- 1). Measure each wall of the tub enclosure with a tape measure, and multiply the height and width of each wall to get the square footage. For example, a wall 3 feet by 5 feet has an area of 15 square feet.
- 2). Select your tile, and order at least 5 percent extra to allow for breakage. Buy enough cement board to cover the tub enclosure.
- 3). Cover the inside of the tub with an old blanket, bedsheet or sheet of plastic, and fasten the edges with duct tape. Wrap the faucets with rags and wrap duct tape around the rags.
- 4). Measure the cement board and mark it with pencil. Use a utility knife to score the cement board along your pencil lines, and snap the board.
- 5). Attach the cement board to the wall studs, placing a screw every 6 to 8 inches, and tape the seams between pieces of cement board with fiberglass tape. Check the cement board manufacturer's instructions for what type of coated screws to use to hang the cement board.
- 6). Lay a row of tiles along the bottom of each wall, and make a small pencil mark on the wall where each tile begins and ends. Extend the pencil lines up to the top of the wall, and use a string with a weight tied to the end to make sure the lines are vertical.
- 7). Measure the tiles you need to cut with a tape measure and mark the areas to be cut on the backs of the tiles with a pencil, and cut them with a tile cutter. Use a tile nipper to slowly cut small pieces off the tiles you'll fit around pipes or faucets, until you have made a space for the pipe.
- 8). Mark off small areas of the wall, 4 to 6 rows high, to work on, using a straight edge. Use a saw-toothed trowel to spread the adhesive within the smaller area you marked off. Spread the adhesive evenly, using the teeth of the trowel to make straight rows of adhesive. If the teeth of the trowel wear down, replace it.
- 9). Lay the tile in rows. Press each tile firmly into the adhesive, and wiggle it very slightly as you press it in. Pop a tile back off once in a while to make sure that the adhesive is coating the whole back of the tile. Use a damp sponge to wipe excess adhesive off the surface of the tile after you finish each small section. Rinse the sponge often in the bucket of lukewarm water, and be careful not to move freshly-applied tiles.
- 10
Inspect the rows regularly with a level and a straight edge, to make sure they are straight vertically and horizontally. Use a plastic putty knife to scrape out any adhesive that gets into the joints between the tiles. Do not use a metal tool for this, or you could scratch the tiles. Allow the adhesive to set for 24 hours. - 11
Add latex milk additive to the grout mix, following the manufacturer's instructions. Do not use water to cut the grout. Mix well, and only mix enough grout to do one wall at a time. - 12
Push the grout into the joints between the tiles, using a rubber float made specially for applying grout. Hold the float diagonally to the wall as you push in the grout, and fill the spaces with grout. Use a damp sponge and a bucket of lukewarm water to wipe away the excess grout. Always wipe at a 45-degree angle to the joints between the tiles, so you don't wipe the grout out of the joints. Use a clean, dry white T-shirt to wipe the haze from the tiles. Wait 21 days for the grout to dry and set. - 13
Apply grout sealer with a clean, white cloth. Use clean, white cloth to wipe away excess sealer. - 14
Apply bath caulk along where the tile meets the tub, and around the pipes and faucets.
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