Step 3 plan your layout.
Installing tile on concrete shower floor.
A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles.
Deck mud also known as floor mud or dry pack mortar is a simple mixture of sand portland cement and water.
The side facing the outside of the shower stall.
Diamond mesh will be used for the curb only.
It will also provide a stronger adhesion between mortar and concrete.
Installing tile directly on concrete.
Install diamond mesh around your curb as backing for mortar.
The tiles come in different sizes pre spaced on mats.
On the ceiling and floor of the shower we used 2 x 2 tiles and on shower walls 2 x 4 tiles.
Save time by setting several tiles at once.
Also make sure your floor is pre sloped before installing the rubber liner in the following steps to prevent.
In our project we used crema marfil an italian tumbled marble tile.
How to install ceramic or porcelain tile on a shower floor.
Whether you ll be installing tile over your shower s concrete floor or leaving it bare you will need to use a mixture called deck mud to form the shower s base.
It is used because it is moldable and will hold form.
Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.
Tile floors do not require as much care and cleaning as porcelain or fiberglass.
This will allow you to staple only one face of the curb.
Before tiling a shower be sure the drain and sub floor are properly seal.
How to tile a shower over a concrete slab.
This is an optional step but can really benefit your tile installation in the long run.
Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete.
The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface.
Tiled shower floors are visually appealing as well as hygienic.
The job can look beautiful after the install but the experience of the installer is put to the test after months if not weeks of use.
There are tile installers who have been installing tile for years that have no idea of how to build a shower that does not leak.
Get a professional plumber to rough in the shower drain before starting the concrete installation.
The shower in this project will be flush with the side of the whirlpool bath so the frame needed to extend under the tub overhang.