Pittsburg Surround, April, 2026

This tub surround in Pittsburg was fairly straightforward, and it was done for a very meticulous client who wanted a clean, minimalist result. In minimalist tile work, the layout and the details are everything, because there’s nothing decorative to hide behind.

I installed the tile over DensShield backer, which meant sealing every screw hole and joint with mortar before anything else. On top of that went a layer of AquaGuard waterproofing (I don’t believe it made it into the photos). The result is a fully sealed, waterproof surface behind the tile, which is where a shower’s lifespan is really decided.

The tile runs all the way to the ceiling in a grid pattern. To keep it balanced, I centered the layout on the back wall so the joints split evenly. Facing the back wall, you see two full two-foot tiles in the middle with eight-inch sections on each side. Symmetry like that is what makes a simple grid look intentional instead of just tiled.

The client had his own idea for an aluminum shower shelf that sits in the corner, mounted on the grout line so it lines up with the grid. It’s a small detail, but it fits the minimalist look better than a niche and takes a fraction of the time to build.

I freehanded the cutout for the shower valve with a diamond-blade angle grinder. On a clean, simple wall, a tight, neat cut around the valve matters more than usual, because the trim plate only covers so much.

The tub had settled a little over the years and was slightly out of level. To keep the tile courses level and square with the rest of the room, I lifted the tile on the right-hand wall slightly off the top of the tub rather than following its slope. The tile still sets in front of the tub flange, so water running down the wall sheds over the flange and into the tub, and the joint at the tub gets a flexible, color-matched caulk. It should give a good water seal there.

The finished surround is exactly what the client was after: clean lines, balanced joints, and nothing extra.