Can I Use Large Tiles In a Shower?
By Zephyr and Stone
When it comes to tiling showers and bathrooms, there’s no doubt large format tiles look beautiful and come with the added benefit of fewer grout lines. However, a common question that comes up is ‘Can I use large tiles in a shower base AND ensure good fall to my floor waste?’
Well, the answer is YES!
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If you’re looking to include large shower tiles, the solution is relatively simple if you plan ahead and specify the right products. You can also avoid lots of messy tile cuts in your shower base, and install larger tiles that run neatly down to your waste. Here’s how…
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Plan
You’re going to need to plan and specify a linear floor waste. We use Lauxes Grates floor wastes as they come in long lengths of up to 5600mm or 5.6m, which your tradesperson can cut down onsite to fit perfectly to your bathroom dimensions. A Lauxes Grate can be used to create one long shower waste or cut down to any size to use in multiple showers.
Before any plumbing, waterproofing or floor screeding is done, it’s essential to plan where the floor waste will be located. You’ll need to make sure your builder, plumber and tiler know that you’re planning for this type of finish.
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Communication is key between all trades in the early stages of your project.
Z+S Tip • Ideally, floor wastes should be planned and clearly marked when drafting your bathroom floor plan, so that the concrete slab, floor trusses or flooring system can be designed to suit. This small, crucial step can save you time, money and headaches during your bathroom renovation project.
Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite with long Shower Grate
Plumbing Prep
To avoid tile cuts, your linear floor waste should run the length or width of your shower. Your plumber will install the wastewater pipes first at the plumbing rough-in stage. For a long shower with more than one shower head, you should consider more than one waste outlet, to ensure the water can flow away fast enough. This is done by installing 2 or more shower wastes which will sit underneath the length of the long shower grate, to drain water effectively.
Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite with Tile Insert Waste
Tiling Prep
Your tiler will generally waterproof and prep the shower base for tiles. Then the floor waste will be installed during screeding of your shower base. Screeding is the laying of a base of sand and cement mix and occurs before shower and bathroom tiling.
The screed is angled ever so slightly to allow water to flow or ‘fall’ towards the linear floor waste or shower grate. Unlike a small square or round traditional floor waste, a linear floor waste allows you to keep the fall in your shower base running in a single direction and means there’s no need for numerous tile cuts.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Bathroom with shower tiling with large tiles
Tiling
Shower tiling with large shower floor tiles or small tiles is made easy with a long shower grate, as your tiles can be laid neatly without having to deal with multiple floor angles. The Shower Grates waste we used in these bathrooms is the Lauxes Slimline Tile Insert - STI. Lauxes wastes are available in a range of colours so you have the option of matching your waste to your tapware or other bathroom finishes.
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It’s absolutely viable to use large shower tiles in your new shower and achieve a seamless finish, to create that designer look in your bathroom. Just ensure you don’t overlook planning in the early stages of your bathroom project and communication with your tradespeople on the look you’re hoping to achieve.
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