Pebble Tile Shower Floor Tips

5 Important Concepts

by Jeff Patterson in DIY Bathroom Remodel, How to Build a Shower

Pebble tile shower floors can look amazing or bad, really BAD.

Today we’ll share 5 important tips for installing awesome pebble stone shower floors.

Even seasoned installers can overlook these concepts. But you’ll be ahead of the game if you watch our short video.

Let’s dive in!

Pebble Tile Shower Floor Tips

Building showers can be stressful for beginners.

Fortunately, new shower systems like Schluter’s KERDI kit, KBRS’s Tile-Basin, and Wedi’s Fundo Primo make it much easier.

Every shower pan should be flood tested for 24 hours. Flood testing ensures shower pans can hold water and that there are no leaks.

Once the flood test is complete, tile setting can begin.

Pebble stone shower floors are a different best, and do require additional planning.

These 5 tips will help a ton.

Tip #1: Install pebble tile stone floors first

The rationale for tiling the floor first is simple, expansion and contraction joints will be hidden by wall tiles. Remember, TCNA (Tile Council of North America) guidelines stipulate expansion and contraction joints for shower floors and walls. Read their handbook for more tips.

Tip #2: Pick stones with minimal glue 

Steve does a great job explaining this in the video; pebble tiles are adhered to mesh using adhesive. Excess adhesive on the tiles prevents them from bonding to thin-set mortar. Eventually the pebble tiles will detach from the floor and create a huge MESS.

Tip #3: Dry fit pebble stone sheets 

Every pebble stone sheet is different, which is a pain in the butt. Dry fit pebble stone sheets over the shower pan and label them with painter’s tape. Odds are good that the layout won’t be perfect but don’t let this lead to frustration. Pebble stones can be set on the floor one by one and this doesn’t take a long time.

Tip #4: Use white thin-set mortar 

Gray thin-set mortar has color and pigment in it. This can transfer to pebble stones and cause them to discolor over time. Thus, use white thin-set mortar to prevent this from happening. Furthermore, use Schluter’s ALL-SET to maintain the Schluter KERDI shower kit warranty.

Tip #5: Make pebble stone sheets tight 

Rookie’s make the fatal mistake of not pushing pebble stone sheets tight to each other. This in turn makes the outline of the sheets visible after grouting the shower floor. If sheet outlines are visible either push them closer together or pull pebbles off the sheet and rearrange them to eliminate the outline.

Watch our video to see Steve explain these tips, you’ll be way ahead of the the game

What’s Next

Ask your questions down in the comments, we’d be happy to help.

Also if you’re doing a complete bathroom remodel check out Bathroom Repair Tutor, our members have completed awesome bathrooms.

Grab our free guide if you’re doing a DIY bathroom renovation – it shares how to remodel a bathroom in 10 days or less

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Thanks as always for reading, watching, and being part of our awesome community.

Cheers,

P.S. Our online store has a ton of supplies for homeowners doing a bathroom remodel. You’ll find wedi shower systems, KBRS shower pans, tiling tools, and more.