[HS345]

I miter mine, and use a grout that closely matches the tile. Never heard a complaint.

Truth be told I like doing it with a pencil but it seems a lot of people don't want to draw attention to the niche.

Sometimes you can cope them too, depending on the material.

 

[jb4211]

Over, I think it looks really nice, clean & sharp. I'm not a fan of the color either, but it's not my shower. But I think you did a really nice job.

Rob, your tile work always impresses me. I hope I can go to you for advice prior to starting as opposed to after fir my next project. Which is actually coming up shortly.

 

[TNTRenovate]

I miter mine, and use a grout that closely matches the tile. Never heard a complaint.

Truth be told I like doing it with a pencil but it seems a lot of people don't want to draw attention to the niche.

I'm not saying it shouldn't or can't be done, but it just really hard to get it to look good. Got any pics?

Also, just a bit of advice, don't think because you are not hearing it, that they are not complaining. Most people complain to everyone but the one they should complain to.

I agree that we should try to make them as least obtrusive as possible, but I don't have many not wanting accent tiles and nice trim around them. It's a chance to make something utilitarian by nature look nice.

A pencil or chair rail piece can increase the depth of the shelf from 3/4"-1 1/2". So that usually overcomes any hesitation on bringing attention to the niche.

EDIT: I miter mine as well, I still just don't like the look. The corners pull in to the niche. I like a sharp crisp corner. Bullnose on the outside or pencil/chair rail on the outside. I have done some chipped edge natural stone that allowed me to chip the corners to perfection, but that has been far and few between.

 

[TNTRenovate]

Over, I think it looks really nice, clean & sharp. I'm not a fan of the color either, but it's not my shower. But I think you did a really nice job.

Rob, your tile work always impresses me. I hope I can go to you for advice prior to starting as opposed to after fir my next project. Which is actually coming up shortly.

Absolutely! I am always humbled at compliments. I try very hard to make it perfect. Although you wouldn't say that same thing if I posted pics of my first few jobs. I truly owe it all to the guys on here for helping me out over the years (Angus, Charimon, Precision, Ohio, Whipple yes I said Whipple...but there are too many to list).

SIDE NOTE: I wish they would give tile it's own forum. I mean they have DrywallTalk and PaintersTalk, should be a TileTalk. At the very least our own section. It's silly to stick it under flooring, IMO.

 

[PrecisionFloors]

Absolutely! I am always humbled at compliments. I try very hard to make it perfect. Although you wouldn't say that same thing if I posted pics of my first few jobs. I truly owe it all to the guys on here for helping me out over the years (Angus, Charimon, Precision, Ohio, Whipple yes I said Whipple...but there are too many to list).

SIDE NOTE: I wish they would give tile it's own forum. I mean they have DrywallTalk and PaintersTalk, should be a TileTalk. At the very least our own section. It's silly to stick it under flooring, IMO.

Thanks. I totally agree on a tile forum. While I do all types of hard surface and resilient flooring, I consider tile setting to be it's own trade. Honestly I feel that way about resilient too. Good, and I mean really good vinyl guys are nearly extinct.

 

[CraigHarimon]

I think it looks great!!!! Money in the bank

 

[Splinter]

I think niche bullnose placement may be a regional thing also... I've never seen it done outside the niche around here. I cant stand that picture frame look anyway. Always mitre it and install inside the niche.

I've had my granite guy rip down marble to 1/2" thickness, do a full round on the edge and used that inside a niche. Sort of like Rob's pencil idea, but all one piece instead...

 

[overanalyze]

Ok...so now my question for you regular tile guys...how long would that have taken you and a helper to install CBU, waterproof with liquid, tile, and grout with epoxy. First floor bath and garage access for saw.

We had one day in demo, installation of the new mixer valve, framing of niche and seat, installation of CBU and installation of the shower base in mortar.

Next day we applied the rapid set thinset and mesh to the joints and screws and applied three coats of liquid.

Following day and a half we tiled.

Then I had 3 hours in grouting.

Am I slow?

 

[Splinter]

Ok...so now my question for you regular tile guys...how long would that have taken you and a helper to install CBU, waterproof with liquid, tile, and grout with epoxy. First floor bath and garage access for saw.

