Tiling a three-sided shower enclosure, tray to ceiling, correct use of battens?

[JKBDIY]

Hello,

I'm set to tile a 3-sided enclosure, approx 1300x800. I've found the centre of the 1300 wall and top and bottom, left and right leave me with a good chunk of tile in the cuts (no slivers). The tray is fairly level but I can't guarantee it's perfect for tiling from so I'm tempted to try timber battens. I've done a fair bit of tiling but mainly floors and never used battens before.

I'm using 150x300 tiles, laid horizontally in a brick-block pattern. To me this makes the use of a vertical batten more of a pain so I'm tempted to use only a horizontal batten. Should this be fixed to the wall down low, just above what will be the first (cut) row on top of the shower tray? Or are others starting battens at some other point on the wall and, if so, why?

 

[drives]

I've done exactly what you proposing I believe, when doing a two sided enclosure. Horizontal batten spaced so this is essentially my second row of tiles. Positioning was based on dry laying them out (just on the floor, with spacers I'd be using) and making sure I would end up with even height tile cuts on the first row, and at the top i.e. ceiling. That way I could ensure that the batten was perfectly level even if the shower tray was very slightly out.

 

[lostinthelight]

This is how I tile off a batten which avoids puncturing the tanking
Using shims lets you level it spot on