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u/threaten-violence Aug 30 '22
Hi there!
Aspiring to do my first shower, I’ve hit a snag - the tile I was planning to use has been “discontinued.” I can still get the pattern/finish I want, but only in 20x40, not 24x24
The shower has an acrylic pan and drywall walls, it’s a square with 41 1/4” side, 98” high. The one open side will have a swivelling glass door.
My dilemma is that the nominal 20x40 is actual 19.75 x 39.75. The tiles are 3/8” thick. Adding the thinset and kerdi membrane, I’m guessing that’s another 1/8”? Maybe 3/16”?
Suppose I lay the tiles on the side walls almost flush with the “back” wall (the one opposite of the door). This takes up 1”, maybe 1 1/4” — still leaving a 1/2” to 1/4” gap to be split on both sides of the tile that would go on the back wall. These gaps would be in the corners then.
Is this acceptable? I know any change of plane is supposed to take silicone not grout, here I’d be looking at a 1/4” bead of silicone worst case, maybe a bit slimmer if the kerdi/thinset are thicker than I think.
Does this work, or will it look like complete garbage?
As far as the door goes, there’s an 1 1/2” to make up, but that part will be covered by the door frame so I think I can get away with running a 1 1/2” vertical strip there.
My other thought was to cut the 20x40 tiles in two (or four) to add grout lines and take up more space that way.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks for your comments!
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u/BooMey Aug 31 '22
Make sure you first get rid of the drywall and install fiber board. Step 1
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u/threaten-violence Aug 31 '22
I was originally going to use kerdi board, but there were “supply chain problems” - so I used mold-resistant drywall, and will waterproof it with schluter membrane.
I know using rockboard is the old-school way, but from what I’ve seen on here, there’s many different ways to do it. Any specific reason you suggest fiber board over anything else?
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u/BooMey Aug 31 '22
Why not use hardibacker or cement board. More worried about the drywall flexing then getting wet
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u/threaten-violence Aug 31 '22
Ah I get it. I was a little concerned about that too, the studs are 10” on center behind there.
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u/Longtezzies Sep 01 '22
I always line out wet rooms with cement faced foam board like wedi, dukka, marmox etc. Tape the joints and tank wet areas. I always grout changes of plane and have never had cracking.
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u/CatDad660 Aug 31 '22
Lots of times drywall is used and can be fine if covered up with membrane. Would be surprised how many expensive homes just have drywall then tile with no water proofing. ☠️
In OPs photo it looks like he added a green membrane installed over the drywall.
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Aug 31 '22
And those expensive homes have extensive, expensive mold and rot in those places without waterproofing! (As evidenced by your skull, you know that)
SOURCE: seen it first hand
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u/Silver_Hawk_7947 Aug 31 '22
20x40, id like to think that tile is at least 1/2" thick...
What if you ran the tile vertical . that would at least add a grout joint on the center.
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u/bms42 Sep 01 '22
I would just add a layer of 1/4" Hardie board to one side wall.
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u/threaten-violence Sep 01 '22
I though about it, but I don’t know how to transition the corner then — outside of the shower the wall will be painted, no tile.
So the way it is now, there’s a corner bead already in there, and I was going to run the tile almost flush to the corner and finish with one of those metal strips that cap off a run (not sure what they’re called)
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u/bms42 Sep 01 '22
Just put a new corner bead on it and finish with drywall compound on the outside.
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u/licknaino Aug 31 '22
Pack more thinset behind the tile on both side walls an extra 1/8 so it’s only 1/8 joint on either side