Tile the alcove sill and then the sides and top.
Tiling shower ceiling or walls first.
This may result in cracked tile.
This is also hugely beneficial if the shower pan ever needs to be replaced.
The kind that are flat on one end.
I explain why this method works soooo easy.
After laying all the mortar its now time to start tiling the shower including the wall and the floor.
Leave out the row of tiles where the shelf will rest photo 8.
Finish tiling the wall cutting the top row to fit as needed as you work on this how to tile a shower project.
The statuary shower has 3x18 tile running horizontally on the walls and a 6x18 is on the ceiling.
Here is an easy way to set your 1st row and the rest going up your wall then lastly the first row is set.
Otherwise the best time to install tile on the ceiling is if you are doing an accent wall in the shower and want to extend the tile overhead.
Mark where to set your first row.
You want to minimize the view of corner seams or grout lines since they crack first are usually where cut tiles sharp instead of pillowed or rounded edges are placed.
The guy i worked for always said hanging sheetrock painting and tiling top to bottom to keep them from falling off the ceiling wet the backs of the tile first then stick it kind of firmly.
Or difficult to remove mortar drops when tiling the wall.
Set your first tile at the center.
For example if you tile the floor and back wall of your shower in pebbled mosaic it can be very dramatic to extend the rocks overhead as well and possibly install your shower head on the ceiling to complete the look.
Slightly slope the sill tiles toward the shower for drainage by piling on a little extra thin set on the back side.
However professional tilers will disagree with this.
On the walls we used tooth picks in between them to keep them from sliding down.
When installing tile on the ceiling you want to install the tile on the shower walls all the way up to the last row before the ceiling as i ve done in these photos.
Side walls should butt over the back wall floor ceiling should butt over all walls.
Tile the shower wall.
Both showers have 1x2 thassos brick on the floor.
If you tile the floor first you may accidentally damage the new floor by dropping things on it.
The thassos shower has 6x12 tile running vertically on the walls and has a 1x6 thassos mosaic on the ceiling.
My tile guy had a brace system set up while the tiles set to keep them from falling down.