Burlington Tile Academy
A free tile academy: learn to build a shower the right way, from a pro tile setter who geeks out on it.
See inside the shower →What are you planning?
Every Burlington Tile Academy guide, by topic
Most shower problems start under the tile: a flat pan, a skipped flood test, thinset with no coverage. The Burlington Tile Academy is where Mike Bourdages, a working tile setter in Burlington, Ontario, shows how a shower gets built the right way, layer by layer: custom-sloped mortar beds, waterproofing, flood tests, large tile and slabs. It is free, it is written from real jobs, and yes, he geeks out on it.
Tile NO’s with a Tile Pro
Short, honest breakdowns of the shortcuts that cause leaks, cracks and lippage, and what a properly built job looks like instead.
- NO. 01Skipping the flood test
- NO. 02Flat shower floors with no slope
- NO. 03Big tile on an un-flattened floor
Guides for homeowners
Seventeen free guides written from real Burlington jobs.
How to Build a Shower Step by Step: Every Layer, the Right Way
Read the guide ›Shower Pan Slope and Drains: How Much Slope, and Linear vs Centre
Read the guide ›Waterproofing a Shower: Sheet vs Liquid Membrane, Corners, Seams and the Flood Test
Read the guide ›Setting Large Tile Without Lippage: Back-Butter, Full Coverage and Leveling Clips
Read the guide ›Curbless Shower Build: Recessing the Floor, Getting the Slope and Placing the Drain
Read the guide ›How to Choose Tile for a Shower (Without Regretting It in Year Two)
Read the guide ›The Complete Curbless Shower Guide: Slope, Drains and Floor Recessing
Read the guide ›Porcelain Slab Showers: Seamless Walls, Explained by the Guy Who Carries Them
Read the guide ›Steam Shower Planning Guide: Generator, Ceiling Slope, Door and Seat
Read the guide ›What Is Large-Format Tile? (And Why It’s Harder to Install Than It Looks)
Read the guide ›Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile: The Difference That Actually Matters
Read the guide ›Bathroom Renovations in Burlington, ON: A Homeowner’s Guide From a Local Tile Pro
Read the guide ›Do I Need a Building Permit for a Bathroom Renovation in Burlington?
Read the guide ›Pros we learn from
Shared with credit and permission. We link out rather than re-host.
Waterproofing tests
Credit: Creator name · link pending permissionLayout tricks
Credit: Creator name · link pending permissionStone & slab work
Credit: Creator name · link pending permissionTile NO’s on site
Credit: Creator name · link pending permission
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