"Shower Pans" - How To Build Them!

When I saw the wet spot on the bedroom floor across the wall from the shower, I knew I was about to learn about shower pans.

The grout deteriorated at the bottom of the shower. That happens pretty often since it's hard to see. A trip under the house confirmed the leaks and damage to the floor under the shower.

Then I learned that the tile guys in our area are all very busy, so you wait for someone to get to your job. I paid close attention when Mr. Davis finally got there, because it looked like this could be an interesting do-it yourself project.

After watching the whole job, I still think a handy person can handle building shower pans.

Here's how you do it.

1. Repair damage.

Damage is usually to the sub floor below and around the shower pan. Remove rotted material and replace it.

2. Install the drain base.

Tile floors are not water-proof. The mortar that's exposed to water absorbs some water. If you don't mix the mortar properly, it will crumble and fail. Install the drain properly, so whatever water weeps
into the mortar finds the drain. Now rough in the drain base.

3. Build a sloped mortar base.

Build your slope in here. The slope moves all the water to the drain preventing standing water. Build a two inch thick base that slopes to the drain. Let this bed cure before the next step.

4. Install the shower pan liner membrane and the drain top.

A waterproof rubber-like membrane goes over the mortar base. The membrane goes up the sides of the wall a few inches. One of the tricks to building shower pans is properly folding the liner in the corners.

5. Install the top mortar bed.

A second mortar bed is installed over the liner and reinforced with wire.

6. Build the threshold.

Build any threshold forms and pour mortar mix to establish the correct shape.

7. Install tile.

After the second coat of mortar cures, install a coat of thinset. Then install tile. Let thinset cure then grout.

8. "Shower Pans" - the questions:

How do you build a threshold?

What's the right amount of fall in the floor?

What tools do you need?

How do you attach the pan to the drain?

What kind of mud is best and how do you mix it?

How does the liner fit in the corners?

How do you run the pan up the walls?

There are "secrets" about shower pans that the tile guys don't want you to know! You will find all of them here

Al Bullington writes about rural living and small business topics from his homestead in the country. He works on one home repair project after another.