Promoting Freedom for Creative Architecture
A bathtub with tile walls is an attractive design choice for bathrooms, making installation quick and simple. Tile can add instantaneous depth and character to the look of any space; there is an extensive variety of tiles to choose from to complement the style of your tub.
Make sure that before beginning any DIY project, all the necessary tools are assembled. This will save you both time and hassle; plus prevent last-minute trips to hardware stores!
Once you're ready to start tiling, begin at the lip of your tub. Doing this ensures your first row of tiles will be level and properly aligned; starting on walls could result in misalignments in grout lines that cause an unsightly result.
Before beginning to build the actual bathtub surround, apply a waterproofing product like Schluter Kerdi Fix to the back of your cement board and tape all seams - this will prevent moisture from seeping behind and creating mold or water damage behind walls.
Once the membrane is installed, tile installation can begin. Be sure to follow your thinset bag instructions when laying your first course, which may suggest applying a vapor barrier and/or fiberglass mesh joint tape along seams between sheets of cement board. In addition, siliconeized acrylic caulk in matching color between your bathtub and first course of tiles would also be beneficial.
