Newbie projects

[Markinbama]

I am about to tile the shower surround now. I just can't decide whether to caulk or grout the corners. If I grout the corners do I use a spacer?

[Markinbama]

Sigh. People have quit answering my questions here. I hope it wasn't something I said.
I will try one more. I have a Brazilian ceramic tile, PEI rating of 4. If you put a few drops of water on back, the front immediately turns dark, so I assume it is non vitreous. I had planned on using it on a bathroom floor and in a shower surround. Is that advisable?
I set in the first shower stall I did and the lower tiles are dark and wet all the time. That could be due to using a bad grout sealer since several feet of grout line are also always dark and wet. I can't get that dried out, stripped and resealed until I get the second bath finished.
I live in a metro area of a million people but people here largely have never heard of a weep hole or pre slope, think sealer is waterproof, etc. I know I will be greeted with more of the same if I inquire about tile types, so is there going to be a code or other marking on the box that will identify the tile type?
For any newbies listening in out there, I hope if you have undertaken a project based on advice from a single diyer, a rep from a big box store, etc. you will slam on the brakes and educate yourself before proceeding.

[bbcamp]

Sorry you've gotten overlooked, Mark.

If you put a few drops of water on back, the front immediately turns dark, so I assume it is non vitreous. I had planned on using it on a bathroom floor and in a shower surround. Is that advisable?

No.

I know I will be greeted with more of the same if I inquire about tile types, so is there going to be a code or other marking on the box that will identify the tile type?

Some times yes, other times, no. If you stick with the more visible tile companies, you can find out everything you need to know from the box, the website, or their tech support service. Lesser known tiles may be a crapshoot. If you have a box of the tile handy, scan or photograph it and we'll try to find answers for you.

I just can't decide whether to caulk or grout the corners. If I grout the corners do I use a spacer?

Caulk. Leave a 1/8" gap for the caulk. Spacers optional.

The directions call for a roofing nail or drywall screw to be attached just above the flange with the edge catching the flange.
Is this going to put a lump under the backerboard when I hang it?

Probably, but you can take a utility knife and remove some material from the back of the backerboard.

How wide should this caulk line be? Should it be the same width where the wall tiles will meet the shower door frame?

1/8" to 1/4". I think yoru caulk lines should be of consistant width, but that's just me. If it needs to be bigger for some reason, make it so. Just make it neat and workmanlike.

But I still am wondering if I should prime the board first?

If it can take paint, it can take thinset. No need to prime.

[Markinbama]

I think this will be fun if I ever get to the part where I actually get to set some tile in the second bath.
God bless the people here who have helped me out and kept me from screwing up the second bath after I made so many mistakes in the first.
I am in possession now of a hundred bucks+ worth of non-returnable metal Schluter trim that fits 1/4 inch tile. We are on the phone trying to locate 1/4 inch vitreous tile.
I am just curious about a few things:
I have a basement full of non-vitreous Formigres Brazilian tile if anyone wants to buy it lol. The box is marked 13 and 5/32 and the tile measures that. I had originally planned to do a border around the floor but could not find any in that exact size.
Why would tile be sized in that dimension and is it really that unusual?
The box is stamped with a PEI rating of four, yet I see recommendations online not to use non-vitreous tile on ANY floor, wet or dry. What gives?

[bbcamp]

Mark, you can use the tile on a floor, just not in a shower. And I would not use it on a bathroom floor, since it can absorb water and other fluids, if you get my drift. Sorry my answer was not clear.

You can post your excess materials on our Buy/Sell/Trade forum.

Your tile dimension may have made more sense in metric, or they were intended to be modular with some other tile and a specific grout width. Or some other reason that made sense at the time.

[Markinbama]

Other fluids, yuck lol.
No, your answer was clear as they always are. I had just seen references elsewhere online to it not being used for any floor and had even seen it called a "wall tile," which I thought was a term reserved for tiles with the lowest PEI rating.
I am learning, and I hope we find a good source to order some tile from today.
Thanks.