It only needs to be smooth enough to get the water in the pan to go to the drain, and not poke a hole in the pan while working the mud bed for the tile over it. If there are any sharp ridges even a trowel can scrape those down flat enough to be of no concern.
How much slope does a shower pan need?
In a stall shower, the plumbing code requires the floor to be sloped one quarter (1/4) of an inch per foot in order to carry the water effectively to the drain. This slope, according to the TCNA Handbook is called “sloped fill” or commonly known as the pre-slope.
How thick should a shower pan be?
As a general rule, a shower curb foundation is 3 to 4 inches thick and 4 to 6 inches tall, with finish material adding to these dimensions. Exact specifics depend on personal preferences and materials used; there is no right or wrong size.
How thick should Drypack shower pan be?
As a side note, 3/4 in. would be the thinnest I would ever install dry-pack, I usually aim for the thinnest areas to be roughly 1 1/4 in. thick and try not to go greater 2 in. thick.
How many bags of sand do I put in a shower pan?
I usually mix one bag sand/topping mix with a half bag of sand (25lbs) to make things easy and have had good luck with that. Be very careful with how much water you add to the deck mud as you mix it up. It’s referred to as dry-pack mortar for a reason. Do not add water like you are mixing concrete.
Does shower pan need pre slope?
Concrete needs to be poured first, and a pre slope made. When that is dry then the shower liner is installed to the drain, then more cementer is poured down for the final slope towards the drain.
Do I need wire mesh in shower pan?
Technically, you don’t need metal lath in your shower base or around the pan. Though metal lath helps anchor mortar used in building up a shower base and pan, the mortar itself should prevent deterioration of the shower floor.
Can I use quikrete for shower pan?
The best concrete mix for shower pans is made by Quikrete. They make two products, the first is called Floor Mud, the 2nd is their Sand/Topping mix. Both work great for building a shower pan. Just like other types of concrete mix, there are DIY options.
Do I need mortar under fiberglass shower pan?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But yes so use your mortar underneath your fiberglass or acrylic shower. I love it it's a great way to support the bottom of that pan and make sure it never flexes.
What kind of mortar do you use under a shower pan?
The ideal mortar is a mix of standard cement mix with sand and Portland cement, which creates a great water-resistant barrier that can support the weight of the shower unit. Quikrete explains that it works well for shower pans, being a mix of Portland cement, graded sand and other proprietary ingredients.
Can I use thinset for shower floor?
Because thinset is not affected by moisture, it is best for floor tile and any tile in wet areas, including shower floors, walls, and ceilings and tub surrounds.
What do you put under shower pan?
Mortar is recommended to use under all shower pans. Mortar reduces the risk of your pan slipping or cracking from an uneven surface.
Do you put cement board under a shower pan?
The wallboard must be installed 1/8 inch above the shower pan. If the shower pan is not in place, the wallboard height must be guessed, which can lead to inaccuracies and an expansion gap that is too large or too small.
How do I fix my shower pan from flexing?
In severe cases—especially if the flexing has caused the shower pan itself to crack—the only solution is to remove the base to make the necessary repairs. This can involve better shimming for the support ribs beneath the pan or laying a mortar bed to support the pan over its entire surface.
What’s the difference between a shower base and a shower pan?
What Do They Do? While a shower pan and a shower base both channel water into the drain, there’s one key difference: “Shower pan” is the actual shower floor that you step on, whereas “shower base” refers to the structure underneath the shower itself.
Which type of shower pan is best?
The Best Shower Pan Material? There’s plenty of materials to choose from when it comes to shower pans — but composite pans outrank them all, especially in terms of durability. While they can be more expensive in some cases, they’re easy to maintain, easy to repair, easy to install and able to last decades.
What is the best base for a walk in shower?
4 of the Best Shower Base Flooring Options
- Tile Shower Bases. You may decide that you want to tile the floor of your shower to match the walls or bathroom floor tile. …
- Molded Stone Shower Bases. Molded stone shower pans can offer you another high-end and elegant solution. …
- Acrylic Shower Pans. …
- Fiberglass Shower Pans.
