Reader’s Projects

by Roger

After a LOT of prodding from my readers (the high-voltage was unnecessary, by the way) I have finally worked out a way for you to upload pictures of your projects. To upload your own photos and get your gallery here just visit our upload page (click here).

Below are galleries of reader’s projects. These will help everyone see what can be accomplished with proper techniques, some hard work and a little imagination. We want to see YOUR projects as well – don’t leave me hangin’ in the wind here. It will help everyone who may be stuck for design ideas, solutions to tricky layouts or simply a little inspiration which, let’s be honest, everyone needs at some point in every construction project.

This page is for my reader’s projects. If you want to see my work you can look at my mini-gallery up in the right corner there (refresh the page and the picture will change) or you can visit my professional site at Tile Art. They are not pictures I’ve stolen off the internet – I actually do this stuff. It’s great for design ideas, though.

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours! The slideshows will change photos every five seconds or you can just click on the photo to change to the next one.

Jane’s Bathroom Remodel

Jane’s bathroom is still under construction. I’ll add photos as she sends them.

A More Efficient workspace
First Coat Redgard
First Coat-Protected Tub
Final mudding
Construction photos by David
David's Photo
Jane's Bathroom-New copper plumbing stub-outs
Shower/tub enclosure
Ceiling
Jane's Bathroom-better pic of the pegboard repair on master wall
jane's Bathroom - New Skylight
Need to rotate this one, sorry.
Jane's Bathroom-Caulked shower
Jane's Bathroom-Caulked shower
Jane's Bathroom

Dave’s fireplace and kitchen

Photo of dave's fireplace project before tile
Photo of dave's fireplace project
Photo of dave's fireplace project
Photo of dave's fireplace project
Photo of dave's kitchen project before tile
Photo of dave's kitchen project
Photo of dave's kitchen project
Photo of dave's kitchen project
Photo of dave's kitchen project

Janet’s fireplace

Photo of Janet's fireplace project
Photo of Janet's fireplace project
Photo of Janet's fireplace project
Photo of Janet's fireplace project
Photo of Janet's fireplace project

Rick’s Shower

Last year Rick began a long and very laborious remodel on his shower. What he ended up with was nothing short of spectacular and I am seriously impressed with the end result. the base materials in the shower are travertine and onyx tiles. However, Rick also made his own white concrete accent tiles with glowstones and dolphin inlays. Not only that – he incorporated led’s and fiber optics in the shower itself! All the dark photos show the shower at night – the pinpoints of light are led’s drilled through the stone and the larger blue points of light are the glow from the glowstones. The led’s can be seen on the shower floor from inside the curb.

Rick’s project truly deserves an individual page – and if he ever gets the full description written up and sent to me I will do that. He was even kind enough to send me one of the insert tiles and soap dishes he made with the dolphins in them – very nice!

Heidi’s Bathroom

Heidi's Downstairs Shower, The Bench. I forgot to allow for the finished width of the bench. I had to cut the curb tile, oh darn.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, To tie it all together, I added the glass tile as a back splash. Looks Great!!
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, There is perfection!
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Looks Great! (If you do not look too closely.)
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, And it paid off. Look at those straight lines!
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Slow but Steady
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, I used anything and everything to keep the tiles square
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, You say the tile is the easy part. Not for me. It was more nerve-wracking because I wanted it perfect. Note: Do not install the large tile above the glass tile until the glass tile has set. The weight of the large tile messed up the spacing in the glass tile, only slightly; but I see it.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, The Curb
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Top Mud Bed. I was able to make the floor fairly flat by "rubbing" a sheet of the floor tile on the floor before it set. I was able to feel the bumps and dips much easier this way.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Taping and Mudding
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, I bought the over-priced weep hole protector.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, There are so many things wrong in this photo. No wonder it leaked.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, I kept in mind the water flow to the floor as I was placing the felt
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Roofing Felt for the moisture barrier
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, The balloon stopper worked best for me
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Flood test - passed
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Pre-Slope slopes as required and fairly flat.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, The Niche is sloped towards the floor
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Trying to get everything and everywhere level and square.
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Niche
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, Pre-slope
Heidi's Downstairs Shower, The old shower is completely removed

Terry

Hi Roger,
Am building a walk-in shower and want a low threshold. I want to do an epoxy shower floor,wall,ceiling ( one-piece design) any suggestions as to pan and wall materials and methods I should follow? If you need any further info, please ask.
- Roger
  
  Hi Terry,
  
  I don’t know what you mean by ‘epoxy’ one-piece design. Do you have a link or manufacturer for the system you want to use?
Yakov

