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How to Prep Before You Tile the Shower Wall

Creating a clean and waterproof base starts with removing the old tile or the fiberglass shower wall. This is a dusty job so use plastic to cover your doorways, wear a respirator that's rated for dust, cover the floor with a drop cloth and make sure there's plenty of ventilation. Also, shower tile is heavy so put down moving blankets to protect the floors and tub from damage.

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Instructions

A person wearing gloves removing tile with a prybar.

Use a hammer and chisel and work your way across the shower removing the tile. Use a reciprocating saw to cut any screws. Sometimes you can remove the old shower tile without damaging the backer board, but that's often difficult. Plan on replacing the backer board.

Caution

Before you begin removing tile, turn off the power to the entire bathroom and any adjacent rooms. If you’re tiling a wall with outlets or wire fixtures, remove those before beginning demolition.

A woman wearing safety goggles and Craftsman gloves inspecting wall insulation for mold.

Once you’ve removed the old shower tile, inspect what's behind it. If there's drywall, remove it and plan to replace it with cement backer board to protect the shower walls from moisture and mold. Use drywall above the shower head, but line anything below the shower head with cement backer board.

Make sure the shower studs are in good condition and that everything is mold free. If you see any signs of mold in the shower, stop work immediately and call a professional to remove it. If you need to reroute any plumbing or electrical, or install a new tub or shower pan, now is the time.

Caution

Use caution around plumbing. Only cut to the drywall depth.

Tile membrane is used to create a waterproof barrier between a solid surface and the shower tile. It's made of polyethylene and requires less labor than cement backer board. It's lightweight, easy to cut and you need fewer tools to install it. Tile membrane isn't required for the entire bathroom, just in wet shower areas.

Before installing the tile membrane, clean any dust or debris from the surface. If your surface is dry and porous, run a damp sponge over it to prevent premature drying.

How to Tile a Shower

Here’s how to install shower tile after you’ve prepped the base. If you’re looking for shower tile ideas to inspire you, shop the links below for the best selection of shower tile from Lowe’s.

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Instructions

A woman using a tape measure to measure a shower wall for tile.

After the second coat is dry and the whole shower area is prepped, it’s time to choose your shower tile before going any further. Create a design plan before you start attaching the shower tile. Here we chose a running bond pattern.

Determine how much shower tile you’ll need. Measure each shower wall area, calculating the width multiplied by the height. Add up the wall areas and then add 10% more so you have extra tile for mistakes or future repairs.

When using ceramic shower tile, try to find boxes with the same dye lot number. If you can’t find matching numbers, mix shower tile from different boxes when installing so any color variation won’t be as noticeable.

A woman using a Crafstman drill and level to screw a ledger board to a backer board.

Center a shower tile horizontally along the length of the shower wall and do a quick dry-fit to make sure you don’t have a lot of tiny shower tiles at the end of each row. If so, adjust your layout to have wider shower tile on the sides of the shower wall.

For the vertical layout, begin your shower tile pattern at the top of the shower wall so there’s a full, uncut shower tile at the top. If you must cut the shower tile to fit, they'll be at the bottom where the tub or shower pan might not be level.

If you plan to cut the bottom row of shower tile, start your installation with the second row. Measure and mark the spot for your second row of shower tile, check your mark is level and attach a board to the shower wall to act as a guide.

Push your shower tile firmly into place. Use a tile cutter to score the length of the shower tile and press firmly to cut. Use tile nippers or a tile hole saw to cut curves. Use bullnose for exposed edges, or you can use trim pieces. Use tile spacers between the shower tile to make sure the gaps are consistent.

Check regularly to make sure everything is level. It's a good idea to pull one shower tile off after you install it to check that the thinset is sticking to the whole tile. If not, use a larger notched trowel.

Tip

For bullnose or edge tile pieces, fill a plastic sandwich bag with mortar and snip the corner 1/2-inch. Apply the mortar using the same technique for piping cake icing.

A woman wearing black latex gloves applying grout to wall tile with a rubber float.

Once the thinset has dried for 24 hours, remove the spacers and prepare the shower wall for grout. Most shower tiles have a recommended grout so check your manufacturer’s instructions.

Mix a small amount of grout at a time and apply it with a rubber grout float. Work it into the spaces, using a diagonal motion. Use only unsanded grout with glass, polished marble or metal tile to avoid scratching the surface.

Installing Large Format Tile

Installing large format tile is comparable to installing standard tile, with a few important differences to keep in mind. Because of their size, large format tiles are heavier than standard tiles, requiring extra time and care to install them correctly. As with standard tile, prepping the surface is essential. Below are the key differences to take into consideration when working with large-format tile:

Substrate must be flat. Minor surface fluctuations are fine for installing standard tile; however, large-format tile requires a completely flat surface.
Medium-bed mortar, or mortar specifically designed for large-format tile, is recommended. Instead of a thin-set mortar, you should use a medium-bed mortar that’s strong enough to support the weight of larger tiles. It’s also recommended to apply mortar to the back of the tile in addition to the shower surface itself. This helps ensure full coverage.
Use the right tools. With large format tiles, a larger notched trowel is recommended.
Requires a tile leveling system. To ensure proper installation and eliminate lippage, a tile leveling system is essential.
May require more drying time. Be patient when allowing large format tiles to cure, as they may take longer to dry compared to standard tiles.

Shower Tile DIY FAQs

Can I replace my shower tile myself?
It depends. One of the most difficult aspects of retiling a bathroom shower wall is cutting your tile. If you have access and feel comfortable using these tools that’s one of the biggest components of retiling a shower wall yourself.

How much does it cost to tile a shower?
The average cost to retile an average-size shower could be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,500. But every shower tile DIY is unique, that’s why it’s important to consider these variables before you start a project: the cost of tools, materials and labor (if you’re not DIYing). The size of your shower, the cost and type of tile and the condition of the existing drywall or backer board all contribute to costs too. Keeping these expenses in mind from the beginning of your project helps you manage expenses throughout the remodel.

How long does it take to retile a shower?
Since you need to consider the time it takes shower grout to dry completely, this project can take anywhere from three to five days. Consider this time frame if the work you’re doing is in your main bathroom—you won’t have access to a shower.

How do I choose the best style shower tile for my bathroom?
To figure out the best shower tile ideas for your home, read our shower tile buying guide. With so many stylish options at a variety of prices, you’ll find the perfect shower tile for your bathroom. Consider the existing style of your bathroom vanity and fixtures and choose a tile that will complement them.

Don’t have time to do this project yourself? Check out our professional tile installation service.

How to Prep and Install Bathroom Shower Tile

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

How to Prep Before You Tile the Shower Wall

Instructions

How to Tile a Shower

Instructions

Installing Large Format Tile

Shower Tile DIY FAQs

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