Using shower tray as a 'batten' for tiling?

[Kaymo]

Hi all,
I've tiled a little before, and though I am not great at it I am going to tile a shower area soon, which should be relatively straightforward.

I know that the standard advice is to start with a batten less than one tile height from the tray and work up, then remove the batten and cut to fit the bottom gap, but I am wondering if there is any reason not to simply use the shower tray as the starting point, with some spacers to leave a gap for silicone?

I suspect the reason for the batten is so that you can avoid having a sliver of a tile at the top, but as I am going to stop with a whole tile before reaching the ceiling, is there any other reason not to tile from the tray up? The tray will be level.

Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

.

 

[Kaymo]

Thanks.

 

[TeaAndBiscuits]

I've usually found that the ceiling runs out at least a little bit so deliberately making sure you have a cut at the top allows you to compensate and get a nice close fit all the way round.

 

[Kaymo]

Thanks. Good tip.

As per the OP, I originally wasn't planning on going all the way to the ceiling, but I have changed that plan now as with the condition of the plaster at the top I would have had to make good on that, and its easier to just fit an extra row of tiles to the ceiling so I have just run the backer board to the top.

Should get on to this later in the week so good timing on this.