Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?

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Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?

Author: HCStines (NC)

Hi!

We are in the middle of a major master shower remodel. We purchased beautiful tile for the shower walls & it has just been put up. But we are just now realizing it may cause a problem with water behind the walls over time because the tile is not flat. It has a gentle rippling pattern in it. Nothing dramatic, but certainly not flat.

I have asked the plumbing supply company we bought our Delta fixtures from if there is a gasket we should purchase to help tighten the trim plates to the wall and have been told they don't sell anything like that.

When we purchased the tile we specifically asked if it could be used on shower walls and were told, absolutely it could, but not on the floor. So we didn't think more about it. Surely there is a mechanism that is used that is reliably able to seal the trim plates - but I'm having no luck finding what it is, and since I have no knowledge of the subject, I want to educate myself about it so I can talk to my contractor and plumber about it and feel confident the right thing is happening.

Appreciate any help you can give us!

Re: Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?
Author: Paul48 (CT) Clean surfaces and 100% silicone caulk. Don't go crazy with the stuff, you may want to get it apart at a later date.
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Re: Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?
Author: HCStines (NC) Thanks for the heads-up Paul!
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Re: Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?
Author: bernabeu (SC) Plumbers Putty is your friend. ============================================== "Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Re: Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?
Author: packy (MA) make your own gasket. just get some fairly dense weather stripping that is sticky on one side and adhere it to the back of the escutcheon. a lot of companies do this for their shower trim products. just leave a little gap at the bottom. kinda hard to make out here but see the gasket behind the plate ?
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Re: Shower Tile Not Flat: How to Prevent Leakage Around Fixtures?
Author: HCStines (NC) OK, I will research that. Thank you! Edited 1 times.
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