Shower Edge Detail

When remodeling a shower, careful attention needs to be made when considering the shower edge detail.  Virtually no one considers this when discussing their shower edge trim with their contractor.  Why is this so important?  The shower edge detail brings it all together.  A messy shower edge will make the whole project look sloppy, unprofessional, and just plain yucky.

How Many Types of Shower Edge Detail Are There?

There are basically six types of shower edge detail.  These are unfinished, tile, quarter round, mitered, metal/tile, and metal.

What is the Best Shower Edge Detail?

There is no “best” but there is a worse. An unfinished edge is the result of inexperience, substandard and cheap/low-cost installation, incorrect substrate, walls that are not plumb, or a combination of all of these.

As for the other types, it depends on the look and feel of the shower remodel you are looking for.  It’s also largely determined by the condition of the wall studs and utilities behind the shower wall material.

Unfinished edge detail

This does not even really count as an edge detail.  An unfinished edge means a low budget shower tile installation, unprincipled installer, or a very inexperienced installer – or all three.  It’s safe to say that if a shower has this type of finished edge, the entire shower tile project is suspect.

Tile edge detail

When using a tiled edge, a piece of tile is cut and placed such that it fills the space between the wall tile and unfinished edge.  This is a low-cost option that provides a finished shower edge.  The drawback is that you will see the clay coloring on the back of the tile.  There is also more visible grout.  Not the best look but it does provide a finished edge at a lower cost.  Sometimes this is the only option.  If a client does not want any of the other edge details, this is the best option.

Quarter round edge detail

Quarter round, sometimes referred to as bullnose, was the standard for decades when 4×4, 6×6, and 12×12 tiles were used on shower walls.  However, since roughly 2020, people prefer 12×24 sized tiles.  Today, quarter round tiles are much harder to find.  Quarter round gives the walls a smoother, rounded, uniform, and pleasant look and feel.  Not as noticeable is that with quarter round, there are no sharp edges.  The nature of quarter round is a smooth, round corner.  This can be an important consideration for those aging in place or having small children.

Mitered edge detail

Here, both the wall tile and edge tile are cut with a 45-degree angle.  This creates a very nice, clean, and well-defined transition between the wall and edge.  This is one of the preferred edge details with 12×24 and larger shower wall tiles.  It minimizes grout and presents a very smooth, professional, and finished look.  When mitering tile, the installer must use tile epoxy to ensure a strong, watertight joint.  This is the best option when there is a wall return – like the above picture illustrates.

Metal/Tile edge detail

This is a good option when there is a return, and the mitered look is not desired. The clay coloring on the back of the tile remains obscured by the metal.  There is minimal visible grout.

Metal edge detail

This is the preferred shower edge detail for 12×24 and larger sized tiles and there is no wall return.  Using metal gives a very clean, polished, and professional appearance to your tile and overall shower.  There are no chips or splintering on the edges, no over-exposed grout, no visible clay, and it provides for a much stronger tile edge detail.  Metal is available in over 40 different colors and finishes, 8 profiles, and up to 9 heights.  The Jolly profile is the most popular.  Metal with a rounded reveal surface profile is the best option if you are aging in place or have small children.

What Else Should I Know About Shower Tile Edging?

Shower tile should never be installed using any type of backer board – HardiBacker^®, Schluter^® Kerdi-Board, GoBoard^®, Triton^®, or drywall.  You can’t get the walls correctly plumb and watertight using these types of materials.  Whenever I see a poor or failing shower tile job, it’s almost always because one of these products was used.

Except for metal, any tile that is cut thin or with a 45-degree angle carries the risk of chipping and splintering.  This is not a deficiency on the part of the tile installer – unless he is using an old or damaged saw blade.  If you elect to have a tiled or mitered shower edge detail, expect some chipping and splintering.  This is usually minor, but it will be visible up close.

When Do I Select my Shower Edge Detail?

Until the entire shower is demolished down to the studs, it’s anyone’s guess what edge detail is possible and work best.  Why?  Until the existing shower wall material is removed down to the studs, it is not possible to determine if the walls are plumb and level.  These conditions primarily determine the edge detail.  Many tile installers will “fake it” to give you the edge detail you want.  However, in doing this, they are guaranteeing that your new shower will not last or perform as it should.  As with all things, you want truth, not coverup.  If your contractor will not tell you what you need to hear versus what you want to hear, you have hired the wrong person.  In turn, you must be willing to listen with an open mind and be ready to accept their recommendations.

Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Bathroom

Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction.  We are experts in bathroom remodeling. We manage projects in an efficient manner.  DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders.  Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements.  Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract.  We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you.  If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.

How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Bathroom?

If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free consultation.  DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California.  This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo,  Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, and Aliso Viejo.