The only real difference for installing floor tile next to a tub is deciding the layout in advance. Hold the float at a roughly 45-degree angle as you press down and work diagonally against the joints. To leave a 1/4" gap between the tub and the edge of tile nearest backerboard meant that the front face, the finished face of the tile, protruded far enough away from the wall that the gap between the front edge and the tub was 3/8" to 1/2". Make additional square grids by snapping parallel lines every 2 feet with your first two “control” lines to give you a grid pattern to guide the installation. It can be purchased from http://www.hodesco.com and the item code is 80515. The tile is 8" by 12" and is thicker than smaller tiles. Where the tile ends there is a gap from about 1 to 2 inches, it should meet the tub but doesn't. Fill the gap between the tile and the tub with caulk. Install the board. Manufacturers of most sinks, toilets, tubs etc. Spend some time honing the end of the tube with sandpaper. Does this gap seem too big to seal with silicone caulk dispensed from a caulking gun? You can caulk a large joint like that, but do not try to fill it entirely with caulk. Dry lay some tiles in a row with grout joints between them. When tile on a wall meets a counter top or tub, this most critical juncture must not be a ‘butt’ joint. The important thing is to have the caulk relatively thick where it is supposed to hang onto the two substrates (tub & tile in this case) and quite thin in-between, so it can deform when the substrates move together or apart. Cement backer board is used as a sub-surface for tiling, … They sell small tiles that function like molding (cove, 1/4 round, ogee, ...). Let the installation dry 24 hours. Press each individual tile into the mortar and align the edges with your chalk lines, as well as each other. I recently remodeled my bathroom and after I had already installed the ceramic tile onto the backerboard, I realized that the gap between the tile and tub is between 3/8″ and 1/2″. Thanks! Use the grout float to spread the grout along the lengths of the joints and fill them completely. No matter what gap you’re trying to close, the first thing to do is measure the length of the opening. We compiled this list of our favorite tools and gear to help you find great things to get for the handy people in your life. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. Your 3/8" to 1/2" wide gap is good, not excessive. That was my understanding until someone at a home improvement store told me to grout up to the walls and tub because ceramic tile doesn't expand or contract. Hammer the board down with nails every 4 to 6 inches across the surface of the board. The two responses above sum it up quite well. Keep a lot of clean wipe rags nearby and do not carry an excessive amount on your finger before cleaning it off. Then apply a generous amount of thin-set to the bottom bathtub tile and position it 1/8 in. I would recommend using 100% silicone. It’s also important for the rough carpenter to get the wall framing perfect so all this works out. When applying this I use the same procedure except instead of having a roll of paper towels I have a damp sponge to clean my striking finger. All those intersections get caulked and stay clear of grout and thinset, although where tile ends 1/4" from wall or pip that will be covered by mouldings or something else can be left clear of anything. SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before, Podcast 307: Shed Foundations, Wasted Foam, and Deep-Energy Retrofits, Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20, Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb, Expert insights on techniques and principles. It does seem like yours lasted a long time! With what can I fill that gap? Smooth it down with your finger and wipe up the excess with the sponge. This is assuming the backer board is indeed above and not behind the tub perimeter. Have you considered using an edge-tile treatment to cover the gap ? I also think it will look as though you intended to do it from the start. That's not caulk...., it's carpenter in a tube! However, where the floor tile meets the front of the tub came out a little uneven. Actually, I prefer some stuff called Polyseamseal All-Purpose Adhesive Caulk, water clean up, made by OSI. 1/4 is not a wide gap. Mark the opposite, perpendicular wall in a similar fashion to give you the second control joint. No matter how good a job you do caulking that gap, it will never look quite right. Anything quick and easy? I was told to leave a 1/4 inch space between tile and walls/tub. When you install ceramic tile on the floor, you must take care to create an expansion joint between the walls and the tiled floor. I have tried things like putty but it is not really holding, I want something that will last and obvisouly water sustainable. Your gap is probably not deep enough for it. Apply the caulk over the filled joint and strike smooth. This was done on purpose so ditra would get above the gap but it’s not quite enough. For siloconized latex caulk use water and a sponge applicator. Apply even coverage and spread the thin set all the way up to your chalk lines. silicone). Tile floors install roughly the same way throughout all the variations, ranging from entryway floors, kitchen countertops, bathroom walls, wainscots and the tile that runs along a bathroom floor up against a tub. Also, silicone has a offensive reflective surface that contrasts with the grout IMO. The Tile Council of North America recommends at least a quarter-inch gap between the tile floor and the walls. Did you replace the tub after the tiling was complete? 01-14-2009, 10:14 AM. I would choose the 1/4" ar 3/8" tile bead/ trim piece route as long as the backer board extends below the existing tile. It’s not something you should put up with, though. Technically, after the tile is installed over the backer board that gap between it and the tub ledge should be filled with an ASTM C920 sealant (caulking e.g. I'm just looking for options, (Please dont suggest to retile, as that is not an option for now) You should not try to use caulk like a piece of trim. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. Spread thin set onto the floor with a notched trowel. Between floor and wall or other abutting dissimilar material, 1/4". Place the 1/16″ horseshoe shim on tub and measure up to the laser level. 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