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Vintage Bath, Part 1: Tiling a Shower Stall A couple works to turn their plain vanilla bathroom into a vintage spa retreat. Check out more value-enhancing home projects from Sweat Equity. From "Sweat Equity" episode DSEQ-209

	Before
	After
	Before
	After

Scott and Kristen Thomas have just $5,000 to turn their cookie cutter master bathroom into a spectacular retreat. But, will adding character cost more than it's worth?

Projects included in this equity-building bathroom transformation:

• tiling a shower
  
• refinishing furniture
  
• installing wainscoting

Up first in this makeover, tiling a shower. Below is a summary of the basic steps as seen in this Sweat Equity project, as well as a list of materials and tools used and some installation tips.

Materials:

cement backer-board
thinset
trowel
ceramic tiles
grout
sponge

Safety Alerts:

• When remodeling a bathroom, if you lack the proper expertise, you may want to hire a professional for portions of the project like plumbing and electrical work.

• Always wear eye protection and follow proper safety precautions when working with power tools or pneumatic tools.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	The newly tiled shower, with hex floor tiles, maintains the vintage look of the bathroom makeover.

Installing a Tile a Shower Stall

For her shower, Kristen chooses white subway tiles, and she opts for matching hexagon tiles for the floor. The cost of the tiling materials is about $1500, but the investment is worth it when she installs them herself — saving about $1,000 in labor.

Steps:

• When your plumbing is complete and after the shower pan and backer board are installed, measure up from the pan and mark your fist course (figure A).

• Install a ledger board and check level (figure B). This will help you keep your tiles level as you work.
  
  
• Lay out your pattern and dry fit the tiles (figure C). In this way you can see where you'll need to make cuts.

• Mix your thinset until smooth. It should have the consistency of peanut butter.

• Spread thinset onto your wall, keeping your notched trowel at a 45-degree angle to create substantial grooves.

• Press your tiles into the thinset (figure D). Use spacers to preserve the grout lines.

• Tip: Wipe off any excess thinset as your work. It will be difficult to remove after its dry.

• Mark the cuts you need to make on your tile with a wax pencil. Make your cuts with a tile saw.

• After the entire shower stall has been tiled, mix the grout and apply it with gloves and a floater, pressing it in every joint. Wipe clean with a sponge. Seal the tile & grout when it has dried.

RESOURCES :

Resources for Sweat Equity, episode 209:

contractor: Todd Wyatt
Father and Son Carpentry

Sansiro USA
Website: www.sansirousa.com

Dal-Tile Corporation
Website: www.daltile.com

Basco Shower Enclosures
Website: www.daltile.com