I was told to return an all purpose 3 gal tub of mastic that lowes guy recommended for inside alcove shower/tub ceiling 3x5 area.. Should I use unmodified thinset mortar ?.. I am using 6x6 porcelain tile on 3/8 hardibacker screwed to the ceiling and 9" surround at the top of an acrylic wall/ tub surround.. Is the unmodified thinset preferred for tiling on cement (hardibacker) or use modified thinset on the hardibacker board..? i'm going to get white or which ever shade closest to color of tile (almond in my case) .. another project I have is on the 1st floor bathroom,the subfloor is 5/8 plywood should i use modified thinset for setting the hardibacker 1/2 to plywood 5/8 subfloor followed by the manufactures screw instructions/fiber tape slightly spaced seemed to floor joists? And lastly,go back to unmodified thinset (almond) for setting the 12x12 floor tiles to the cement hardibacker? or just use modified thinset mortar throughout? thank you in advance

jon123

No need for apoligy and it is me not you,lol i read it and have a hard time understanding it too!.. let me ask this .. did I do right by tiling the ceiling first/backwall second and both shorty walls last as I did saving the bullnose or preferred trim work outside of tub alcove enclosure? My meaning was that if you could picture the drop ceilings corner bead ( parallel with where the shower curtain rod would be on the alcove) would you have deliberately overhung the ceiling tile to accept a bullnose in thickness or ran the tile as I did flush with the corner bead of the drop ceiling? eitherway, there is a seem to caulk, in my case the seem on the outside corner will be on the ceiling side.. the detailed trim casing will be the facia sorta speak. no digital pic sorry ..roger one over?..

ballengerb1

Your sequence of install was fine. There are some rules for tiling but what it all comes down to is making it look good to your eye. I usually do the ceiling first so the seam is on the wall and not the ceiling, I want to see that last seam. I do the side walls second so the seam is on the back wall, I want to see it. No hard fast rule just what looks best to the home owner. I also make the seam between the bull nose and the next tile directly where the shower door side rails will be screwed into the wall, less ceramic drilling to install the rails.

jon123

Ballenger, today grouted the upstairs shower bath ceiling alcove with the bag modified sand grout laticrete 1500. Also went with the designer molding just above ceiling tile outside alcove..butted level to tile with just enough reveal for the almond sand caulking. A few days i'll seal the grout lines. It was a bit of of pain in the neck , was sure to make a dry mix and needed the hawk to catch what fell when using the grout sponge. Alot of spongwashing for this stone porcelain tile. Wish I did have digital pic for you cause it came out pretty good. Grout lines alittle heavy but downstair alcove will certainly go 1/16 spacers inside the wet area. Floor i'll go 3/8. oh thanks again

ballengerb1

Hey Jon, here is that grout I have been using. You can also get a perfectly matching chaulk for shower stalls and seams. TEC intros new AccuColor Grout and Caulk colors. (Products). | National Floor Trends | Find Articles at BNET.com Looks like I' m a bit late with the info but it is still worth knowing about.

jon123

ballenger, Still waiting on the vanity, can't proceed with any phase of project until the wall plumbing is revamped for different size vanity.. going from double sink 60" to a 48" single, so the plumber will come once this orderis in with the matching shower faucets/diverter. Meanwhile, thank you for the grout recommendation, will certainly look for it over here!