Installing Ceramic Tile in a Shower Using a Shower Pan Membrane Liner

If the shower springs a leak it can cause significant water damage to your home. Moreover, until you make the repairs to it the shower is out of commission.

Framing and Installing Rough Plumbing for Shower

The first two steps in any custom ceramic tile shower project is roughing in the plumbing and framing the shower area.

I highly suggest hiring a plumber to rough in the plumbing. Make sure they install an adjustable drain assembly in the base of the shower stall. In regards to the framing, I suggest using 2×6 wall studs for the side that contains the plumbing supply lines. The other wall surfaces can use 2x4s.

Framing Shower Walls

Make sure to add 2×6 blocking around the base of the shower walls for nailing the shower pan membrane liner to. Lastly, make sure to install an additional layer of ½ CDX plywood over the ¾ inch tongue and grove plywood subfloor, if not installing the shower on a concrete slab. You need to ensure you have a strong sub-floor to prevent any deflection in the ceramic tiled shower floor. If there is, the tiles and mortar shower pan will be susceptible to cracking, which could result in springing a leak.

After the initial framing of the shower stall area the next step in constructing a ceramic tile shower is to install a mortar shower pan. Installing Mortar Shower Pan The mortar shower pan consists of pouring two layers of mortar into the shower floor area with a shower pan membrane liner sandwiched in between the two layers. It is critical that the mortar layers be sloped sufficiently enough towards the drain to allow proper drainage from the shower floor to the drain.  In regards to sheathing the shower walls, it is important to use a cement backerboard type material.

See the “Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation Ebook” eBook for detailed instructions on how install a mortar shower pan properly.

Sheathing Shower Walls with Durock Cement Backerboard

Durock is a common cement board that is highly resistant to water and is perfect for fastening ceramic tiles to. Durock cement board can be attached directly to the shower wall studs and ceiling joists using non-corrosive type screws. However, prior to attaching the Durock cement board to the wall studs, a moisture barrier should be stapled to the wall studs first. Polyethylene plastic or tar paper can be used for the moisture barrier material.

After fastening the Durock cement board to the shower walls, all of the seams should be taped and mudded using an alkaline resistant tape and thinset mortar.

Installing Ledger Board for Tiles to Rest On

You can then begin the process of tiling the shower. Start by attaching a ledger board(s) one to two tile rows up from the bottom of the shower walls. You want to make sure that you don’t sink nails or screws into the shower membrane liner too close to the bottom of the shower pan. Also, make sure the ledger board is level before fastening it into place around the base of the shower walls.

After the shower walls are all complete, remove the ledger boards and install the remaining one or two rows of tiles. Alternatively, you can tile the shower floor before installing the final row or two of wall tiles.

Grout Shower Walls and Floor

Allow the tiled shower walls and floor to set up for 24 to 48 hours. Then grout the shower walls and floor using a float, sponge, and a couple of buckets of clean cold water. Make sure to wipe off excess grout after immediately applying it to a section of wall or the floor. If you let it stay on for more than 30 minutes it may be difficult to remove.

After grouting the ceramic tile shower walls and floor, immediately go back and wipe the tiles down with a clean sponge and water. Repeat this process several times over the next few hours.

Lastly, use cheese cloth to polish the tiles to a shiny finish.