Tiling a shower in an alcove

[MummytoMog]

Spent all our money, can't afford to get someone to come and do the tiling, so planning on doing it myself. We were planning an electric shower (wiring and plumbing in place) in a 780ish wide alcove, so thinking 760 wide tray, with metro tiles on three walls and a shower door. Do we need to tank the walls first? Buy a shower tray with an upstand and tile over it? I'm guessing we need to take off the skirting that's inexplicably gone on in that alcove. Obviously I don't want it to leak everywhere and I'm a bit paranoid.

Idea was that I would do the tiling and fit the tray and then get a plumber/electrician to fit the electric shower. Which should it be? And Would they prefer to fit over the tiles or for me to leave a sort of gap?

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Take off skirting - ask plumber / electrician which order he prefers - then do accordingly - unless you have no faith in the state of the walls - I would think that using the right fix and grout should be enough without tanking .... Use a 2' ish spirit level to check the tiles are flat to wall as well as in line .. Take your time and remember to use spacers - if you hate constantly cleaning then choose a darker grout !

Oh - before you buy your tray - check to see of you could fit an 800mm flat topped tray in with a bit of chasing into the wall ?! Some trays have a wide enough ledge to accommodate this ! If you buy a smaller try you will have to fit a small slope to the bottom and that is a possible place for leaks !

[MummytoMog]

Ooooh thank you for the chasing idea, will have a poke about!

[SpiderStacy]

Our plumber was very keen on tanking - but we live in a flat and wanted to minimise risk of leaks for the neighbours' sake.

[Wormshuffler]

I would be tempted to take the plaster off and fix cement boards to the brick or batons. Its waterproof and will give you a perfectly flat surface to tile onto.