Tile position around mixer shower valve, how?

[jrm]

Hi guys,

I'm going to run hot and cold supply pipes into a new stud wall this weekend, ready for a mixer shower (Mira Excel). The wall will then be tanked (using a membrane system) and tiled (when the bath is fitted and I have chosen the tiles).

If I was installing the shower on an existing tiled wall it would be simple since I would position the shower mixer valve in the middle of a tile, looks best that way. Because I have not yet chosen/fitted my tiles I don't know where the mixer valve will end up in relation to grout lines, as I said i'd prefer if the valve was centred on a tile.

How would you professionals approach this? My thinking is to place the valve in my preferred position (on the bare platerboard wall) and then run my new pipes. When it comes to tiling I should place the shower valve tile first so that the valve is centred and then work from there?

Have I got the right approach or can anyone offer me some advice please?

[Dave]

Ok to do it that way if the other cuts for your tiles work ok....


Try to land it on a joint might be easier....but until you choose your tiles and work out your heights you cannot do this...

It's no worth having silly slither cuts just to have a whole tile over the pipes...

[jrm]

Thanks Dave, I guess I need to choose my tiles first or at least choose a tile size and then work from that.

[Dave]

Deffo the way to go, then come back to this thread and we can take it from there...

[jrm]

Cheers, looks like I may not be able to run the pipework this weekend and i'll be spending hours in the tile store!

I want a brickwork pattern but my bathroom isn't particulary large - 2.5m x 2m, what do you reckon would be a suitable tile size? I think the really large ones would look silly in a small bathroom?

[Dave]

400 x 250..sumit like that....

I just done one today and the tiles were 250 x 200....bit small for brick pattern , so go slightly bigger....

But your choice really....enjoy..

[jrm]

Great, that was the size I had in mind...i'll hopefully find some this weekend then I can crack on with the real work and ask more questions on here!

Thanks again Dave.

[Dave]

No probs..await your return......

[Colour Republic]

is this shower valve concealed or exposed?

[jrm]

It's an exposed valve.

[lawrenso]

Cheers, looks like I may not be able to run the pipework this weekend and i'll be spending hours in the tile store!

I want a brickwork pattern but my bathroom isn't particulary large - 2.5m x 2m, what do you reckon would be a suitable tile size? I think the really large ones would look silly in a small bathroom?

Hi JRM - have a look at my thread - bathroom a bit longer but narrower, we used 600*300 laid normally - really makes the room look a lot bigger - we thought the complicated Brick Bond pattern - even on so large a tile would make the room look smaller. I must say, we are impressed with the result.

Cheers

Steve

[rolly2]

i have hardly ever had a whole tile over pipes, work out from the middle of wall to the ends. bigger the area bigger the tiles small bathroom 400x200 if you go to big you will end up with to many cut tiles

[d noulton]

correct me if I'm wrong but won't you end up with the same amount of cuts whatever the tile size

[jrm]

i have hardly ever had a whole tile over pipes, work out from the middle of wall to the ends. bigger the area bigger the tiles small bathroom 400x200 if you go to big you will end up with to many cut tiles

I've found my tiles and will pick them up tomorrow, 400x250. I've made a cardboard template this evening but trying to create the layout is proving very difficult.

Should I start from the middle of the largest wall and work into the internal corner then carry on round into the wall where the shower is installed?

My dad told me I should work with a half tile from the corner of the shower wall, i've drawn it out and it does seem to work along three walls but when I come to the window wall the pattern gets all messed up

[tommyzooom]

I think you are hoping for a brickbond pattern,
As with most tiling you should start in the centre of the wall or window and work out whether to start with the tile edge(grout joint) or the middle of a tile at this point.However with brick bond you can also line up this point with a quarter of your tile, this will still give you the same cut on each side, but on alternate rows. Useful if you cant get it to line out well.
Personally I would start with the window wall and wouldn't be too hung up on the shower
Dont forget to wrap your tiles around the corner if possible
Hope this makes sense

[lawrenso]

Also, a trick I saw somebody else post is to bring the tiles together at one corner - the least noticeable one - i.e. if your door is in the corner - finish there. This will hide any drift you have had laying out the tiles around your room - however the use of a good laser level to plot your line should stop that. Also, ensure all your batons are straight as a die as you will rely on these.

Steve

[jrm]

Cheers for the advice guys, i'm going to map out the tile layout using Microsoft Visio (to scale of course) and i'll post the plans up here for some feedback