Ceramic Tile Shower

Q: How should a ceramic tile shower really be built? So far I’ve had five cost estimates with each offering a different approach for completing the work. Can you suggest a trustworthy method?

A: I’m not surprised that you’ve received so many different pieces of advice because there are several ways to build a tile shower correctly. Unfortunately, there are also many more ways to do things wrong, and that’s what you need to watch out for. The main thing to consider is waterproofing. Tiles themselves don’t keep water out very well because of the grout joints. And don’t be fooled into believing that superficially applied sealers are going to solve that problem long term. They won’t. That’s why I wouldn’t consider putting up a traditional tile shower without a synthetic waterproofing system installed underneath the base and wall areas. The best I’ve seen so far is called the Schluter Shower System (800-667-8746). It includes a waterproof floor pan, plus a membrane that covers the walls, ceiling and base. This kind of hardware was designed because traditional tile shower installations sometimes succumb to water damage too fast. Install something like this over cement board applied to the wall, floor and ceiling area, and you’ll get very durable results for your money.