Ask Tom & Leslie

Building A Bathtub

Dear Tom & Leslie,
I have seen  a tub made completely of tile.  How does the tile hold water? I know that tile alone will hold water but grout won't.  I really want to make a tub like this but do you guys know how to make it waterproof?
Sam Thompson
Colorado Springs, CO

Dear Sam,
You are correct that the grout will not hold water.  In this case the tub was not water proof but the material beneath the tile tub is. To build one, you would first have to construct the tub, then line it with a water proof material like fiberglass, then adhere the tile.  This is basically what is done when constructing a tile show pan for a shower stall.  It's not a simple do-it-yourself project so if you really want a fancy tub, you might be better off just buying one!
Thanks for writing,
Tom & Leslie

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