Travertine Shower Cubicle

[ClaytonWhite]

Looking for advice regarding installing travertine into a new shower cubicle. Tiles are 600x400x10 and base currently is 12.5mm moisture resistant board. I'm guessing that tile backboards required to overlay the plasterboard but need advice on recommended thickness, 3 walls to be tiled 2400H x 1000W.

 

[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There is no need to overboard your plasterboard, you can tank the plasterboard instead. This will protect the plasterboard in case any water gets through the tiling. Is there a Tile Giant near to you? If so pop in and pick up one of the Mapei tanking kits, apply this over the plasterboard (make sure you read the instructions and follow them to the letter) and you should be ready to go

 

[ClaytonWhite]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Thanks Rich, seems viable to use the tanking lit you suggest and an easier solution. Do you see any problem with the tile weight per square metre on this type of board? I can the impression that if I added another layer of board we could end up compromising the load bearing property.

 

[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Is the plasterboard skimmed or bare? Also is the plasterboard screwed back? If not it wouldn't be a bad idea to mechanically fix the plasterboard back, then tank and tile. If the plasterboard is bare and screwed back you will have no problem with weights

 

[ClaytonWhite]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Thanks Rich, Plasterboard is bare and is screwed to studs and is very solid.

 

[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Then all should be fine

 

[ClaytonWhite]

Re: Shower Cubicle

On another note, the shower I have is only square to 2 wall with the remaining wall running out from square at the front then leaving a gap of about 12mm in the corner. I'm thinking that I have to add another board and use some spacers to compensate for this gap. Any other alternative suggestions?

 

[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

I think that would prob be the easiest route to take

 

[ClaytonWhite]

Re: Shower Cubicle

What's your take tiling over shower upstands. There seems to be an opinion that tiling should be laid onto and not over for primary reason that if tray needs to be removed then no tiles damaged.

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[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Not sure if I follow.

Do you mean that you want to tile the front of the shower tray itself but are worries that if the tray needs removing for whatever reason the tiles will be ruined?

 

[ClaytonWhite]

Re: Shower Cubicle

There's a lip about 15mm - 20mm running alongthe edge of the top of the shower tray. Plumber's merchant says to tile onto this lip and not over it

 

[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Hmmmm... Well I can see where they are coming from, but if the shower tray needs to be removed at a later date then the chances are the bottom tiles are going to get broken anyway and I think it would prob give you a more water tight installation to have the lip sunk into the wall and the tiles coming down onto the tray itself with a good Silicon joint between the two.

 

[ClaytonWhite]

Re: Shower Cubicle

Thx for the advice

 

[Rich]

Re: Shower Cubicle

No problem :smilewinkgrin:

 

[jindru]

Re: Shower Cubicle

re shower lip on tray .the lip is meant to sit behind tile to improve water sealing.when fitting ensure front of lip on tray is in line with wall to be tiled. i have a customer whose plumber fitted the tray butted against wall as in standard tray,then tiled from lip up.result was endless leaks and unsightly silicon in an attempt to seal it