Tile border and grouting the shower

 This past weekend Tyler finished putting up the tile and worked on grouting the shower.

 The grout was not what we expected - the sand was brownish-red instead of white. This made our white grout look dirty or mildewy in some areas so we had to go back over it with more grout and elective wiping. It ended up ok but was more work than expected and we will make sure never to get the same grout again.

We are at a stand still for the next week or so while Tyler recovers from his surgery he had Monday but plan on cleaning off the tiles and sealing it this weekend.

Subway Tile Shower

After the shower walls were removed the drywall had to be cut back because the new surround will go a little bit taller so that the shower head is tiled around and a little wider so that it is an even tile width. Here you can see that the drywall has been cut and the first piece of hardyboard is put up into place.

The board is up all around the surround and the joints have been taped and mortared. You can see the board that is placed as a ledger around the tub to use as a starter course.

Here you can see the first side going up. It is pretty quick except for the occasional cuts around the shelves that are placed in the corners.

Both of the end walls are now done and I am progressing along the back wall.

Now everything is installed above the ledger strip.

Time to take out the strip and start on the tiles under it. Here gravity is not working in your favor so all of the tiles need to be pulled up into placed with tape.

Once all of the tiles have set the tape and spacers are removed.

Next up is to get all of the boarder tiles in place and get things grouted. Maybe we can have a working shower by next weekend.

Shower Demolition

 The old shower tiling was a tan with a blue stripe and looked out dated. Our new tiles are going to be white and we are installing glass shower doors.

 Tyler started with a sledge hammer trying to get a piece off. The previous work was done very well, making it harder to take apart.

 Finally things started coming off in sheets and there was not as much debris.

 And the tile is removed! Now we just have to redo everything - a process that will take the next few days.