No, you don't need to fill in the spaces between the tile and shower fixtures. Since you've stated that the escutcheons / flanges will completely cover the gaps, all you have to do is caulk the escutcheons and flanges all the way around after installing them. You'll also want to caulk around the spout where it meets up against the tile.
Answer from JACK on Stack ExchangeDIY Home Improvement
diychatroom.com › home › forums › home improvement › remodeling
Quick question about tiling around shower valve | DIY Home Improvement Forum
If you look at the black plastic piece you’ll notice two bolts diagonal from each other holding it in place. Unscrew those bolts to remove the plastic piece. Then when you cut your wall board or tile around the valve make sure it doesn’t cover those two holes where those bolts screwed into the valve.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/diy › yet another bathtub shower issue.. tile around shower valve..
r/DIY on Reddit: Yet another bathtub shower issue.. Tile around shower valve..
August 15, 2018 -
So I completed my tile around my bathtub, however I am trying to determine if I should of left a bigger opening for my shower valve. I the trim pieces I have 'dry fitted' appear to be away from the wall.
Before moving forward, should I remove the tile around the pipe to make a bigger hole for the valve, trim. My thinking is in the attached image around the circle.
If so, any advise on how to remove. I have a grinder, but not sure it that would tear this apart or not.
Trim piece added.. for sizing.
The pencil circle is where the inner part is on the trim piece (other picture). NOT the otter circle.
Top answer 1 of 5
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I see this problem so many times. People never read the instructions when installing the valve. Guarantee this was a DIY and not a plumber. There is a plastic guard piece that you install over the valve before tiling. You then tile to that guard piece. Once the tiling and grouting is done, the piece is removed revealing an nice accessible hole so that in the future there is access to the cartridge if it needs to be changed. Just take an angel grinder with a diamond blade and cut out a circular hole about 1" in diameter smaller than the trim piece ( so .5" smaller all around). Just take your time an move the top of the grinder in a circular motion. There are some YouTube videos that show this technique. Search cutting circle on tile with grinder.
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Oscillating tool with a diamond blade is what I would use, else remove whole tiles and then redo correctly. I do not recommend grinding...it could work, but it could also make the situation much worse i think.
Videos
Fine Homebuilding
finehomebuilding.com › replacing tile around a shower valve
Replacing Tile around a Shower Valve - Fine Homebuilding
July 15, 2021 - If you’re making a repair over tile set on backerboard, protect the area and remove any chipped tiles as you did for the repair over mud 1. Scrape or chip off residual thinset from the existing backerboard 2. With a small level, mark out a rectangle or square on the backerboard just beyond the damaged area 3. Cut to these lines by scoring, then cutting with a utility knife, and remove any additional board with tile nippers 4, 5. Screw in blocking to reinforce and bolster the repair piece 6. Cut the repair piece to size, slightly smaller than the opening you just created, and screw it in place 7, 8. Caulk generously around the perimeter of the patch, then flatten and allow drying time 9.
YouTube
youtube.com › home repair tutor
How to Tile Around Shower Valves - #shorts - YouTube
How to tile around shower valves#shorts #tiles #diy #howto #showerremodel #bathroomremodel This full tutorial is available to our Platinum members in the New...
Published October 2, 2022 Views 48K
Tilers Forums
tilersforums.com › tiling advice by country › uk tiling forum | tile advice
Tiling around the shower valve. | | Tilers Forums
July 30, 2009 - Do I cut two round holes to allow ... are acceptable. We produce diamond drilling kits so you can drill neat holes through the middle of a tile to fit shower valves....
Weekand
weekand.com › home-garden › article › tile-around-shower-fixtures-18044703.php
How to Tile Around Shower Fixtures
April 4, 2012 - The so-called "wet wall" of your tub surround isn't quite as simple to tile as the dry walls that don't contain water supply pipes. You need to plan a way to run your tiles up to the shower supply pipe, the tub supply pipe and the mixing valve that controls water temperature -- all of which ...
Quora
quora.com › How-do-I-cut-tile-around-a-shower-valve
How to cut tile around a shower valve - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): I usually use a diamond blade/cutting wheel on an angle grinder or on a dremel tool (dremel tools are much smaller and easier to wield) No matter what tool you use, here are a couple tips to help you out: 1: definitely wear eye protection because it only takes a fraction of a s...
DIYnot
diynot.com › home › forums › how to... › tiling
shower valve fixed to wall....how to tile | DIYnot Forums
July 27, 2012 - Tile upwards from the shower tray, leaving a 2mm gap to the tray for silicone; adjust the bottom tile to suit the layout & any unevenness, it’s usual to arrange the layout so you cut the bottom tile to fit , even if it’s only a thin sliver.
