Completed Custom Tiled Shower Project

By Mark J. Donovan

Last weekend I completed my latest custom tiled shower project. It was a complete custom ceramic tile shower renovation project. I have to say it came out beautiful after a lot of planning and work. The project took four weekends to complete. The first weekend was dedicated to removing the old ceramic tile and backer board. The second weekend involved installing a mortar shower pan and new cement backer board. The third weekend was dedicated to actually tiling the shower walls and shower floor. The last weekend was associated with grouting the shower walls and tiles, and doing last minute touch up items such as caulking seams.

In the process of installing the custom tiled shower I filmed and documented the entire process. I have posted a number of new videos associated with tiling a shower at HomeAdditionPlus.com. In addition, I updated my “Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation Ebook” and generated a new Ebook titled “How to Tile a Custom Ceramic Tile Shower”. If you have plans to install your own custom shower, be sure to check out these Ebooks. They provide step by step instructions on building a custom tiled shower and are loaded with instructional pictures.

So now that I have completed the custom tile shower, I move on with my master bath remodeling project. In the ensuing weeks I will remove the old bathroom vanity and sink, as well as the toilet, and ceramic tile the bathroom floor. I will then install a new bathroom vanity and sink, and reinstall the existing toilet.

Stay tuned for more updates and videos.

Tiling a Shower

Progress on Renovating a Shower Continues

By Mark J. Donovan

I spent most of yesterday tiling my shower. This is after spending a couple of weekends removing the old ceramic tile, backer board and fiberglass shower pan, and installing new backerboard, and a mortar shower pan.

Suffice it to say renovating the shower has been a major project. One significant contributor to the work, particularly as it relates to tiling the shower, is cutting the tiles in my garage. Though this has helped to prevent a colossal mess in the bathroom and given me room to work, it has meant lots of running up and down stairs, 1.5 flights. I feel like I have been on a stair stepper for 2 hours and completed about a 1,000 squats.

I expect to wrap up tiling the shower walls today, however not until I first go out and purchase a new tile saw. My existing tile saw has seen its last days. It was a cheap tile saw that I bought for $75 at HQ (yes HQ) many years ago, and I have probably completed 20 tile projects with it. The motor has about had it, even with a sharp blade. So I guess it is time to bite the bullet.

After wrapping up the tiling on the shower walls, I will then move onto the shower floor. This will be a little tricky due mainly to the curb. The size and shape of the curb is creating some extra challenges.

Hopefully by next weekend I will be able to grout the tiles and be ready for the final plumbing.

Once complete look for a couple of more videos on learning how to tile shower walls, and apply grout.

How to Test a Zone Valve

How can You Check to See if a Zone Valve is Working

By Mark J. Donovan

Question: My hot water heating system does not seem to be operating properly. One of the zones does not seem to produce any heat. How can I test a zone valve to see if it is working properly?

Answer: To test your hot water zone valve, turn the thermostat up that is associated with the particular zone valve. Make sure to turn it up high enough so that it is warmer than the current temperature in the room.

You should immediately begin to hear and feel hot water flowing through the heating elements. If you do not, then you have a problem with the zone valve, circulator pump or thermostat.

If there is a lever on the zone valve, you can also push it to the on position to see if hot water will begin to flow through the heating elements. Once you push this lever to the on position, you should begin to feel or hear hot water flowing through the heating elements. Note, however, that when this lever is turned to the on position, the thermostat cannot control it. Hot water will continue to flow through the heating elements until you push the lever back to the closed position. If this test works, then chances are the circulator pump is working.

Installed Shower Pan over Weekend

Installing a Mortar Shower Pan for a Ceramic Tile Shower

By Mark J. Donovan

Well I pretty much spent the entire weekend installing a shower pan for a ceramic tile shower. Though I have a few sore muscles today, I am pleased to say that it is all done and looks great. And I am positive it won’t leak!

A few weeks back I removed all of the old ceramic tile and cement backer board from my 3’x3’ master bath shower. So this weekend, I installed a new mortar shower pan and cement backer board in preparation for new ceramic tile.

I also filmed the entire shower pan installation process and took tons of still pictures. I have already incorporated the new pictures into my latest revision of the “Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation Ebook”.

Installing a mortar shower pan and membrane liner is a fairly complicated project, however my Ebook provides step-by-step instructions and pictures to enable you to install your own mortar shower pan and membrane liner. You can immediately download a copy of my Ebook at “Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation Ebook”.

Later this week I will release a new “How to Install a Mortar Shower Pan” video. Look for it on HomeAdditionPlus.com, as well as on various video webhosting sites.

Building a Mortar Shower Pan This Weekend

By Mark J. Donovan

I am building a mortar shower pan this weekend and will be filming it. Stay tuned for a series of new videos on building a mortar shower pan using a shower pan membrane liner. I will also show how to install backer board, tile a shower, and even how to cut backer board.