Can you tile bathtub

However, it is important that you understand and consider the potential pitfalls of this installation strategy. However, a few complications need to be considered when going this route. If you are adding a bathtub to an existing bathroom space or other area of your home that already has finished flooring, it would be most cost effective and less labor intensive to install directly over the tile. The first question to ask is what kind of bathtub you are installing.

Some standard styles include:. Separate bathtub basin and wall kits are often used to replace old bathtub combos in bathroom remodels. They are easier to handle and can be used to cover existing shower walls. Clawfoot tubs sit on top of the floor, with exposed legs and basin. With either of these styles, the tile flooring must already be in place.

For the purposed of this article, we are discussing the one-piece tub and shower unit. It is a fiberglass tub molded into shape, with the walls attached as a single unit.

The second question to answer is what kind of tile you are installing the bathtub over. There are many kinds of tile on the market today, and each has particular properties to consider. Cast iron expands and contracts in response to heat at a different rate than tile, so you need a strong, resilient adhesive. Also, when tiling you have to have a rigid substrate, with a solid adhesive bond coming in full contact with the substrate and with the back of the tile.

The tricky part of tiling a tub would be that tiles are flat while most tubs are contoured or curved. Small tiles mosaic will be best for the contours. Add latex additive to the grout when mixing to add elasticity to help against the movement of a tub when a person steps in or out and the weight of the water pushes the plastic.

Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing. By Tim Anderson. Related Articles. Flanges and Underlayment The typical plastic tub that mounts to the wall studs has to have the flange covered by the finish material, which in this case is tile. Tile and Caulked Joint Start full tile off the top of the tub and run up the wall until you reach a full tile termination above the shower head for the best visual results and ease of installation.

Tiling the Entire Tub Tiling the entirety of a plastic tub is a do-it-yourself-only project.