If your shower's tiles have grown some unattractive grout and mildew over years of use, it is probably salvageable with some easy refinishing. However, if you way too many cracked and broken tiles to even safely put back, you should consider re-tiling your whole shower. With patience and the right materials, you can transform your bathroom showers into something totally different.
Ceramic tiles are the most often used kind of material for the shower for the main reason that it is easy to clean. With its smooth surface, it is impossible to mark or stain. As you know, the only problem it may come in contact with is growth in between the tiles themselves and potential for cracks. The first step you take in creating a new wall of ceramic tiles is to develop a plan. Determine what kind of tiles you want. There come in a wide variety of colors that can bring any decor together. They can also be different sizes ranging from 1 square inch to up to 18 inches.
After you measure the space in which you will install your tiles, you can dismantle the old tiles. Break them and clean up all the debris. Ceramic tiles can be adhered directly to a shower wall as long as it is covered with ordinary drywall or plaster--anything that is moist. Once you do that, lay out your tile pattern by finding the center of the wall and using a carpenter's level to mark intersecting lines. To install the tile, you start in the center and apply a coat of tile adhesive which you can buy at any hardware store. Firmly press each tile in place and give it a little twist so that you're sure it makes good contact with the adhesive. As you work your way along, place some spacers in between each tile so that they're consistently apart and grout lines are even. Don't worry if you have some overly large tiles at the ends because you can cut them so that they fit. The tile work will look great displayed through fiberglass shower enclosures.
Once you are done sticking the tiles to your shower, you can add grout in between the tiles with a sanded grout mix. Make sure to use a waterproof version because it's going to come in contact with water on a daily basis. Leave the grout to dry for about a day and then buff away any haze caused by the grout dust. Finally, touch up by using some silicone caulk to seal the edges of the tiles where the tub is attached to the shower wall. With the right bathroom shower enclosures and tile work, you will have a new and attractive shower in your bathroom.
