Can I Use Large Tiles In a Shower?

When it comes to shower tiling and bathroom design, there’s no doubt that a bathroom with large tiles looks more beautiful and luxurious than its counterparts.

And one of the top features that makes large bathroom tiles so desirable, is the benefit of fewer grout lines to make bathroom and shower cleaning quicker and easier! However, a common question that comes up is ‘Can I use large tiles in a shower base AND still achieve good fall to the floor waste?’

Well, the answer is YES! …and here’s how to plan your bathroom design when using large tiles for showers.

Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite bathroom with large tiles and integrated Shower Niche

When using large tile flooring in a shower, the solution is relatively simple — but it’s essential to plan ahead in your bathroom project, and specify the right products.

In your planning, you want to consider your tile set-out, and plan where the tile edge will stop and start, to completely avoid lots of messy tile cuts in your shower base. And the end result you’re looking for is large shower flooring tiles that are arranged so they run neatly down to the shower waste. Here’s how…

Zephyr and Stone • Hamptons Powder Room with Brass Taps and Hardware

Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite with long Shower Grate

Planning For Large Bathroom Tiles

You’re going to need to plan and specify a linear floor waste. We use Lauxes Grates floor wastes as they come in long lengths of up to 5600mm or 5.6m, which your tradesperson can cut down onsite to fit perfectly to your bathroom dimensions. A Lauxes Grate can be used to create one long shower waste or cut down to any size to use in multiple showers.

Before any plumbing, waterproofing or floor screeding is done, it’s essential to plan where the floor waste will be located. You’ll need to make sure your builder, plumber and tiler know that you’re planning for this type of finish.

Communication is key between all trades in the early stages of your project.

Z+S Tip • Ideally, floor wastes should be planned and clearly marked when drafting your bathroom floor plan, so that the concrete slab, floor trusses or flooring system can be designed to suit. This small, crucial step can save you time, money and headaches during your bathroom renovation project.

Plumbing Prep

To avoid tile cuts, your linear floor waste should run the length or width of your shower. Your plumber will install the wastewater pipes first at the plumbing rough-in stage.

For a long shower with more than one shower head, you should consider more than one waste outlet, to ensure the water can flow away fast enough. This is done by installing 2 or more shower wastes which will sit underneath the length of the long shower grate, to drain water effectively.

Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite with Tile Insert Waste

Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Bathroom with shower tiling with large shower tile

Tiling Prep

Your tiler will generally waterproof and prep the shower base for tiles. Then the floor waste will be installed during screeding of your shower base. Screeding is the laying of a base of sand and cement mix and occurs before shower and bathroom tiling.

The screed is angled ever so slightly to allow water to flow or ‘fall’ towards the linear floor waste or shower grate. Unlike a small square or round traditional floor waste, a linear floor waste allows you to keep the fall in your shower base running in a single direction and means there’s no need for numerous tile cuts.

Tiling With Large Tiles

Shower tiling with large shower floor tiles or small tiles is made easy with a long shower grate, as your tiles can be laid neatly without having to deal with multiple floor angles.

The Shower Grates waste we used in these bathrooms is the Lauxes Slimline Tile Insert - STI. Lauxes wastes are available in a range of colours so you have the option of matching your waste to your tapware or other bathroom finishes.

Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Ensuite Tile Insert

It’s absolutely viable to use large shower tiles in your new shower and achieve a seamless finish, to create that designer look in your bathroom. Just ensure you don’t overlook planning in the early stages of your bathroom project and communication with your tradespeople on the look you’re hoping to achieve.