Tiling a shower is probably one of the most commonly requested tasks - followed by the bathroom and kitchen - that a fulltime, professional tiler will be called to carry out. And it is in the 'wet area' that a tiler's qualified training and experience gained on industry approved NVQ tiling courses, such as the complete City & Guilds 8 week tiling course, which will be most obvious in the standard of the finished work.At the outset, there are some basic but vitally important items to be aware of at the preparation stage of tiling a shower.Firstly, the type and quality of tile is key. Without question, a porcelain tile is a far superior product than ceramic for this particular application where a shower area is likely to be more frequently used and exposed to water almost every day. Porcelain tile absorbs less moisture than ceramic because it is a more dense, harder material, and also has better resistance to wear and damage.Invariably, a badly deteriorated existing shower area will need to be completely removed and renovated but installing a totally new shower area can be considered common practice anyway.Waterproofing is absolutely essential. Tiles are not waterproof in themselves and the entire area of wall and floor will need to be secured to protect from moisture. This is achieved by applying a waterproof membrane - known as 'tanking' to the inside of the sub-structure in accordance with BS8102:1990.In addition, there may very well be a requirement for installing a good-quality solid flooring by the use of a screed or in some circumstances, a cement backer board to provide a sturdy base to securely affix the tiles. It is always advised to also undertake a Tanking and Screed Laying Course in order to gain the necessary knowledge to successfully complete this specific task to the required specification.Assembling the correct materials, such as thinset and grout and grout sealer to complete the job to standard, is vital and should be brought to the job before commencement. The same principle applies to purchasing and bringing the right tools to site, from say, a wet saw tile cutter and cement board saw to spacers, buckets, trowels, and all other necessary tools and implements to correctly deal with unexpected issues.Knowing how to confidently and correctly undertake tiling a shower requires qualified training. Often candidates will be required to start their training at entry level on a 5 day introductory tiling course. Further?