Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board (vapor
barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles but I
would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't see
too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy

Kathy wrote:
Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board (vapor
barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles but I
would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't see
too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy


Whatever looks right to you, but it is easier to disguise any uneven
parts of wall with smaller tile. Personally, if I ever feel rich enough
to get a gut job done on my bathroom, I'm gonna go for solid surface
panels in the tub enclosure. I hate cleaning grout joints. The bigger
the tile, the more time needed to square up opening and shim the studs,
but it sounds like you are already past that point. I'd check yours
carefully with framing square and straightedge, before you buy your
tile. You don't want a high spot to show.

--
aem sends...

"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Kathy wrote:
Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles
but I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't
see too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy


Whatever looks right to you, but it is easier to disguise any uneven parts
of wall with smaller tile. Personally, if I ever feel rich enough to get a
gut job done on my bathroom, I'm gonna go for solid surface panels in the
tub enclosure. I hate cleaning grout joints. The bigger the tile, the more
time needed to square up opening and shim the studs, but it sounds like
you are already past that point. I'd check yours carefully with framing
square and straightedge, before you buy your tile. You don't want a high
spot to show.

--
aem sends...

Thank you for your reply, what do you think about the tiles been heavier
than smaller ones, any
problem? (I checked and they are about 6 lbs/each), hard to install?

Kathy wrote:
"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Kathy wrote:
Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small
tiles but I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we
don't see too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be
done?? Thank you in advance,



Kathy


Whatever looks right to you, but it is easier to disguise any uneven
parts of wall with smaller tile. Personally, if I ever feel rich
enough to get a gut job done on my bathroom, I'm gonna go for solid
surface panels in the tub enclosure. I hate cleaning grout joints.
The bigger the tile, the more time needed to square up opening and
shim the studs, but it sounds like you are already past that point.
I'd check yours carefully with framing square and straightedge,
before you buy your tile. You don't want a high spot to show.

--
aem sends...

Thank you for your reply, what do you think about the tiles been
heavier than smaller ones, any
problem? (I checked and they are about 6 lbs/each), hard to install?

It shouldn't be a problem. I'd use the "X" spacers between them and
appropriately trimmed below the bottom row just to be sure things stay in place.
Don't mix your thinset too thin.

I used 12x12 tiles and had no problem, even on the ceiling.

I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board (vapor
barrier as well) and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers
use small tiles but I would like to use 16 x 16 tiles (Low water
absorption). Is there any reason why we don't see too many large tiles in
walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??




*I have 12"x12". You must make sure that your wall surface is perfectly
flat otherwise the unevenness will be very evident when you install the
tiles. Hold a 4' level against the hardibacker surface and see if there are
high or low spots. Grind down the high spots with an angle grinder (Very
dusty; wear mask and goggles). Use thinset and not glue with a 3/8" notch.
Go with a bigger joint such as 3/16". I used Laticrete Spectra Lock epoxy
based grout (Get it at Lowes). It is more expensive but is resistant to
staining and mold and never needs sealing. I choose to install my tiles
brick style with alternating joints rather than continuous rows. I am very
happy with the look.

Kathy wrote:
Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small
tiles but I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we
don't see too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be
done??

Walls would be no problem...just plan your layout so you don't wind up with
skinny pieces at the edges.

Small tiles are easier to use on the floor because the floor isn't flat (has
to drain). Big tiles can be used there too but need to be cut to conform to
the slope on each of the four sides...slopes that form triangles from each
corner to the drain.

Elsewhere, you wondered about weight...a square foot of tiles of the same
thickness will weigh pretty much the same no matter the size of the tiles.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Jun 27, 5:52�pm, "dadiOH" wrote:
Kathy wrote:
Hello there;

I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small
tiles but I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we
don't see too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be
done??

Walls would be no problem...just plan your layout so you don't wind up with
skinny pieces at the edges.

Small tiles are easier to use on the floor because the floor isn't flat (has
to drain). �Big tiles can be used there too but need to be cut to conform to
the slope on each of the four sides...slopes that form triangles from each
corner to the drain.

Elsewhere, you wondered about weight...a square foot of tiles of the same
thickness will weigh pretty much the same no matter the size of the tiles..

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it athttp://mysite.verizon.net/xico- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Big tiles on floor bad news, grout joints help provide traction.

if you go large on floor use rough surfacer tiles

On Jun 27, 6:55*pm, bob haller wrote:
On Jun 27, 5:52 pm, "dadiOH" wrote:



Kathy wrote:
Hello there;

I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small
tiles but I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we
don't see too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be
done??

Walls would be no problem...just plan your layout so you don't wind up with
skinny pieces at the edges.

Small tiles are easier to use on the floor because the floor isn't flat (has
to drain). Big tiles can be used there too but need to be cut to conform to
the slope on each of the four sides...slopes that form triangles from each
corner to the drain.