DIYnot
diynot.com › home › forums › how to... › tiling
Tiling around a shower head outlet valve - what to do? | DIYnot Forums
April 11, 2023 - It's a bit gash but might look better with a chrome surround, like what you might use to hide a rad pipe cut out in a floor If it truly is intended to be the thing onto which the wand is screwed, then you'd need to set the screw to open and leave it that way; the diverter tap in the shower mixer block will determine if water flows to the wand, not this I'd have expected whatever wand is intended to come with a fitting that's a bit more decorative than that iso though; if there truly isn't one then maybe at least turn the valve so the screw is at the bottom and less visible ... Standard shower hose won’t fit that it too large , needs replacement the grohe shower should have come with required outlet, often sticks out thru tile with a plate to tidy it and a (grub screwed )outer connection.
The Tile Shop
tileshop.com › home › resources › how tos › how to tile a shower like a pro
How to Tile a Shower Like a Pro | The Tile Shop
To cut around the valve, shower head and tub spout, you can either cut out a square using your utility knife, or use a hole saw bit on your drill to cut a circle of appropriate size.
Published March 29, 2024
Top answer 1 of 3
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The shower valve trim will always go over the tile.
Usually the trim will have a foam backing ring that should compress against the tile and prevent water from getting behind it. If the tile is uneven or you do not feel comfortable with the seal of the valves built in foam gasket you can caulk around the trim with a latex caulk. we usually use white or clear for the caulking but it depends on your tile/ grout colors. If you ever need to access the ports on the valve behind the trim you simply cut the caulking with a razor knife and remove the trim.Simply clean off the caulking and re-seal the trim again after you make your adjustments to the valve.
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The trim goes over the tile and covers the hole. Caulk around the edge to seal it from the water. Leave a little spot at the very bottom uncaulked as a weep hole.
Screwfix Community Forum
community.screwfix.com › forums › screwfix community forum › tilers' talk
Tiling around a concealed shower valve? | Screwfix Community Forum
January 10, 2019 - Yes, you often have to put a little bead of silicone around the back edge of plate. Don’t use much! As to where to tile to, - make sure all screw heads and shafts are not tiled too close to. It would probably surprise you if you had to install some of the recessed round type shower valves.
YouTube
youtube.com › shorts › IYLf2PuM2H0
Tile Tip for Shower Valve - #shorts #tileshower #diy #homerepairtutor - YouTube
Tile tip for shower valve…I used a template and 4 inch diamond hole saw to make this cut. Then I polished the tile with a chamfer cone. Some folks say ‘nobod...
Published June 20, 2025
TikTok
tiktok.com › @bathroomremodelingteachr › video › 7489823227896728863
🚿 Shower Valve Placement for Tile 🚿 #diy #plumbing #HomeImprovement #bathroomremodelingteacher | TikTok
TikTok video from Bathroomremodelingteacher (@bathroomremodelingteachr)
This Old House
thisoldhouse.com › home › how to repair a shower valve in a tile wall
How To Repair a Shower Valve in a Tile Wall
Then, screw the plate to the valve, creating a watertight seal. Apply a bead of silicone caulk around the edges of the new tile and where the tile meets the shower valve to prevent water infiltration.
Published July 8, 2025
Facebook
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How to tile around shower valves…just one way to do it. I ...
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Weekand
weekand.com › home-garden › article › cut-porcelain-tile-around-shower-valve-18017869.php
How to Cut Porcelain Tile Around a Shower Valve
September 11, 2012 - In every shower tile installation, the tiles must be cut to go around the shower valve. Depending on the size of the tiles, you can place the valve directly in the center of a tile or across two that are grouted in the center.
Weekand
weekand.com › home-garden › article › measure-tiles-cut-around-shower-faucet-18037760.php
How to Measure Tiles to Cut Around a Shower Faucet
May 2, 2013 - Install the shower tiles up to the area where a valve, showerhead or tub spout is located. By installing the tiles on the walls surrounding the tile that needs to be cut, it gives you a built-in template with the correct spacing for the tile ...
DoItYourself.com
doityourself.com › stry › installing-shower-faucets-through-a-ceramic-tile-surrounding
How to Install a Shower Faucet Through a Ceramic Tile Surround | DoItYourself.com
February 16, 2021 - Take the mortar-coated tile and place it over the pipe. The faucet should slide very nicely through the hole you created in the tile. Press this tile using some force, so it sits nicely and firmly against the wall of your shower.