Hi Roger,
I am new to this forum and with your maybe first project of mine will be done.
I want to redo my shower, the size is 40 x 32 inches, drain is off center, do I have to call a plumber to relocate the drain to the center of the sower.
Walls will be backer board, tile is porcelain or ceramic which is better?
I want to make waterproof shower using Kerdi system or Hydro ban .
It’s my first big project and the problem is which system better and easier to do for me.
I also don’t know what style of pan to do and how, if Kerdi do I have to use only their system
(Pan and curb). How can I fit it?
If I use Hydro ban what type of pan, only pre slop?
Thanks.
Yakov

.
- Roger
  
  Hi Yakov,
  
  You only need to call a plumber if you want a centered drain, but it’s not required to have it centered.
  Porcelain is normally better, but either works fine.
  Both systems work equally well, they are just different. The hydroban is normally an easier installation for diy’ers. You can use either on a regular mud deck, you are not required to use the schluter pans at all. And yes, the hydroban (and kerdi) both only require a single slope.
  - Yakov
    
    Thanks Roger,
    Like I understood first wall, curb, pre slop and then 2 coating with Hydro ban.
    You said that finished floor must be 1 or 1 ¼” at the drain. If I do liquid waterproof it’s also must be the same right?
    Lets assume that I have drain in the center and my shower is 40×32, how height should be
    at the drain pre-slop ½ “ and at the wall 1” ? And after 2 of Laticrete to make 1”
    
    Making the curb should I use 2 of 2×4 or 3 pieces of lumber.
    When I put tur paper on the floor should I use it also on the curb like one piece, if yes how about metal lathe.
    Do I have to use 2 pieces one on the floor and another U shape on the curb or tur paper and cement board.
    Which drain should I use Hydro banr Kerdi or Ebbe.
    Someone recommended to me Kerdi drain is the best.
    Also do I have to use any fabric to tape seams & corners.
    Thanks.
    - Roger
      
      I don’t quite understand what you’re asking me. If your shower is that size you need a minimum of a 3/4″ high mud deck at the drain which would rise 1/4″ / foot to the farthest CORNER, not wall. Assuming your corner is 36″ from the drain your perimeter would be 1 1/2″ with 3/4″ at the drain. No tar paper on the curb. If you are using hydroban for waterproofing you can use 2×4’s for the curb, cover them with cement board and paint the hydroban on them. You can do the same with mud. Kerdi drain is the best choice in that application. No fabric on the floor or the curb, only on the walls at seams and corners.
      - Yakov
        
        Thanks Roger.
Christopher

Hi Roger,
I uploaded picture of my cracked floor. Do you think that this will be a problem or is it somewhat normal? It has been setting fro about year now….LOL… I know…
- Christopher
  
  FYI….I do not see my picture….Maybe I did something wrong. I will try it again if you are not able to see it either.
  - Roger
    
    Hey Chris,
    
    Nope, it’s just fine like I said. Nice glove. The pics upload to the back room, there isn’t a way to put them on comments yet.
    - Chris
      
      Great…In that case full speed ahead….I’ll be purchasing your book to make sure that I don’t make a major blunder. thanks for your help. This is a wonderful thing that you are doing for everyone. :-)
    - Chris
      
      Roger,
      I purchased your books and have begun setting my tile. I started with the accent pieces vs the larger tile. Now, I see that there is some lippage between the two tiles of 1/16″, meaning that I likely did not set the mortar high enough for the accent tiles. Will the accent tiles need to be removed and replaced? This is a shower wall application. They have now set and appear to be firmly and evenly attached to the wall. I will attempt to attach a picture of it.Thanks again..
      - Roger
        
        Hi Chris,
        
        It depends on whether or not you want them flush. It won’t make any difference structurally, but they normally look better flush.
JD

Hi Roger,

I am using 12″ x 12″ sheets of 1″ x 1″ tiles for the floor of my shower. Do I use a 3/16″ v- notched size trowel for these small tiles? Or do I need to use something different as it seems that maybe that I might need more material (thin set) to make and adequate base on. Your site and your knowledge has been a tremendous help to me. Thank you.
For those of you reading this post, I would like to endorse Roger as a real man of his word. He not only sells a fantastic manual, but his on going support to help you with those various issues that continually pop up is priceless!!!!! And you will get a response much quicker than you may think. I have never waited more than 24 hours and in many cases you’ll have an answer in much less.
- Roger
  
  Hey JD,
  
  3/16″ should be just fine, especially with the 1×1’s. You may want to spread the thinset on the substrate, then use the flat side of the trowel to knock down the ridges so you have a flat bed to set the tile into. It minimized squeezing through the grout lines.