Including another tile option for a feature is a superb appearance I see more and more nowadays.

Be cautious about using little ledgestone tile unless you know your water doesn’t leave staining on your tile. Ledgestone accomplishes the stacked-rock appearance — like with this shower wall — with the rough face of this stone facing outside. The rough surface means that it’s slow to drain , and water using a heavy mineral material will build up quickly. In Vancouver, British Columbia, the mineral material in our water will blot the rough surface of ledgestone in a couple of months’ time.

David Johnston Architects

6. Decide on a smaller tile for a sloped ceiling. Constructing a sloped ceiling is among many requirements of a commercial steam shower. Using smaller tiles makes for more graceful slopes.

This steamer by David Johnston Architects is one of my favorite examples of what is possible from a master tile setter.

7. Consider universal design. Pick a large-format tile along with a one way slope for simple entry to the shower if you’re planning to age in your house. Using one tile throughout the installation can also make the room seem much bigger.

Werner Construction Ltd..

8. Keep cleaning in mind. If you despise cleaning your bathtub, use bigger slabs or glass panels, because they making cleaning much easier than little mosaic-type tiles.

ID by Gwen

9. Utilize your primary tile to frame another tile. If your primary tile of choice doesn’t offer decent slip resistance on your shower floor, you can frame a smaller tile using a bigger tile.

Remember you’ll have to miter the corners so they can tip in the shower and you can achieve the pitch you want.

Helen scott

10. Use smaller tiles for better traction. What a wonderful bathroom! Here, designer Helen Scott used the same smaller tile across the toilet as accent tiles.

Notice the way the shower spout and the shower pub are set up on the middle of that 1 tile. I am certain that was no crash.

More:
Top 10 Strategies for Getting Bathroom Tile Right

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