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DIY tile shower

This DIY tile shower guide provides step-by-step instructions to create a stunningly attractive and comfortable shower. It offers five main steps for planning and construction, from laying out the tile to grouting. It also provides tips and advice on important aspects such as selection of the right type of tile and using the proper grouts and other materials. The guide promises a finished product that is durable and water-resistant, and provides a sense of luxury in the bathroom.

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Is there an alternative to shower cabins and hydroboxes and what are their disadvantages? How to save money on a shower cabin and make it more durable? Is it possible to make a tile shower with your own hands? You will find answers to these and many other questions in our article..

DIY shower cabin

Installing a shower cabin instead of a full bath has become a popular solution in the last 10 years. The convenience and manufacturability of factory products is hard to deny – they save space, time and, ultimately, money. However, they all have a rather complicated device for household appliances – a lot of moving parts, pipe sections under pressure, sometimes electronic control or even a steam generator. For those who need “only shower” with an unlimited service life, the option of a “shower enclosure” is suitable.

Shower cubicle made of tiles

A shower device using one or more walls of the room is not a new idea, to put it mildly. The prototype of this design was used in ancient Rome. The fact that the built-in shower has survived unchanged to this day speaks of the “people’s choice” in its favor. It represents the top of practicality and is affordable for everyone. Today this principle of organization remains popular in public washrooms – baths, swimming pools, gyms, etc..

The advantages of a built-in shower (compared to a plastic factory):

  1. Durability – unlimited service life.
  2. Reliability – no moving parts (except for doors that can be replaced).
  3. Convenience – there are no crevices, corners in which water accumulates, which makes cleaning easier.
  4. Durability – wall decoration material (tiles) is extremely difficult to damage.
  5. Beauty – freedom of appearance solutions due to the variety of tiles.
  6. Affordability – the cost of a built-in shower is several times less than a cheap factory cabin *.

* Savings are achieved in case of DIY creation.

Disadvantages:

  1. Limited functionality – only watering can *.
  2. Replacement – only in the process of overhaul.
  3. More complex sewer connection.

* The basic structure of a shower room made of tiles can be infinitely complicated by embedding nozzles, watering cans, etc. into the walls.

If you are going to make a shower cabin with your own hands from tiles, you will find instructions and video materials in our article. will describe in detail and show the installation procedure and the nuances of finishing.

Built-in shower

To work, you will need the tool and skill of a tiler. The whole process consists of several stages, which depend on the selected element design. Types of built-in shower:

  1. Corner with an arc portal. Side walls – walls of the room – at an angle of 90 °. Makes 70% of all shower tiles.
  2. Corner with a partition and a straight portal. The door is attached to the walls. 20% of all showers are tile.
  3. Separate with two partitions. One wall of the room is involved. 10% showers.

Having decided on the choice of design, we proceed to the preparatory work.

Shower tray

The sump is a key element of the entire cab as it absorbs all the load from the person and the flow of water. Pallets are divided according to the principle of the device into two types – at floor level and above the floor. The choice here depends on the ability to “sink” the bowl into the ceiling. As a rule, this is not possible, or it is too time consuming. More than 90% of pallets in apartment bathrooms are raised above the floor. The parapet in this case is arranged with one purpose – to place a drain pipe with a ladder in it.

DIY shower cabin

Another fundamental difference is that a pallet can be created on site from a parapet, screeds and a finishing layer (tile), or you can install a ready-made factory one. There is no functional difference, but the appearance is very different.

Before creating a parapet, you need to connect the sewer and set the ladder at the required level. The top of the ladder (grate) must clearly coincide with the level of the clean floor of the pallet.

The organization of water drainage should be approached especially carefully..

Operating procedure

1. If a side partition is supposed to be assembled from a moisture-resistant gypsum board.

2. Determine the approximate location of the ladder (recommended in a corner inaccessible to humans). Install a temporary sewer pipe and ladder.

3. Lay the main filling (aerated concrete, foam concrete) on the parapet, leaving space around the ladder.

DIY shower cabin

4. Set the ladder to a level and fill with self-leveling (“leveling”) mixture.

5. Install the flange and fill the parapet with a grout with a reinforcing grid.

DIY shower cabin

6. In most cases, arrange an additional protective side.

The base is ready.

Shower cabin waterproofing

Shower waterproofing is the most important stage of the work. For this, both dry and ready-made mixtures are used. Corner sections, joints of walls and floors are reinforced with non-woven tape, and the water supply and sewerage outlet – with special gaskets and sealing plasters based on elastomer.

Video on how to make a shower waterproofing

This must be done due to the susceptibility of joints to cracking. Reliable sealing of “wet zones” is not only comfort of use, but also a guarantee of calmness and good relations with neighbors.

Shower room finishing

Laying ceramic, and especially mosaic tiles, is a specific and time consuming task. It is difficult to describe this process in words, but it is better to see once.

Video with a lesson on tiling with shower tiles

Great attention should be paid to grouting. Choose a two-component epoxy grout – it is more moisture resistant than acrylic or cementitious.

Portal installation

This item should be selected along with the layout and purchased prior to commencing work. It can become a “pattern” because it hardly changes its size. Depending on the location of the walls, you can install both an arc portal and simple straight doors. It will be useful to remind that sliding doors are not as reliable as swing doors. Each portal has an instruction, using which you can easily install it yourself.

Water supply connection and attachment of accessories

It is understood that these elements are also selected at the stage of determining the design and appearance of the shower enclosure. Now it remains to mount the mixer, install the watering can holder and shelves. Another advantage of a built-in shower over a plastic one is the ability to change faucets. In many factory models, they are built-in.

During the repair or reconstruction of a bathroom, the stage of installing new plumbing is inevitable. The normal wishes of each owner are inexpensive, reliable and beautiful. Secondary priorities are fast, safe, durable. Anyone who has decided to get rid of the bath, which is so unprofitable “disposes” of the modest square of the sanitary room, will definitely have to deal with the intricacies of the device and operation of the shower. As you can see from the article, the device is extremely simple, and the operation does not cause much trouble..

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Comments: 1
  1. Jackson Hayes

    How difficult is it to install a DIY tile shower? What are some key tips or techniques to ensure a successful installation? Is it recommended for someone with little to no experience in home improvement projects?

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