Use a tape measure and measure the width and length of the space you want to cover with subway tiles. In our project, we used Crema Marfil, an Italian tumbled marble tile. The shower floors are … For example, using SeamClips to between tiles. First, it’s easier to start this tutorial by showing you a picture of the final look. Pretty sure that every blogger who has ever existed has posted a tutorial on subway tile. What an amazing feeling to see it all up, grouted, and lookin’ good! Just be aware and wipe up after each tiling session. Once the layout is done, setting subway tile is straight forward. Stock up on grout and you can always return it if you end up having some leftover. So I finally finished installing backer board to the tub surround of the bathroom.. And we’re obsessed with the bright & clean look we have going on in this space. Note: if you still have ANY mastic or mortar still on the wall, you need to go back and work more on the tile removal process. We started in the shower and I seriously felt like I was climbing Mt. And if you missed how we waterproofed this shower, then read this tutorial. Step 4: Let Dry. Instead, I’ll share tips and tricks we learned along the way. But we forgot to calculate one HUGE factor…the spacers. More Subway Tile Bathroom Ideas All shower pans should be sloped by 1/4″ per foot – which is normally the case with a KBRS, Schluter or Wedi preformed system. Bummer (and major setback). We have a similar bathroom that started out as just a tub (it’s now a shower, also) and with white tiles halfway up the wall. Vintage and Eclectic style subway tile bathroom. Literally. In order to make sure all of your tile is level, you need to install a level piece of wood at the first row of tile. Attach a straight board to the backer board along the line. However, there are many tiny tips that make these tile jobs look phenomenal. After installing the floor tile in our guest bathroom, Finn and I were so excited to start the subway tile. In this design, the tile is stacked like bricks. Be sure to protect everything in your room when tiling because the thinset will occasionally plop on the ground and you’ll be left with a mess! Our layout had to factor in the shower bench and custom shower niche on the plumbing wall. Learn how your comment data is processed. But our bathroom was actually carpeted–thick carpet no less–so we laid the peel and stick tiles. Steve makes it always look easy, but knowing the layout makes the process a lot simpler. 19. That slope necessitates a contoured cut on the bottom of the first row of tile. I didn’t account for the fact that our subway tile already had built in spacers. And another DUMB move I made? This ensures that all of the tile you install above that board will be straight. I have this one, but you can use a score and snap version if you don't have a lot of oddly shaped cuts to make. A more practical option is to only install subway tiles on the shower’s walls. Subway tiled showers are timeless, so install them right the first time. As a tiling newbie, I didn’t know that ledgers were used in tiling. Our prior tutorial shared how to tile the shower floor and make it look awesome. Thank You! I think your Wedi mixing valve flexi collar is on backwards in this video. Furthermore, it’s imperative to leave a 1/8″ gap between tiles and adjacent backer boards. When ordering my tile, I didn’t realize that my regular 3×6 white subway tile didn’t come with a 3×6 bullnose piece (bullnose is the rounded edge). Subway tiles give the shower a classy and at the same time simple look as timeless as they are. Let me know if I’m wrong. Then, I used a drill, screws, and level to get all of our ledgers in before we started tiling. 3) If a bathroom walls has vapor barriers all around along with cement board installed, does a bathtub still needs to be caulk where the tiles meet the tub surface? Together we’re creating our dream home in Chicago, one DIY project at a time. Use Ledgers. The thinset is bound to ooze between your tiles a bit, so do your best to scrape it out as you go. This little tool is incredibly easy to use and it’s inexpensive…only $20! With our new marble floors installed, we didn’t want to take any chances of ruining them. I prefer OmniGrip because it holds wall tile in place without sagging. This was a lifesaver and my hands are finally feeling less scaley and gross! Once demolition of the old tile is complete, install a cement backer board in the shower area. ©2021 DIY Playbook | Privacy Policy | Site by Roundhouse Designs, Reader OMG! For instance, you can measure 3 inches between the two lines for a standard 3 by 6 subway tile. Finn and I weren’t prepared for how long the subway tile was going to take. Nice subway tile. ; ¼" notched trowel We also left a 1/8″ (minimum) gap between the first row and shower floor. Our preference is to use an angle grinder and diamond blade. Free, online Subway Tile Backsplash cost guide breaks down fair prices in your area. And here’s the thing…we are both workhorses. Your email address will not be published. This is not that. And when I say gameplan, I mean math. I’m Casey, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. There are a million and one tutorials online for how to install subway tile. A 3-sided shower for example: You would typically center the back wall so the cuts