Custom Tile Shower Wall Installation

Giving a bathroom some of your own personality can be accomplished with a custom tile shower. Installing your own custom tile shower gives you the freedom to express yourself and give you the bathroom you've always wanted. Installing tile work, however, is a challenging do-it-yourself project. You will need to have the right tools and pay particularly close attention to measurements and detail.

Step One - Measure Shower

After the rough-in for your shower has been completed, measure the entire surface area of the shower. You will need to measure the height and width of each wall. Multiply each measurement together and then add them to each other. Do the same for the floor and add all together for the total square footage.

Step Two - Buy Materials

Go to the home center with your measurements and buy the appropriate amount of tile, mortar and grout that you will need.

Step Three - Lay out Tile

Since you are installing custom tile, you can design it in anyway that you want. Choose the tile that will best suit your personality. Dry fit it onto the floor of the shower. You want to start from the center and work your way to the edges. Cut any tiles that you need to with the wet saw.

Step Four - Trowel Thin Layer of Mortar on Floor

Pick up the tiles and set them aside. Trowel out a thin layer of mortar covering the floor but take great caution not to cover drain pipe.

Step Five - Install Backerboard

Cut the backerboard to size with a skill saw and lay the backerboard on the mortar. Press firmly into place and screw down with masonry screws.

Step Six - Apply Backerboard to Walls

Follow the previous steps of applying mortar to the walls and then the backerboard. Cut out the holes for the shower head and the water control knobs.

Step Seven - Lay Second Layer of Mortar; Lay Tile

This is the layer that you place the tiles on. Start with the floor again and trowel out another thin layer of mortar. Begin installing the tiles according to your design. Use plastic spacers to keep a uniform amount of space between each tile.

Step Eight - Apply Grout to Floor Tile

Mix the grout, according to the directions, and spread out over the entire surface of the floor. Work it into the spacings and remove the plastic spacers as you get to them. Right before the grout is completely dry, wipe it off the tiles with a damp sponge, leaving the grout in between the tiles.

Step Nine - Repeat for Walls

Once the floor grout has dried, begin installing the tiles on the walls in the same way you did with the floor. You will need to press the tile firmly into the mortar and hold it for a few seconds to make sure it makes a tight bond. Grout the finished area and wash clean. Let it dry thoroughly. Your new custom tile shower will soon be ready for use!