Pictures: First of many questions I'm sure - Shower Niche

[BigAl]

Hello! I'd like to pick your brains regarding a shower niche I'm building (my first one). First here's a pic -



1. How to finish the edges? Trim? Or overlap? and should the inners overlap the outers? Oh, and if u say to overlap, how do you seal the edges?

2. You can see how I've build them. Is there any sealing I should do to the plasterboard edges before tiling? Should I even have used plasterboard!?

3. Any other tips/ changes I should make / problems you can see.

Many thanks,

[BigAl]

Oh yeah, just thought. even though the tiles have sharp edges and same colour throughout, they're actually ceramic, so I guess I'd need an edge right?

[peckers]

Firstly i prefer to use a tile backer board rather then plasterboard as this gives you a waterproof substrate to tile onto. and your boarding and waterproofing in one go saving you labour time.
But as you are plasterboarding and only using ceramic tiles there shouldn't be a weight issue so i would tank the plasterboard with a membrane or you can get the paint on ones but i prefer the membrane.
as to finishing the edges i wouldnt over lap the tile edges as it is ceramic the exposed edges will soak in water. you will be best to use a edging trim or you could mitre the edges and then fill them with grout.
Dont forget to silicone all internal corners too.

The wall that has had tiles on are you going to re-board that wall?
is it skimmed?

[Scott]

Hi BigAl

The Mapei brush on tanking is good, get yourself a Mapei showerproofing kit, not too expensive and all you need is in one tub. Its better to waterproof it and do it right

If the tiles are ceramic you'd be better off with trim

[suave]

[Phil Hobson]

Hi Big Al and what size are the ceramics?

[BigAl]

The wall that has had tiles on are you going to re-board that wall?
is it skimmed?

No I wasn't going to re-board. It is skimmed yes. Would a coat of tilers primer be ok?

Hi BigAl
The Mapei brush on tanking is good, get yourself a Mapei showerproofing kit, not too expensive and all you need is in one tub. Its better to waterproof it and do it right
If the tiles are ceramic you'd be better off with trim

Thanks mate, I'll check that out

Hi Big Al and what size are the ceramics?

Errrm, not sure, pretty big though (left) -

[Scott]

Big Al im afraid they look like they will be too heavy for skimmed plaster or skimmed boards. You will have to overboard with new plasterboard or preferably cement backer boards for them to be strong enough to take the weight of the tiles. They look pretty big. If you can measure them then we can give better advice on teh weight issues

[BigAl]

Big Al im afraid they look like they will be too heavy for skimmed plaster or skimmed boards. You will have to overboard with new plasterboard or preferably cement backer boards for them to be strong enough to take the weight of the tiles. They look pretty big. If you can measure them then we can give better advice on teh weight issues

They're 30x60.
The are will all be new plasterboard apart from that wall. Can't I prime the plaster?

[Scott]

Wont make any difference to the weight issues im afraid. The weight will/can pull the skim from the backing coat. You could mechanically fix 6mm hardi backer if space is the problem? I use sall concrete screws for solid walls, just pilot drill and screw them straight in.