Bill V, Mongo & other tile experts: Shower Questions

12 years ago

Our shower tile has no bullnose available. Bill or Mongo and anyone else who would like to comment, please offer your opinions on which options would look best.

Tile the shower only (to the ceiling) stopping at outer edge of curb, (not at dark line) and use stone pencil rail to cover the edge where the tile meets the wall.

Or

2.Continue the tile to the end of the wall, eliminating the need for a trim to cover the edge. Here is a picture. (The walls will be repainted a more neutral color.) I apologize for the tiny pictures. They weren't that small when I uploaded them to Photobucket.

We're planning to use pencil rail around our niches as well as above and below the stone and glass liner. Would it look best with pencil around the window as well or could we just overlap the tile there? The pencil trim has a higher profile than the tile. Should all of it be cut down at the back to make it more flush with the tile if we use it to cover the edge where the tile meets the wall?

Trim will be needed on the opposite wall where the half wall ends or maybe we could try to bullnose this with a router? The color of the tile edge nearly matches the color of the tile face.

I know it's all a matter of personal preference but I have a hard time picturing the finished product. So many decisions are driving me crazy. We had purchased some flat 4 color pebble tile for the shower floor but the colors are very inconsistent. I think it looks too messy. The floor is about 18 square feet. Do you think it would work well if we cut our wall tile into 4 inch squares to use for the floor? Could we just sand the edges to make them smooth or would we need to use a router? Our tile is rectified porcelain and we'd like to use 1/16 grout lines if possible. My husband will be doing the install himself. He is very handy but has limited experience with tile and has never attempted a shower.

One more question: For the outside corners (curb, corners of freestanding wall and post) would it look professional enough to overlap the edges? After reading some of Bill's posts stating that mitered edges are sharp and can chip easily, we've decided not to go that route. However, I'm wondering if it would look tacky to overlap in these areas.

Sorry for the multiple questions and many thanks for any advice.

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Comments (4)

bill_vincent
12 years ago
Kendog-- As to the first two choices, I think either one would aork aestheitcally speaking. It would really be a matter of which look YOU like best.

We're planning to use pencil rail around our niches as well as above and below the stone and glass liner. Would it look best with pencil around the window as well or could we just overlap the tile there?

I would NEVER just overlap the tiles. Being you're going to use the pencil liner for trimming the niche, I don't think it would look out of place if you were to trim out the window as well.

The pencil trim has a higher profile than the tile. Should all of it be cut down at the back to make it more flush with the tile if we use it to cover the edge where the tile meets the wall?

No-- it's MADE to have that kind of protruding profile.

Trim will be needed on the opposite wall where the half wall ends or maybe we could try to bullnose this with a router? The color of the tile edge nearly matches the color of the tile face.

Nearly isn't close enough. Either it's exact, or it's not good enough. If you'd rather not use the pencil liners there, I'd use one of Schluter's bullnosing strips. as for the curb, you could always use a marble threshold, thereby elliminating the need for bullnose. Not sure about yours, but most curbs, after backerboard and tile, are about 5 1/2" wide, and a 6" wide threshold set flush to the tile on the outside of the curb, will give you just enough of an overhang on the inside to provide for a nice drip edge. This will do a couple of things for you. First, it'll provide another layer of protection for the curb. Secondly, it'll provide for a nice flat surface for the shower door to sit on, and third, it looks alot nicer than two back to back bullnose pieces.

Like this:

The floor is about 18 square feet. Do you think it would work well if we cut our wall tile into 4 inch squares to use for the floor? Could we just sand the edges to make them smooth or would we need to use a router?

You COULD cut them down, but if the floor isn't perfectly flat, you could end up with uncomfortable edges under your feet. Again, unless the face and edge of the tile look exactly the same, you don't want to use ANY kind of abraiding process (router, sand paper, grinder, polishing wheels) that will show in the finished product.

Our tile is rectified porcelain and we'd like to use 1/16 grout lines if possible.

If it's rectified, that shouldn't be a problem.
skeetie219
12 years ago
Bill- Can you tell me who makes the tile and /or the collection in the picture you posted above. It is stunning! Saw you it on another thread thread but i couldn't figure out who made it. I looks like calcutta gold or carrera hard to tell from my monitor. As always appreciate it.
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bill_vincent
12 years ago
it's a calcutta gold imitation (and a good one), but off hand I don't remember the name. It just so happens I've got about 90 feet of the wall tile in my garage, though, so later when I head to the store, I'll take a look and post back. (I like it, too. :-) )
skeetie219
12 years ago
Ok...I thouht I remember you writing it was an "imitation" but good quality one in your opinnion. Thanks-