Elsewhere, you wondered about weight...a square foot of tiles of the same
thickness will weigh pretty much the same no matter the size of the tiles.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it athttp://mysite.verizon.net/xico-Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Big tiles on floor bad news, grout joints help provide traction.

if you go large on floor use rough surfacer tiles



I had my bathroom completely done over last year - we did not do the
tile work. The floor tiles match the wall tiles in color....but the
floor tiles are 12 x 12; the wall tiles are 8 x 11 in. The outside
trim is about 2 in. by 8 in. long. The tile starts on the outside
edge of the tub and by the time it reaches the corner - the last piece
is about 4 in. wide....then the tile starts in the center back and
works outward so that the pieces meeting at the corner are all the
same size .... hope that makes sense. The large tiles look good.

On Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:05:57 -0400, "Kathy" wrote:

Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board (vapor
barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles but I
would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't see
too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??



I would have to suggest that it can be done. I used solid
surface material in my shower which means my large walk-in shower only
has thee tiles (panels.) It sure makes cleaning easier. Not much in
the line of grout lines to clean.

Thank you all for your replies.



Kathy.







"Kathy" wrote in message
m...
Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board (vapor
barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles but
I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't see
too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy

The guy who did large tiles in my tub surround started by measuring up from
the tub to where the bottom of the second row of tiles would go. The he
screwed a piece of 1x2 wood at that level and started with the second row of
tiles. He used spacers between the tiles and between the rows as he went
up. The wood strip held the weight of the tiles above it so the wouldn't
slide down. After they dried, he finished by doing the bottom row.

My guess is that here a YouTube ( http://YouTube.com ) videos out there that
show how to tile a tub surround wall.

"Kathy" wrote in message
m...
Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board (vapor
barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles but
I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't see
too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy

I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well) and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that
most showers use small tiles but I would like to use
16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't
see too many large tiles in walls? is there any tip I should know
before I do it?

Small tiles (2x2 or smaller) are usually used on shower "floors" to conform
to the slope of the mud bed to the drain. However, there's no reason you
can't use larger tiles on the flat walls. I used 6" tiles on our shower
walls, but have seen 12" tiles on many shower walls.

I measured up to the "second" row of tiles from the floor, then used a
straight edge (a 2x6 in my case) to use as a level reference. Then I worked
my way up the wall from the straight edge, using plastic spacers to ensure
proper spacing and prevent the tiles from sliding down before the mortar
set. The next day I removed the straight edges and cut the bottom row of
tiles as needed to fit between the floor and the second row of tiles.

Anthony

fundagurgoze had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/main...er-380986-.htm
:
the reason why most poeple use small tiles in the shower is because of the
anti-slippery nature of them. with thebgrout lines, even the polished
tiles are anti-slippery.

good luck.


Kathy wrote:


Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor
barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles
but I
would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't
see
too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be
done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy




-------------------------------------
Funda G
http://www.DekoTile.com



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fundagurgoze wrote:
fundagurgoze had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/main...er-380986-.htm
:
the reason why most poeple use small tiles in the shower is because of the
anti-slippery nature of them. with thebgrout lines, even the polished
tiles are anti-slippery.

good luck.


You walk on the walls in your shower? That is what the OP was asking about.

--
aem sends...

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't
see too many large tiles in walls? is there any tip I should know
before I do it?

We used 13" tile in ours..no problems. At ~5 ft above floor, we used a row
of 4" square tumbled travertine tile all the way around.
Above that went a row of the 13" tile but they were cut diagonally
("corners" cut off at mid point, leaving a tile which was 13" measured
DIAGONALLY) yielding a diamond shape when placed "point"s up n down. The
"trimmed corners also being used in this same row (picture a bunch of
XXXXXXXXX). Above that was another row of travertine, and finally, more
regular 13" to (and Including) the ceiling. Floor was the 4" also.

It made for a nice design feature w/o buying a lot of expensive tile trim
strips

"Kathy"
scribblednews:CNadnSznHafrwtvXnZ2dnUVZ_uGdnZ2d@ear thlink.com:

Hello there;



I am redoing my shower, I replaced the walls with hardibacker board
(vapor barrier as well)

and now I'm ready to tile. I noticed that most showers use small tiles
but I would like to use

16 x 16 tiles (Low water absorption). Is there any reason why we don't
see too many large tiles

in walls? is there any tip I should know before I do it? Can it be
done??



Thank you in advance,



Kathy



Small tiles on the floor, to make the low/high spots less noticible, and
large tiles on the wall.

The larger the tiles, the more spacious it looks.

And don't worrry about being even or anything, that's the job of the
hardiboard installer and they should all be plumb and even surface anyway.

Plus there is a little give when you butter the backside of the tile; as it
floats on a thin bed of set.

You butter up and slap up a line of tile, then use a large long
straightedge to press firmly, but lightly on all the tiles at once and that
will even them all out in that row. Same for the next row, and if you work
quickly you can also do that on a slant across all the tiles.

Oh, also, make sure you stir in some smooth waterproof stuff into the
mortar mix. I bought all my stuff at FloorDecor.

HTH

Bill

--
A fine is a tax for doing wrong
A tax is a fine for doing well