How to Change Your Shower Backsplash

Preparation

• 1

  Remove the faucet, handle and shower nozzle from the bathtub area. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the components so you are able to pull them off. Save the pieces if you plan to reuse them or discard if you're installing new fixtures.

• 2

  Remove the current shower wall covering. For tile, use a crowbar to get underneath the tile and pry it off. Pull down the existing shower surround if you have a solid-piece unit.

• 3

  Inspect the wall behind the old shower wall covering. Remove any remnants of adhesive, and patch any torn or cracked drywall using drywall compound and a putty knife. If the drywall behind is moldy or damaged, tear it down and replace it with new drywall rated for moist areas like the shower.

Tile

• 4

  Lay out your tile pattern ahead of time. Measure and mark the midpoint of the wall, and make a horizontal line across the wall as a guide line.

• 5

  Spread the thinset onto a small section of the prepared walls with a notched trowel to ensure an even coating. Lay the first tile at the bottom center, leaving 1/8 inch at the bottom. Work outward, laying whole tiles until you reach the shower fixtures and edges.

• 6

  Cut tiles to fit into the areas that won't accommodate a full tile. Spread thinset on the wall and position the cut tiles where they belong. Complete all three walls of the shower in this manner.

• 7

  Let the tiles set for at least 24 hours or longer based on the thinset package instructions. You want the thinset hardened so the tiles don't shift while being grouted.

• 8

  Spread the grout over the tiles to fill the gaps by using a grout float on a 45-degree angle. Wipe off excess grout with the float. Wipe the remaining grout after 20 minutes, using a clean sponge.

• 9

  Squeeze a bead of silicone caulking along the base of the tile shower walls. Smooth the silicone slightly with a sponge or your finger. Allow all components to dry completely before using the shower.

Shower Surround

• 10

  Use a level to draw a straight line upward from the outside edge of the tub. Use this line as your guide to install the shower-surround pieces.

• 11

  Dry fit the pieces of the shower surround onto the walls to ensure they cover correctly. In an older home, you are likely to have slight variations in the walls that require you to file one side of the kit in order to fit.

• 12

  Squeeze an adhesive caulking near the outer edge of the first panel. Add more adhesive around areas on the pieces like soap holders deeper than other areas.

• 13

  Press the panel into the specific location on the shower wall. Press all over the surface of the wall section. This ensures the adhesive bonds to the wall behind it, so the surround doesn't fall.

• 14

  Install the remaining panels in the same manner until all of the walls are in place. For the wall where the plumbing fixtures go, you'll need to measure where each faucet or handle comes out. Cut holes in those exact spots, using your measurements.

• 15

  Add adhesive around the back edge of the panel where you made the cuts. Press the panel onto the wall like you did with the other pieces.

• 16

  Place the bathroom fixtures back into the shower, including the water knobs and spout. Caulk along the bottom edge of the tub and at the joints to protect the underlying wall from moisture.