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Started By
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Retiling a tub surround by a Newb?
Posted on 4/16/21 at 10:03 am
Posted on 4/16/21 at 10:03 am
I need to retile the standard tub surround in my hall bath. The grout is chipping, holes in grout etc. The tile is tan, so rather than regrouting, I'd rather just retile and fix the issues I'm sure exist behind the current tile.
How hard will this be for someone with 0% tile experience? There is also a window in this surround, which means less material, but harder to tile in.
I have another bathroom so can take my time. Money is a concern, hence doing it myself. Just want white subway tile or a white lining of some sort if easier.
Example of prefab tile surround
The prefab surrounds that look decent may not be cheapest, but probably easiest for a DIY'er?
Wife is also talking about those rebath fitters places that can change the look in one day. I'm suspicious of those commercials and heard their ridiculously $$$ for what is basically a tub surround. Tub is perfect btw, so don't need to do anything with that.
Rest of bathroom has been fully remodeled as part of insurance claim that didn't include the tub surround tile unfortunately.
Opinions on any of this? Can I do this?
How hard will this be for someone with 0% tile experience? There is also a window in this surround, which means less material, but harder to tile in.
I have another bathroom so can take my time. Money is a concern, hence doing it myself. Just want white subway tile or a white lining of some sort if easier.
Example of prefab tile surround
The prefab surrounds that look decent may not be cheapest, but probably easiest for a DIY'er?
Wife is also talking about those rebath fitters places that can change the look in one day. I'm suspicious of those commercials and heard their ridiculously $$$ for what is basically a tub surround. Tub is perfect btw, so don't need to do anything with that.
Rest of bathroom has been fully remodeled as part of insurance claim that didn't include the tub surround tile unfortunately.
Opinions on any of this? Can I do this?
6
Posted on 4/16/21 at 10:40 am to SirSaintly
I've done it with no tile experience. You're going to have to start anew with new backerboard/greenboard and vapor barrier though. The tear out (at least to me) was the hardest part. You'll never believe how much junk tearing up a bath creates 
Yes, you can do it but make sure you do it right. You don't want mold growing behind the tiles nor being the greenboard so sealing it properly is imperative.
Yes, you can do it but make sure you do it right. You don't want mold growing behind the tiles nor being the greenboard so sealing it properly is imperative.
Posted on 4/16/21 at 11:04 am to SirSaintly
Rent a wet saw.
Posted on 4/16/21 at 3:10 pm to SirSaintly
quote:
How hard will this be for someone with 0% tile experience?
I redid an entire bath with no tile experience. Did a tile shower, put tile on wall around tub, and the floor. Laying tile is not that difficult.
Posted on 4/16/21 at 9:38 pm to SirSaintly
Buy a laser
Use mastic the same color as the grout wrap the tile in the corners start at the bottom
Google it you will be fine take your time have fun if you screw up just rip it off subway tile are cheap
Use mastic the same color as the grout wrap the tile in the corners start at the bottom
Google it you will be fine take your time have fun if you screw up just rip it off subway tile are cheap
Posted on 4/18/21 at 7:22 am to SirSaintly
Do you have any construction experience? It’s not hard. But experience definitely helps.
The worst part about this is you know where every single imperfection is and stare at them every time you are in there. The hardest part is getting the mortar the right texture and applying the right amount so that you can get the tiles flat and even with each other and don’t have any lippage.
You basically need to tear it down to the studs, hang cement board, waterproof cement board, and then tile.
The smaller the tiles the more work it takes but the easier it is to prevent lippage because you have more ability to adjust them.
Most pros don’t use a tile saw unless you have to, they use a tile snap cutter and an angle grinder to make smaller cuts. Angle grinder works great with the smaller pieces.
The worst part about this is you know where every single imperfection is and stare at them every time you are in there. The hardest part is getting the mortar the right texture and applying the right amount so that you can get the tiles flat and even with each other and don’t have any lippage.
You basically need to tear it down to the studs, hang cement board, waterproof cement board, and then tile.
The smaller the tiles the more work it takes but the easier it is to prevent lippage because you have more ability to adjust them.
Most pros don’t use a tile saw unless you have to, they use a tile snap cutter and an angle grinder to make smaller cuts. Angle grinder works great with the smaller pieces.
Posted on 4/18/21 at 9:25 am to baldona
I bought a wet saw from Lowe’s for about 50 bucks, not high quality but did the job.
Posted on 4/18/21 at 9:25 am to baldona
quote:
The hardest part is getting the mortar the right texture and applying the right amount so that you can get the tiles flat and even with each other and don’t have any lippage.
I bought pre-mixed mortar. It does cost more to do this.
quote:
You basically need to tear it down to the studs, hang cement board, waterproof cement board, and then tile.
This is what I did.
quote:
Most pros don’t use a tile saw unless you have to,
As it was my first go at it, I used a tile saw.
Posted on 4/18/21 at 9:35 am to lctiger
quote:
I bought a wet saw from Lowe’s for about 50 bucks, not high quality but did the job.
I have nothing against a tile saw, I’m just saying a snap cutter is much faster and you can do it right in your bathroom where you are working.
Posted on 4/18/21 at 3:54 pm to Cracker
+1 in the laser.
Posted on 4/18/21 at 4:28 pm to SirSaintly
Make sure that you seal the area and make it watertight. Redguard is a product that will seal the seams behind the tile.
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