Tile & Waterproofing

Square feet, shower pan systems and the layer that prevents the expensive failure.

5 articles

• Shower Pans — Prefab, Mud Bed, or a Foam Tray

  Most shower leaks start at the pan. Which construction you choose decides how many ways there are to get it wrong.

• Tile Layout — Plan the Cuts Before the First Tile Goes On

  The difference between a good tile job and an ordinary one is almost entirely where the cut pieces ended up.

• Bathroom Flooring — Waterproof, and Not Slippery When Wet

  The material matters less than what is under it and how much slip resistance it has when there is water on it.

• Shower Glass — Measured After the Tile, Never Before

  Glass is the last thing installed and the first thing that reveals whether the tiling was plumb.

• Shower Waterproofing Systems Compared — Where the Leak Starts

  Every tiled shower leaks water through the grout. What happens next is entirely down to the layer nobody sees.