Tiling around and above Windows: how?

[Matthias]

Hi all

My bathroom remodel is coming along. Got tons of good advice here on this site. The shower pan is done and tiled with pebbles. Now I'm getting to do the walls. I've never tiled walls, so I need a bit of help here. The difficult part is that the wall has windows. I need to tile the recess and all around the window. There is also a half-high separation between shower and vanity that divides the wall I am tiling. There are a couple of pictures below. Yes, the big windows are in the shower ;-)

My questions:

Where do i best start? The problem I see is that no matter on which side of divider I start, I will have to work from top down on the other side. Is it possible to work from top down? If so, how is that done? Or should I start on both sides of the divider, working upwards and just hope that everything lines up where the two sides meet? (Seems too difficult, especially since I am using only 1/16th spacing between tiles.)

How do I tile above the Window? How do I get the proper support for the tiles there, so they don't slide down while the thinset is still wet?

Thanks,

Matthias

[Matthias]

Now that I figured out how to post images: below are also drawings of the floor plan and the back wall elevation. I hope that helps even more. Sorry for the bad quality, had to reduce the size for posting...

[Theoderik]

You're neighbors are gonna LOVE when you take a shower.

And, to make the tiles stick, you put it up with thinset (can use a modified if needed and/or can mix it a bit dryer so it's stickier) and then use tape to keep the tile in the place you want long enough for the thinset to dry.

I would RedGuard the HECK out of that whole area (by the way).

And be sure to slant your sills so the water runs back into the shower.

sw (Shawn)

[Matthias]

Thanks, Shawn. I did make sure the sills are sloped (both the membrane underneath and the CBU on top of it).

I've seen the tape trick in books, but: above the window, I have nothing to stick the tape to, other than the ceiling. Seems to me that the tape is not strong enough to hold the tile.

What kind of tape is commonly used for tiling, by the way? Blue masking tape will come off well, but does not stick enough I'd guess.

And, the only neighbors that can see me taking a shower are way up on the hill. They need binoculars to see anything. If that's the only entertainment they have, let them have it :-)

Matthias

[John Bridge]

Hi Matt,

A couple things. First, you'll need to use surface waterproofing around the window, inside and out on the walls about six inches or so all the way around. The barrier you've put under the cbu really won't do the job considering the constant barrage of water that will be hitting the sills and jambs.

I would stat tiling from the bottom and go up. You can use your level to check height from one point to another. That's what the level is for. Starting from the top is only done when there is no way around it.

[Matthias]

Thanks, John. Both for your response and for the great forum you have set up here!

I got your reply just as I returned from HD. I went right back to buy the RedGard. I asked in the Paint department, but of course they had no clue what I was asking for. I got the standard answer, "we don't carry that". Never trusting only one answer I get in that store, I asked a second person. She was nice enough to look it up in the computer, but did not find anything under "RedGuard." I finally went over to the Tile department to check, and voilà! Except it's called RedGard, not RedGuard. That would also explain why I did not find anything useful when I tired to look it up on the Web before I went to HD.

Well, I'll be painting later tonight :-) Thanks again for the tip. I was always worried about my decision of putting Windows in the shower, but it seems too cool not to do.

Anyone have an answer as to what kind of tape to use to hold tiles together (see question above)?

Matthias

[Levi the Tile Guy]

the blue masking tape will work, but make sure it is dry.
Also can't emphasize enough to make sure you RedGard the hell out of that window.

[T_Hulse]

Hi Matthias,
Any tape will do. To hold up the upside down pcs, I just mix the thinset a little thicker.

Yeah, at least 2 or 3 coats of Redgard, plus I silicone where it meets the window before AND after I tile.

[cx]

The use of blue masking tape is the primary reason John Bridge hasta charge so much more than all the other tile guys in Houston. That stuff costs twice as much as plain-ol' maskin' tape. And it don't stick as good.

I say use plain masking tape, but don't leave it on there more than about 24 hours or it gets difficult to remove.


My opinion; worth price charged.

[Matthias]

Tom,

Nice, I like your window tiling job. Thanks for the illustration. One of my initial questions was how to install the tile above the window. Using your picture, how did you install tiles 1, 2, 3 and 4? Did you support them somehow or use tape in some way?

Did some RedGard painting earlier. That stuff sure looks dramatic.

Matthias

[T_Hulse]

I think I used a couple nails below each 3 & 4. Sometimes I'll use one of my short L-channel straightedges with a couple sticks undneath it. Whatever I use as a support gets installed just a smidge low, then I use the longer sharp point plastic wedges to raise up the tile to the exact spot I want.

[Theoderik]

Matthias - you're doing great with your questions. You're gonna be fine on this!

Again - like we keep saying - put a LOT of RedGard on that thing!!! At LEAST the instructed 2 coats. Preferably 3 or 4. You will probably need more than one bucket.

Below are some pics of MY shower as I built it. I got really excited with the RedGard because I wasn't aware you were supposed to put a vapor barrier behind the CBU. Also, I did 4 layers around my niche.

The other pics are to show you my fancy blue tape. Put enough on, it'll hold a cat on the ceiling. (don't ask how I know that)

Best of luck!
sw(shawn)

[Andrew21]

Originally Posted by Theoderik

Matthias - you're doing great with your questions. You're gonna be fine on this!

Again - like we keep saying - put a LOT of RedGard on that thing!!! At LEAST the instructed 2 coats. Preferably 3 or 4. You will probably need more than one bucket.

Below are some pics of MY shower as I built it. I got really excited with the RedGard because I wasn't aware you were supposed to put a vapor barrier behind the CBU. Also, I did 4 layers around my niche.

The other pics are to show you my fancy blue tape. Put enough on, it'll hold a cat on the ceiling. (don't ask how I know that)

Best of luck!
sw(shawn)

Shawn,

What was the size of your spacers for the tiles you used? Was it 3/16? I have basically the same tile but trying to get some ideas if I should use grout spacing or not. Thanks

Andrew

[Theoderik]

Andrew - they were 1/16. I went with the smallest I could get. (Except the floor which are 1/4".)

Here's pics of the completed shower. (man I love showing this thing. )

The whole thing was tiled (floor to ceiling)

sw (shawn)

[Matthias]

Shawn, nice job. But you are not finished. There is no cover plate on the outlet next to the sink :-)