Subway Tile Bath with Pattern Floor in Smyrna
About This Project
This Smyrna bathroom in the Village Green neighborhood combined classic white 3x6 subway tile on the walls and tub surround with a decorative encaustic-look cement tile on the floor. The contrast between the clean, simple wall tile and the patterned floor creates a bathroom that feels both classic and considered.
The patterned cement floor tile required a different setting approach than standard porcelain. Cement tile is porous and must be sealed before grouting to prevent grout from absorbing into the tile face and staining it permanently. We applied two coats of penetrating sealer to the floor tile before grouting, then sealed again after grout was cured. The grout color was chosen to complement rather than match the tile's pattern colors.
The tub surround subway tile was set in a traditional brick pattern with a white grout, which required careful joint alignment at the tub deck. The transition between tub deck and wall tile was caulked rather than grouted to allow for movement at that joint.
What We Did
- Demo existing tile; installed cement backer board on walls and waterproofing on tub surround
- Set 3x6 white subway tile in running bond on walls; set patterned cement tile on floor
- Pre-sealed cement floor tile before grouting; grouted walls with white unsanded grout
- Post-sealed cement floor tile; caulked tub deck joint and all plane changes
