Shower Pan Installation

A shower pan is responsible for the collection of water from the shower of your bathroom. Hence, it prevents the damage that can be caused to the walls and floors by water leakage. It requires regular replacement as it gets worn out quite frequently. You do not need to have very high skills in plumbing, for a shower pan installation. Just the basic skills and the right kind of tools will be enough to carry out this task.

How to Install Shower Pan on Concrete Floor?

Select the pre-molded shower pans that are available in the market when you are installing it on your own. It is always recommended to choose a good quality shower pan so that no moisture leaks out, and it lasts for a long time to come. Moreover, if you choose a poor quality shower pan, there is a possibility of the growth of mold and mildew on them. Shower pans made of fiberglass and acrylic are the best choice for this purpose.

The main task that needs to be done is to prepare a sub-floor which is mostly made of concrete. The required thickness of the base is different for each shower pan. Usually, it is mentioned in the manufacturer's guide provided with the shower pan that you have purchased. Prepare a mortar mix of the required quantity and spread it on the floor evenly to get the thickness that has been instructed in the guidelines. Most of the pre-molded shower pans have an in-built slope with them which helps the water to flow to the drain and prevent the shower water from getting stagnant in one place.

If the shower pan that you are installing does not have that kind of slope with it, then you have to build it up with the mortar. Allow the mortar to get cured completely. Then it is time to install the shower pan liner. Place the liner on the surface of the mortar and then spread another layer of mortar on it. Now place the shower pan on the mortar in such a way that the pan can fit in perfect alignment with the rest of the shower. Fix the shower pan properly on the base so that no water can pass through it. Finally, the drain cover needs to be screwed up with the shower pan.

Installing a Shower Pan on Ceramic Tiles

Today, shower enclosures with ceramic tile flooring are immensely popular. The process of installing a shower pan on ceramic tile floor is slightly different. It is a flexible sheet made of plastic material that has to be laid down on the floor as a liner before you place the ceramic tiles on it. This shower liner made of various materials are available in the market. Amongst them, those made of PVC are the best.

To start with, you have to prepare a mortar base in the same way that you have prepared for the concrete floor. A gradual slope has to be made on the mortar with the help of a trowel which is directed towards the drain. Let it dry up completely before you place the plastic shower liner on it.

The sheet of the shower pan liner should cover the entire base area well. Fold the edges of the liner up the adjacent wall and fix it using nails or staples in such a way that it does not move. Then lay one more coating of mortar on it to secure it further. Give some time to the mortar to dry up and then lay the ceramic tiles on it. For the next 24 hours, keep the area untouched and let the tiles get set on the surface. After that, apply the grout to the tiles and leave it to dry for one more day before you can start using it.

Thus, you can see that a shower pan installation is not as difficult as any other home improvement project. You can easily do it yourself and save some of your hard-earned money.