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How Preparing the Shower for Tiles?

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Gut the shower stall down to the studs. You may need to remove the shower pan and ceiling, as well. Do not put down any plastic because this can trap moisture and lead to rotting. Instead, use a product that you can paint on to help prevent moisture.


Choose a vapor barrier to install and introduce according to manufacturer directions. If you fail to install a vapor barrier, you might grow mold and mildew as moisture from your shower escapes through the tiles and into walls. Improperly installed tile and grout can allow water vapor to pass into the space behind.


When installing a vapor barrier on an exterior wall, it may be helpful to seal a plastic vapor barrier to the concrete floor but not all the way up to the top of the ceiling. With insulation improperly installed, or in colder climates, there’s a chance that condensation that forms behind the vapor barrier will cause the framing members to rot.


In order to avoid that possibility, install the vapor barrier with space to spare so that the gap behind the vapor barrier can breathe. Use a roll on product, such as Red Guard. Wedi boards are another option some consider even better than cement board. If you choose a membranous barrier such as Trugard or Kerdi, you can install plain old drywall or you can just install a cement board instead.


Put up a sturdy cement board backer. Putting up cement board is just like putting up drywall. You cut it to fit using a grinder with a diamond bit, and then screw it to the studs. Leave a 1/8″ gap between panels and then a very small space between the shower pan and the bottom of the backer so that the two don’t squeak by rubbing together.

How to Developing Creative Storage Solutions?

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Keep everything hidden. Your goal when organizing your bathroom should be to store as many items as possible in hidden cabinets and compartments. This will make your bathroom feel less crowded and more spacious. The key is to rely on a combination of both cabinets and shelving. Even storing the wastebasket in a cabinet can make the floor of your bathroom look larger and cleaner.

Install a second shower rod near the wall. Get another adjustable rod and place it just a few inches or centimeters off the back wall of your shower or bath. Tighten the rod until it is securely in place. Slide a series of S-hooks onto the rod. Hang your loofahs, scrub brushes, or small caddies from the hooks. Don’t overload the rod or you’ll risk it falling down and taking everything else with it.

Install behind-the-mirror storage. Buy prefabricated mirror cabinets from your local hardware store. Remove the current wall mirrors that you have and replace them with these cabinets. Make sure to follow any installation instructions, so that they are secure. Then, stock the inside of the cabinets with bath supplies. Don’t place wall mirror cabinets where the doorknob will hit them as the door opens or closes.

Attach suction cups to the shower walls to hold bathing products. Get a number of heavy-duty suction cups and attach them at shoulder height around your shower. Thread plastic ties or hair ties through the cup openings. Then, hang various shower toiletries by the ties. It’s a good idea to clean your shower before hanging the cups, as this will make them stay up longer.

Install a rack on the back of the door. Don’t waste the space on the back of the door. Instead, hang a secure metal rack with baskets attached that can hold extra toiletries, paper goods, or even towels. If you are worried about the weight of a metal rack, you can even use a hanging plastic shoe rack.

Remove all non-bathroom items. It’s really easy for clothing and knick-knacks to make their way from the bedroom into the bathroom. Every week go through your bathroom and remove any items that do not belong. Think about streamlining any multiples of items that you are storing, such as going from 5 towels down to 2.