Tiling A Shower's Ceiling

[geraldine]

Hello everyone,
I have to tile a walk-in shower cubicle and the adjoining wash room. The clients would like to tile the ceiling in the shower cubicle but have been advised against it as it is "not deemed safe". I have been tiling just over one year and haven't the experience to give them my opinion. I would appreciate your thought and knowledge on the matter. I really don't want to be responsible for someone taking a tile on the head!!!
Many thanks
Geraldine

 

[Dan]

Hi Geraldine,

Welcome back to the forum.

Sure you can tile that if you want to. You tile the underside of windows and whatnot. So it can be done.

What tile type is it? And what's the substrate? (What will you be tiling to?)

 

[AMC]

H

Hello everyone,
I have to tile a walk-in shower cubicle and the adjoining wash room. The clients would like to tile the ceiling in the shower cubicle but have been advised against it as it is "not deemed safe". I have been tiling just over one year and haven't the experience to give them my opinion. I would appreciate your thought and knowledge on the matter. I really don't want to be responsible for someone taking a tile on the head!!!
Many thanks
Geraldine

hi Geraldine , I've always suggested to the customer about doin it in mosaic , jus incase the tile fell off , better it's a mosaic rather than a 60 x 30 , also maybe a disclaimer form if they insist and if you're not too confident

 

[Dan]

You should find that it's fine. If it's plaster, perhaps screw backerboard to the joists / beams, use noggins to make it stronger, then tile that using the right adhesive, 100% coverage only, don't let the adhesive skin over or start to go off, and prop them up while they set.

It's not different than tiling a large window reveal.

 

[Rosco100]

Hello everyone,
I have to tile a walk-in shower cubicle and the adjoining wash room. The clients would like to tile the ceiling in the shower cubicle but have been advised against it as it is "not deemed safe". I have been tiling just over one year and haven't the experience to give them my opinion. I would appreciate your thought and knowledge on the matter. I really don't want to be responsible for someone taking a tile on the head!!!
Many thanks
Geraldine

Hi I always overboard with a tilebacker board and put a slight slope on it so that when the steam hits the cold tiles the water droplets run off rather than fall back down on you like cold icicles (we do this in steam rooms also)

 

[White Room]

There's allways Porcel-Thin...

 

[Old Mod]

This was a low ceiling in a shower so the client wanted it tiled.

 

[geraldine]

Thank you all for your replies. Thanks also for pointing out that it is like tiling an arch or window reveal. I have told the clients that if they wanted to go ahead with it they would have to fix a backer board to have a firm base. I contacted BAL about it and they do not recommend doing ceilings... Contacted my tutor and again he advised me not to do it!!!
Dan, as far as I know they are using 25X33cm wall tiles. I was going to use power adhesive rather than readymix (tub) so that I could make it thicker.... Anything else I should be concerned about?

 

[geraldine]

There's allways Porcel-Thin...

That is a new one on me! I didn't know they existed

 

[Martyn Leeds]

Think I'd listen to the tutor bloke on this one!

 

[geraldine]

Think I'd listen to the tutor bloke on this one!

Thanks Martyn, I have written to them and I hope they will decide it is not worth it..... Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Dan]

What reason did the tutor give?

I'm surprised BAL have advised against it. They have window reveals set out to tile in all their training centres.

I suppose it's the small risk it hits somebody, whereas nobody's standing under the window reveal?

 

[geraldine]

What reason did the tutor give?

Mum surprised BAL have advised against it. They have window reveals set out to tile in all their training centres.

I suppose it's the small risk it hits somebody, whereas nobody's standing under the window reveal?

I thought BAL's reply was due to a legal issue possibly. If they give advice on tiling a ceiling they might then be sued if it goes pear-shaped as their adhesive might be blamed.
My tutor said movement in the house might cause a tile to become dislodged. In that regards, the shower room in the house in question is upstairs and there shouldn't be anything to cause vibrations from above.

 

[Dave]

What is the ceiling structure ?.. Not all can be tiled without strengthening/prep work.

 

[geraldine]

What is the ceiling structure ?.. Not all can be tiled without strengthening/prep work.

I have told the clients that if they wanted to tile the ceiling they would have to fix some backer board first. I did emphasize the need for strength and stability of the substrate.

 

[White Room]

I'd use a Gypliner metal framed system, for your self perhaps have a word with a dry liner who does that kind of work.

 

[Dan]

Fastflex would probably be my choice of adhesive if it came to it. You could tile curtains with that stuff.