That beveled subway tub surround you see above was 3 days. It was actually a brand new bath that the original guy butchered. I tore it out, insulated properly, did Wonderboard, Kerdi, and a few courses of tile on day one. Finished tiling on day two. All cuts on a wet saw because of the bevel, inside corners are mitred also. Original guy just butted the bevel tiles in the corner. Looked like ass. Grouted day three.

 

[TNTRenovate]

I think niche bullnose placement may be a regional thing also... I've never seen it done outside the niche around here. I cant stand that picture frame look anyway. Always mitre it and install inside the niche.

I've had my granite guy rip down marble to 1/2" thickness, do a full round on the edge and used that inside a niche. Sort of like Rob's pencil idea, but all one piece instead...

I do like that. I have a guy now that cuts custom bullnose, register vents and shelves. I'm going to see what he can do for custom niches walls and sill. I love that sill on the niche, brilliant!

 

[TNTRenovate]

Ok...so now my question for you regular tile guys...how long would that have taken you and a helper to install CBU, waterproof with liquid, tile, and grout with epoxy. First floor bath and garage access for saw.

We had one day in demo, installation of the new mixer valve, framing of niche and seat, installation of CBU and installation of the shower base in mortar.

Next day we applied the rapid set thinset and mesh to the joints and screws and applied three coats of liquid.

Following day and a half we tiled.

Then I had 3 hours in grouting.

Am I slow?

No you are not slow. Hard to say from my perspective. I have always done the whole bath so there is a lot going on at the same time. But I usually figure a day to demo, set tub, new mixer and rock. The tile part is hard to tell. It could be a day or three days.

 

[Splinter]

I like the larger shelf in a niche... I always have my granite guy make door thresholds, curbs and shelves out of stone for my showers. I dont like tiled curbs either.

I'll bullnose tile on site if necessary...

 

[overanalyze]

Seeing that niche shows me I am long way away from your skill level! I really like the sill extending out past!

 

[Lugnut1968]

I turned down a tile job... that count? lol

Dude has a leaking shower. Wanted me to tear off the bottom two rows of 8x8 tile and repair it. One of the no shower pan type deals too. No thank ya. Never had any success in those with only tearing out the bottom 2 rows...

 

[PrecisionFloors]

Ok...so now my question for you regular tile guys...how long would that have taken you and a helper to install CBU, waterproof with liquid, tile, and grout with epoxy. First floor bath and garage access for saw.

We had one day in demo, installation of the new mixer valve, framing of niche and seat, installation of CBU and installation of the shower base in mortar.

Next day we applied the rapid set thinset and mesh to the joints and screws and applied three coats of liquid.

Following day and a half we tiled.

Then I had 3 hours in grouting.

Am I slow?

Nope not slow. That's about what I would plan for that job.

 

[TNTRenovate]

I like the larger shelf in a niche... I always have my granite guy make door thresholds, curbs and shelves out of stone for my showers. I dont like tiled curbs either.

I'll bullnose tile on site if necessary...

I think when I try it I am going to him just knock the edges down and not do a half round. Still think these look sick!

 

[jb4211]

I think when I try it I am going to him just knock the edges down and not do a half round. Still think these look sick!

I sent you a PM

 

[Golden view]

Ok...so now my question for you regular tile guys...how long would that have taken you and a helper to install CBU, waterproof with liquid, tile, and grout with epoxy. First floor bath and garage access for saw.

We had one day in demo, installation of the new mixer valve, framing of niche and seat, installation of CBU and installation of the shower base in mortar.

Next day we applied the rapid set thinset and mesh to the joints and screws and applied three coats of liquid.

Following day and a half we tiled.

Then I had 3 hours in grouting.

Am I slow?

If possible I'll pull a long day to get the thinset and mesh tape on at the end of the day and I might be able to get waterproofing done by lunch the next day if I have some heat to help dry. This helps me, because I'll take longer on the tile part!

 

[TNTRenovate]

I sent you a PM

Resent.

 

[Golden view]

What was the crazy quote that happened? I missed it.