Once the Thinset mortar behind the waterproofing membranes has cured, we can start with the preparations for the bathroom floor tiles. We had thought about the tiling for a while already, but more on that in another post.

The plan was to start with the base tiles along the floor and wall edges. That lead us head on to a problem that I really wanted to resolve.

Corners in shower stalls are notoriously difficult to seal and to keep clean. This is where the water usually concentrates and soap residue accumulates. In an attempt to manage the concentration of water in those corners, they are often sealed with a bead of silicone, which in turn appears to be a soap residue magnet.

In short, these corners begin to look skanky really fast.

I am not the only one who has been bothered by this. Somebody else actually came up with a solution that makes the corners more hygenic.

This reversed quarter round or cove shaped profile by Schluter with a 18 mm (almost 3/4 inch) radius is made out of rigid PVC and prevents water from concentrating while being easy to clean. It comes in different depths that correspond to the tile thickness with which it will be used.

The anchoring legs of the profile are set into Thinset mortar. Once cured, the base tiles can be installed. They should end up flush with the cove profile to allow for good drainage.

This is one of these obscure gadgets that add to the longevity of an installation, make for a healthier indoor environment, and help with the moisture management.

To control costs, we only installed the cove profile in the shower stall, where it is most needed and most useful. Let’s see if it will do the job and meet our expectations.