How to Tile around a Garden Tub

A garden tub is routinely installed as a fiberglass or acrylic one-piece unit. The sides of the garden tub are usually bowed outward. This type of tub is usually used in master bathrooms. It is spacious, great for bubble baths and for soaking your aching and tired muscles and bones after a long day at work. In the design, usually there are 1 or 2 steps leading up into the tub. The tub tends to be raised higher off the floor so you must step up to get into it. On high-end units, you will find whirlpool jets. This is not mandatory, but it often can be added as an extra. Tilling around your newly installed garden tub is an easy-to-do task. Follow the below step by step process on how to tile around a garden tub.

Preparations for the Bathroom Garden Tub Project

There are many different preparations that you need to be aware of. In order to properly complete this type of project and have the project look fantastic, you must clean the bathroom thoroughly. Particularly, you need to clean the walls behind your tub with a warm and mild soapy water solution. Use a soft sponge for best results.

Protecting the Surroundings

As with any other hard surface project, you must make sure all surroundings are well protected. Cover the tub with a drop cloth or tarp. Floors, towel racks and other surfaces that are prone to scratching must also be protected. The last thing you want to do is replace additional pieces of furniture in the bathroom.

Green board and Regular Drywall

Unless your home has just been built, there is a good chance that there is plain drywall above your tub. You must remove the drywall at least 1 1/2 feet up from the tub. Use a drywall knife and carefully score the drywall and cut away the section. Remove it and throw it away.

Install Green board. Green board is a specialized drywall that resists mildew and mold from exposure to heat and humidity (conditions that are often present when you take a bath or a shower). It will also prevent your tiles from lifting. Hang the green board by using drywall screws, drywall tape. Smooth the wall with drywall putty. Allow the wall to sit at least 24 hours.

How to Tile and Grout

Add a wire mesh to your green board. Nail or screw the wire mesh to your already installed green board. Apply tile concrete to the mesh.  Only add a thin layer of tile concrete. Smooth completely with a trowel. Add your tiles to the wire mesh. Using spacers, space your tiles appropriately along the wall. Use a level to keep all your tiles in line with one another. Allow to dry another 24 to 48 hours.

Apply the grout to the tile. Do not add more grout than needed. Allow your project to dry at least 48 hours before use.