Hi there,
I am installing bottom row of tiles on to wall.
The Maxx acrylic shower base has a slight bow in it with the high spot being in the centre.This means I can't just put 1/4 inch spacers between the shower base and the tile as the top will not be level.
Do I mark the wall at 13-1/4 inch line horizontally above the shower base and glue the tiles to the wall making a bigger caulk joint at each end or cut the bottom of the tiles to suit the contour of the shower base but ensuring the top edge of the tiles are perfectly straight to continue laying tiles from there.

Because the tiles are big and heavy should I lay the first row and let it dry before continuing all the way up 8 feet high?

Do you grout or silicon internal vertical corners from shower base to ceiling and do I caulk the top horizontal joint between the ceiling and the tiles?

How much thinset do I use to back butter the back of tiles before installing them on wall?

thank you, mick

Your best bet is to cut the bottom of the tiles in the middle to keep the top level.

I normally continue up the wall using spacers (two for each tile) to support each row of tiles once I get the first row set and level.

You can use a color matched grout caulk to cover any corners or changes in plane. You can use the same for the tile-to-ceiling joint.

For back-buttering, use the flat side of your trowel to smear the thinset on. You're not trying to create any buildup, just enough so it'll bond well to the thinset on the wall.

Out of curiousity, what do you have on the walls of the shower to stick the tile to?

Thanks for your reply Kman.
I have got Denshield on my walls.

Two quick questions:
1. Would you let the first row of tiles set and dry before placing the rest of the rows on the wall? How long does this normally take - 2-3 hours or overnight?

2.Would you recomend using a metal schluter edge strip running vertically for the end rows of tiles and how is this edge strip fixed to the wall - screwed or is it just set into the thinset?

1. Once you have the bottom row set, you can continue up the walls, as long as the first row is supported and won't sag. You can use anything to support the tile (spacers, scrap of wood, whatever, as long as it's not going to scratch the shower base).

2. The schluter strip is fine and looks good from what I've seen, although I've never used them in a shower. They don't attach to the wall, they are held in place by a hidden strip that is behind the tile (the thinset holds them in place). You can either use that or just caulk the corners.

KMan is referring to Schluter's inside corner profile molding.I think Mick is talking about using a Schluter Schiene or Rondec profile to cap the tile at the transition from tile finish to painted wall.

Those pieces are just set into the tile mortar.The holes in the flange of the trim allow it to anchor itself to the mortar.I use the metal profiles in almost every job unless the tile is stone.I think they look great,especially now that they are available in so many finishes.Don't use the plastic ones...they look cheap.

Here in Canada most suppliers don't carry the matching bullnose or round edge trim tile to finish that transition...as is popular in the U.S.

Thanks Ron and Kman.
Ron understood what I meant about the using the Shluter Scheine - its the transition between tile and painted wall.

As I am only going to install the first row of wall tiles and let them set, is it ok to install the schluter edge strip and press it through the thin set and wipe off any excess and butt the outside edge of my bottom row of tile into the strip and leave it like that until the next day. Will it stay in place?

For the internal corners of the shower I was going to either grout or silicon. Can you recommend which is preferable?

Color caulk. Latex. Grout always cracks.


As for the edge strip, put a nail or two in it. If it slides...