by Darryl Brooks

Created on: April 10, 2009

Installing bathroom tile is something any do-it-yourselfer can do with a little bit of information. This article will discuss a standard tile installation over a tub. But the same methods could be applied to any wall tile installation.

Before you begin, you will need a clean, dry surface over the tub on which to install the tile. If this is a new house or room addition, this should already be done. You or your contractor should have installed water resistant gypsum board or green board' over the tub area. You could also use fiberglass mesh concrete panels instead. These are more expensive, but completely impervious to water.

The materials and tools you need can be found at your local home store. A typical tub enclosure needs about fifty square feet of tile. This brings the tile to just below the shower head. Your installation may vary depending on how high you want to run the tile. You will also need forty-five to fifty pieces of bullnose tile and two corners to dress up the edge of the installation. These come in six inch by two inch pieces. You probably also want a soap dish and a towel bar. To install the tile, you will need about a gallon of tile glue and about ten pounds of tile grout. To install the tile, you will need a measuring tape, a level, a notched trowel to spread the glue, a rubber grout float, a tile cutter, and tile snips. Have someone at the store where you buy the materials show you how to use the tile cutter and snips.

The tile needs to be installed level. Unfortunately, the tub probably isn't level and the walls probably aren't plumb. Check both of these with the level, but this article will assume they are not. This means you have to plan on cutting the tile at the tub and in the corners to get a level and plumb installation.

Begin by marking a line about 14 inches above the tub using your level. Assuming you are using standard four inch tiles, this gives you three whole tiles and about a half to run around the tub. This also should get you a level line above the cut outs for the water pipes. Spread the glue below this line on the pipe wall to get started.

Now, placing your level plumb against the outside edge of the tub, place your first tile against the level and even with your line. Continue setting the tile across your line, and down toward the tub, placing all the whole tiles you can. Use the rubber grout float to tap them into place. There are spacers on the edge of the tile to keep them the correct distance apart. Place your level back

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