Shower Installation
Tools and supplies needed:
- Protective eye wear or safety goggles
- Heavy cloth or leather gloves
- Measuring tape
- Package of DumaWall panels
- Hand saw/circular saw
- 1-inch wood screws
- Adhesive – Loctite Power Grab Ultimate. In Canada: Lepage No More Nails Wet Instant Grab, finish nails or staples.
- Sealant for wet environments-DAP Kwik Seal Ultra. In Canada: Kwick Seal Plus
- Utility knife
- Optional: 5/16-inch aluminum trims for vertical termination points
Read this entire installation guide before beginning your installation. ACP is not responsible and will not be held liable for project failures if installation guidelines are not followed.
DumaWall panels are not intended to be attached to raw concrete, poured concrete walls or concrete block basement walls. Appropriate substrates in a dry environment would include framed walls with existing tile, drywall, cement board, OSB, or plywood. DumaWall panels must be attached to structures that comply with your local building codes and have incorporated appropriate moisture abatement measures.
In a wet environment, such as a tub or shower area, you can use Green board (water-resistant drywall), Hardiebacker®, Tile backer board, Cement board, Go Board, Kerdiboard®, Durock®, DensSheild®, Fiberock®, Permabase®, Wonder board®, and Schluter®.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN INSTALLATION:
Determine Tile Layout
We recommend you perform a “dry layout” prior to applying any adhesive. Our recommended layout for the typical 60” wide by 30” shower surround is to center panels in the first or second row on each wall of the surround.
DumaWall tiles can be installed with an orientation horizontally or vertically, either stacked or subway as shown in the following images:
Horizontal Subway
Vertical Subway
Horizontal Stacked
Vertical Stacked
Determine Installation Type
Most shower surrounds feature a lip or flange around the top perimeter to help prevent water leakage behind the shower surround. Each flange design is different and tile placement will vary to accommodate the design. You will need to determine your unique arrangement before beginning installation. Here, we discuss three typical arrangements beginning with the first row of tile closest to the top of the shower surround.
Over existing tile
If you plan to apply DumaWall over existing tile, the distance between the existing tile and the new DumaWall may be so negligible that the DumaWall can rest flush on the shower surround edge. In this case, simply seal the seam with silicone sealer around the perimeter.
In front of flange, over backer board
If applying DumaWall tile over flange, there will be a slight angle to the tile to accommodate the flange and before affixing to backer board. This angle is modest and can be concealed on either side of the surround with edge trim.
Flange behind backer board
Apply DumaWall to the backer board as you would with tile. In most cases the tiles will be flush to the surface or result in a negligible gap which, again, can be concealed with silicone or edge trim.
Clean Surfaces Before starting, make sure all surfaces are clean, dry, smooth and free from dust, grease, wax, etc. Clean the back surface of the panels by wiping with a clean cloth.
Measure walls check for level and square. Depending on dimensions and surround size, you may need to trim some panels accordingly.
Installation in wet environment such as a tub or shower surround requires a bead of DAP® Kwik Seal Ultra (sealant) to be placed in all tongue and groove joints on every tile. Also, add a bead of sealant along cut edges or edges placed in corners if not using trims.
- Repeat this process on perpendicular tile also facing corner (image B). If corner trims are used, sealer should still be applied in trim channel.
image A
image B
image C
Cut DumaWall tiles using standard wood working tools like a table saw or circular saw with a fine tooth blade to provide a clean, smooth cut. Use a 60-tooth blade or higher. Protect the surface of the panel with painter’s tape to avoid scratches.
- Alternatively, you can score one side a few times with a utility knife and snap the tile at the line. This may require sanding the snapped edges. A hole saw can also be used to cut faucet and shower head openings.
- Cut panels to accommodate shower heads and faucets. Measure and mark the borders where the opening will be with a marker. Drill a ½” to 1” hole using a drill in a corner of the cut-out section. Use a jigsaw or hole saw to cut the remaining opening, following your tracing.
Do not attach accessories like soap dishes, towel racks or shelves directly to tiles. Drill holes through the tiles and use suitable anchors to attach accessories securely into the framing behind. Seal with DAP® Kwik Seal Ultra.
To Begin Installation
Snap a level line.
When starting your first row of a shower surround, be sure it is straight and level. Snap a level line and align the tops of each panel in the first row to the snapped line.
To install your first panel, begin with bottom row and work from left to right. Start bottom-left with a partial tile, so that you will have a full tile, centered in the middle of the first row. That way, if you need to trim panels closer to the edges, you can use those extra pieces in other areas and minimize waste. The bottom flange should also be cut off of tiles when placing them on the floor or base of the shower surround. This will allow for a level edge on bottom. Use a utility knife or a table saw to cut the flange.
If not using Inside/Outside Corner Trims and you are installing a full size tile into a corner, the vertical flange or tongue must be cut off to allow for a plumb edge against the substrate.
- Apply adhesive to the back of the panel using Loctite® Power Grab Ultimate. Carefully read and follow manufacturer’s directions. Apply a ¼” bead in a typical “M” or “W” pattern, and a bead around the tile perimeter about ½” in. The 10 oz. adhesive tube covers approximately 5 panels.
- Apply the panel to the substrate by pressing it into place. Apply even pressure with your hands across the entire panel. If necessary use painter’s tape, shims or pins to hold panels in place until adhesive sets.
- Wipe off excessive adhesive. Use water and a cloth. Clean off any adhesive residue that is visible while it is still wet. Do not allow this residue to dry as it will be difficult to clean up when dry and could damage the finish.
- Connect the next tile by fully inserting the tongue into the groove (Image N). For wet or moist installations be sure to apply a thin bead (1/16 to 1/8-inch) of DAP® Kwik Seal Ultra sealer to the connecting edge of each tile on both vertical and horizontal connecting seams.
- Repeat until bottom row is complete. If installing in a corner, cut off the flange of the tile facing the corner to allow a plumb surface against the substrate. Repeat this process on tile that abuts the previous one also facing the corner.
- Allow the adhesive on the bottom row to set up. See adhesive manufacturer’s directions. The time necessary can vary from 20 minutes to several hours.
- After first row has set up, apply the remaining tiles according to the pattern or layout you desire. Use adhesive and methods described above for remaining rows.
DumaWall Edge and Corner Trims
Inside Corner Trim
Inside corner trims should be attached with adhesive to the substrate. Dispense a small bead of adhesive directly to the substrate corner or on the trim itself. Also dispense a bead of sealant into each of the trim’s channels to prevent water from reaching the substrate.
Cross-Section
Typical Application
Universal J-Trim
Universal J-Trims are used to finish the terminal end of tiles when not adjoined to anything. To install, don’t dispense adhesive a few inches from the tile’s edge where you intend to use the Universal J-Trim. This will allow the trim to slide in-place. Dispense a bead of sealant into the receiving channel of the trim and then press the trim into place.
Cross-Section
Typical Application
L-Trim
L-Trims are used to cover existing exposed tiles to provide a finished look (see drawing below). Install by dispensing a thin bead of sealant on the DumaWall side and a thin bead of adhesive on the substrate side. Press trim into place. If trim will not stay in-place, use some masking or painter’s tape to hold until adhesive sets.
Cross-Section
Typical Applications