are even on both sides. – Sarah’s Victorian Across the Pond, Reader OMG! If you’re doing a bathroom remodel and want to simplify the process enroll into the Bathroom Repair Tutor Video Library We show how to build showers (Schluter, Wedi, Curbless, etc. This will give you the total area you want to tile. However, we prevailed! Also, the client wanted a glass mosaic accent that wrapped around all three walls. I learned the hard about using a ledger bar when I tiled our other bathroom 10 years ago. Required fields are marked *. Finn and I laid out various scenarios before committing to anything and we ended up going with the look above. I will say, we did have to use the wet saw for super small cuts, curved cuts, and angled cuts. You guys make these projects look so easy! shower wall to shower floor). Then you want the inside corner to look like the tile “continues” onto both side walls. As much as we wanted to just get started tiling, we had to go in with a gameplan. Lay the material flat for at least 24 hours to acclimate to the environment you’re installing. If the shower base is uneven, tiles will have to be cut to fit the last row. Essentially, you don’t want to have any tiny cuts on the corners (because it will make your life 10000x harder) so you need to plan your layout from the start. Our tips in today’s tutorial share how to tile a curbed shower by starting on the main wall. Green subway tile for a modern shower. The cost to install subway tile backsplash could be as little as $600 or as much as $1,350. This kind works much better than those little cross shaped ones! Simply smooth the adhesive … The thinset dries out your skin like crazy and you really can’t expect to keep your hands clean when tiling. It took us 2 weekends and multiple nights after work to get ‘er done, but we did it. 1. Multiply these numbers by each other. But for 85% of our cuts, the tile cutter worked like a dream. Input project size, product quality and labor type to get Shower Tile material pricing and installation cost estimates. From the centerline, draw your offset lines with a specific measurement. Generally speaking, when you come to the end of a wall and you want the subway tile installation to look like it “wraps” onto the next wall. Silicone is the best product for that gap as it will seal the change of plane 3. 17. Dun dun dun. Step 5: Remove Spacers. Subway Tile for a Backsplash. How to Install Subway Tile in a Bathroom. Step 3: Insert Spacers. I bought two 10 lb bags of grout for the space (sanded in the color “Silverado”) and ended up having to run back to the store for 3 more! We started the first row by centering the tile on the shower drain. PAINT! Always use silicone between the tile and tub surface for expansion and contraction, it shouldn’t create a mold sandwich if the cement board is installed correctly and the tile is set using directional troweling. We show how to build showers (Schluter, Wedi, Curbless, etc. We were doing math based on our 3×6 inch tiles and the measurements of our walls. Pick a starting point (in our case, the main shower wall) and work your way out from there. Afterwards, add 10% to the total to cover potential waste. With 10 foot ceilings in the bathroom, and a plan to go all the way up to the ceiling, right then and there we knew we were in for it. … I’m not going to give you a step-by-step tutorial on how we hung our 3×6 white subway tile since I just shared the detailed process for the floor tile yesterday (and it’s very similar to that). If you are using white or very light grout in a high traffic area or more … We also kept a sponge handy to wipe down tiles along the way to ensure that no thinset was drying on our pristine white tiles. Our white tile is in great shape, so we left it. Step 1: Prep the Walls. Today’s tutorial describes how we approached the main shower wall. This second floor bathroom is getting a full remodel, with a new vanity set, new lighting and outlets, storage over the toilet area, and a new bath fan.. And now it’s time for the fun part: installing subway … ; Tile spacers. In a future tutorial we’ll discuss the other two walls. Most subway tile has grooves on the sides so you don’t need to use spacers at all because it’s an automatic 1/16″ grout line. Our wet saw was the main workhorse for our floor tile, but we whipped out a tile cutter for the subway tile installation. If you’re doing a bathroom remodel and want to simplify the process enroll into the Bathroom Repair Tutor Video Library. If you’re tiling your shower wall, create a vertical line as the center. It can be used in kitchens and bathrooms to add effect to and complement your color scheme. Step 2: Attach Tile. Hey There! We could use it at night without making a peep (unlike the wet saw, which shakes the entires building), so we could work on the space on weekday nights. This ensures that all of the tile you install above that board will be straight. This ended up being fine, but we had to make a plan for how we would have it flow as both the top ledger and the side edges of the shower. Once the wall and floors are prepared to be tiled, your contractor will then start installation. But my favorite part about it? Finishing: Sealer and Caulking. Sorry for the minor profanity, but it’s the truth. So, please account for your spacers! In this shower we used 4″x12″ subway tiles but the basic principles are the same for smaller tiles. If it dries, it’s a lot harder to get out before grouting. Want to refresh your subway tile shower? Because our grout lines were huge and we had so much ground to cover, it ended up taking me (& my mom who I recruited to help) about 8 hours to grout the walls. Think Han and Chewy…Laurel and Hardy…Laverne and Shirley. Input project size, product quality and labor type to get Subway Tile Backsplash material pricing and installation cost estimates. The national average is about $1000. Variegated marble subway tile bathroom. Materials Needed to Install Vertical Subway Tile. They will do this by spreading a thin layer of thinset on the wall, then scraping off any excess with a trowel. Yes, we were tired and drained from all of the time spent on the floor…but subway tile certainly had to be easier than that marble floor…right?! I purchased inexpensive wood at Lowe’s (and brought the measurement of each wall in the room) and had it cut down to size right there. It’s a piece of tile that’s less than 1-2″. It’s impossible. It certainly wasn’t a super difficult installation. After the adhesive has dried overnight, apply grout to the tile using a rubber float. And factored how the tile would look at the walls and bench. Would it cause sandwich mold? Once you’ve bought your adhesive, you’re ready to apply it. Yes, the perimeter needs a gap for expansion and contraction – 1/8″ is a good size 2. For example, our friend Sarah over at Ugly Duckling House used handcrafted subway tiles and did a great job on her shower. Between all of the math, our high ceilings, and the large grout lines…we had our work cut out for us. If you focus on the glass there’s a guy taking the picture…that’s me, lol. And things I wish I would have known before I got started tiling our bathroom…. This way it’s easier to line up the tiles to create a continuous pattern across the walls. Hey Patrick, thanks for asking. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Without symmetry, subway tile looks shi$%y at best. You typically see subway tile in white, in the familiar running bond pattern, but the versatility of their rectangular shape means these tiles can do so much more. Use a tile saw to cut any tile needed to size or around electrical outlets. That said, nothing replaces skill. In order to make sure all of your tile is level, you need to install a level piece of wood at the first row of tile. Here is a VIDEO I made for you on how to Install Subway Tile using a ledger bar to start. Install any border tile first, then position the sheets of subway tile on the wall and press them in place. 1) When tiling the shower floor, is there a 1/8 gap around the perimeter for joint movement-where tiles butt against the wall? It was installed correctly because that rubber gasket faces outward and can be trimmed if it protrudes past the tile. Yes. Installing MirroFlex Subway Tile is dramatically easier than traditional tile. Your email address will not be published. Classic Subway. And we had A LOT of ground to cover. Avoid slivers at the ceiling, corners, and any transition (e.g. Dos and Don’ts From a First-Time DIY Subway Tile Backsplash Install Teresa Odland Updated: Oct. 23, 2020 After receiving contractor bids to tile our kitchen backsplash that didn't fit our budget, my husband and I decided to tackle the project ourselves. Begin the bathroom tile installation with the second row up from the bottom. 15. How to Install Bathroom Tile in Corners. Get 2020 Subway Tile Backsplash price options and installation cost ranges. I’m married to Finn & mom to Rory. It’s also super easy to mess up this project. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This expansion and contraction joint is necessary to prevent tiles from cracking. After the floor install, my hands were wrecked. As a tiling newbie, I didn’t know that ledgers were used in tiling. Well…sorta. – Tracey’s Bright Beach House, Reader SOS – Living Room Furniture Layout, Reader SOS – Mid-Century Modern Spanish Bungalow, Reader SOS – Transforming a Concrete Patio, How to Make a DIY Acrylic Dry Erase Board, Refreshing Mocktail Recipes for Pregnancy, A Family Favorite – Coconut Crispies During the Holidays, Tips to Survive DIY Projects with your Significant Other, Where Finn Buys Rory’s Clothes (& How We Keep Them Clean), 2020 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – My Top Picks, The Best Sports Bras for Breastfeeding Moms, Best Black Friday 2020 Deals to Shop Today. But if you want to utilize a trowel, you can make the … As you’ll see, planning is very important if you want the final look to be impeccable. Well, we did do that. 20. This is the most important part of subway tile showers: Plan the layout to avoid slivers of tile. Cost to Install Subway Tile Backsplash. On Friday, I’ll showcase the 5 samples I chose to try out in the space, along with the lucky winning paint color…, Renovation Progress on Our #FinnFixerUpper, How to Mount a Baby Monitor and Hide the Cords. {found on alexmaguirephotography}. Not my strong suit, but luckily that husband of mine is a math whiz! Free, online Shower Tile cost guide breaks down fair prices in your area. 18. Finish setting the shower floor with thinset mortar. They'll then press the tile into the mortar and use spacers to hold them in place.