Hello everyone,
I am an entusiastic do-it-yourself(er?) and have completed many home improvement projects. I am presently building a fairly large shower stall using 6X6 tile on the floor spaced 1/8″. My question…
Shall I use sanded or un-sanded tile grout (on the floor of the shower stall)?
Tips urgently needed.
Thank you in advance.
Henri
Replies
Henri, 6x6 Seems too large for a shower floor. You need a smaller tile to give you more grout lines for traction. Tile/bathroom guys chime in. I also believe the size of the spacing determines if you use sanded grout. 1/16 unsanded and anything larger sanded.
J.
Hen
6" tiles seem to big to give you the 1/4" per foot pitch you need to the drain but then again you said you were building a big shower so for all I know its a 10'x10' shower......you always use sanded grout for all floors unless its marble or granite and the tiles are butt real close. Think about smaller tiles. You are pitching the floor aren't you? Like I said...it should be a pitch of about a quarter of an inch per foot. Mosaics make life really easy if this is your first time. Are you using a rubber pan? Lead pan? Acrylic pan?
HAve fun..cause it is......I think the next shower I do in my own crib is gonna have a fishtank built into the entire wall. Its been on my mind.
BE well
Namaste'
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I hadn't thought of the aquarium in the shower. Intriguing plan. Will you access the pumps and filters from the non-shower side? Will it adjoin another room for viewing? I've seen pass-through fireplaces between bedroom and bath, but the aquarium in the shower is a new idea to me. It would be so tempting to set it up with a hinged door right above the aquarium in the shower so when you clean it or otherwise stick your arm in there, you can drip all over and it doesn't matter a bit! Water change is a breeze! But it would have to be high up or sealed. Don't want to chance getting shampoo in with the fishies.
I want to hear more on that sometime.
B
Totally accessable from a closet behind it.
Or as you suggest a see through to the living room where my guests can watch the fish as they see me taking a shower...Horrors!
Be well,
Namaste'
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Aquarium in the shower, what a great idea. Have you seen it done? I have seen a curved salt water aquarium behind a bar but I think a full height aquarium in the shower would be awesome. Post a picture when it is done.
Tom
Those larger tiles will cause problems at the drain. Use no larger than 2x4 squares or mosiacs, I prefer 1" mosiacs for the floor. Use sanded grout. Mix it dry and pack it tight. Use an Aquamix sealer.
Make sure you read the Tile Council ofAmerica's Handbook on Shower Design and Construction. Construct a Pre-Slope, Use a shower membrane and a 2 part clamping drain, and slope the final setting bed about 1/4" per foot.
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
Hello all,
Thank you for your input. Your suggestions are all welcome. However, the shower stall has been built and the tiles laid. I am not going to say that I did the ideal thing, your answers have shown me that, but it is done and I got to move on (finish it).
When I dismanteled the existing shower built by the builder (yes it is a new house) I was able to see what the plumber had done. This is a shower stall with a liner (a recent article in Fine Homebuilding was too late for me... the shower was already built) and it measures 6'X6'.
I have carefully cemented the liner, have taken care not to overly kink the edges, finished the walls' joints with grout, and finally slopped the bed towards the drain (which is not in the centre due to the smaller stall that was in there before).
The tiles have been laid and look good. I can see them slopping towards the drain. I also took extra care when laying them... I lightly spread a coat of setting material on the back of the tile. This takes longer but ensures an even adhesion...they really stick.
Anyway, I am going to use sanded grout since the joints are 1/8", unless someone tells me not to in the next day or two (today is June 13).
Once again thank you all... (by the way, the aquarius idea is really original, I was going to install a fire place in the bathroom but gave up on the idea because I installed radiant floor heating and towel warmers...figured it would be an overkill, as far as heating up the room is concerned.
Henri
Got pictures Henri? I my self am planning on a 6x6 shower with 6x6 tiles. But reading these replies, I may reconsider a smaller tile.
Hi there,
If you leave me your e-mail I'll send you a couple of pics.
I have laid the 6X6 tiles and they look good. I'll use sanded grout as some of the guys suggested. As I said in my last post, I spread tile setter on the back of the tiles and that created an excellent bond between the tile and the setter on the floor. They are firmly anchored down. My next step is to grout them as well as possible to prevent any water infiltration.
I stayed in a resort once and this place had an enourmous shower stall with a glass door to the outside. I can't remember the size of the floor tiles correctly now, but I assure you they were bigger than 6" and there was no slippage.
Take care,
Henri
[email protected]
Thanks for the help. I was talking to a plumber yesterday and he kinda put a fear in me. He said that these tile showers need to be done right. He said that if it is a leaker, it will start leaking EARLY.
Henri sanded- 6inch is ok if the pitch is right if the tile is glazed put in some grab bars-IF IT IS DONE RITE it will last a lifetime good luck .
Thanks Bob,
I'll try my best when grouting them. I don't really want any water infiltration.
Stay well,
Henri
Henri, how abt a fish tank toilet?
http://elseware.to/products/aq.htm
Your fish tank wall sounds awesome.
Hi Kai,
The fish bowl was not my idea. Nevertheless, I find it an interesting concept. As for a fish bowl toillet... Maybe someone will try that... as for me I'll pass.
By the way, there was once around here a snake in the sewer piping of an apartment building. The criter kept showing up... you gussed right, too close for comfort in the toilet bowls of some scared to death unfortunate tenants.
Anyway, they finally caught up with it. So much for being close to nature in your bathroom.
Stay well,
Henri
I'm the Fish tank idea culprit. Its been on my mind for a long time and now my spec house that I'm living in is up for sale (see my website below for pix). My next crib will most definatly have the fish tank wall in the shower stall. I have it all worked out in my head.
Be well,
Namaste'
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
How about a Rabbit Hutch?Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
Hi Andy,
No need to be apologetic...
GO FOR IT!!! Let me have a picture of the finished product ([email protected])
Henri
With that toilet/fish aquarium thing - Wouldn't ya have to buy new fish every time you flushed ???
Edited 6/17/2002 2:53:07 PM ET by Boss Hog
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Enough BS in this post - No tag line needed
I think a fish tank would be cool. Even
better to have the fireplace actually inside
the shower. I'm thinking about a recliner
and kitchenette. You ever see Seinfeld where
Kramer lives in his shower?
On a more serious note, you may want to consider
putting traction dots on the floor. You're
going to find out its mighty slippery.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the suggestions... The fish bowl was not my idea but one of the guys that bothered replying. The fireplace inside of the bathroom would be 'cute' and in a climate such as the one I live in, would also be very helpful.
As for the rest, as you suggest, may be I'll pass those. In any case, for someone like myself who often works 12-14 hours a day (you guessed... I am self employed) I really value a good shower at the end of the day. It is a small luxury that I believe I deserve.
Thanks again, Bob and stay well.
Henri