QA

Question: How To Install Shower Pan On Concrete Floor

Do you need a shower liner on concrete floor?

It will need to be lined or it will wick into the slab and studding. The liner also makes the walls around the pan water-tight, that’s why the liner normally goes up at least 3″ above the pan behind the tile and backer material. Moisture gets behind the wall tile and is eventually caught by the liner.

Can you put tile directly on concrete?

A: It’s perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete — with a couple of caveats. First, it is important to determine if there is moisture coming up from the slab. Those products should help prevent any cracks in the slab from damaging the newly installed tile.

How do you waterproof a concrete shower floor?

The most common technique is to apply multiple coats of a penetrating sealer like a water-based polyurethane. Fautch uses epoxies or two-part polyurethanes, sometimes both — epoxy as primer with polyurethane on top.

Can you use regular concrete for shower pan?

Concrete is perfectly adequate, if not recommended, for use as the shower pan base for materials such as stone, tile or mosaic tile to be used as the finish surface (as long as there is a proper membrane between the concrete and any vulnerable surrounding material).

Does shower pan liner go behind backer board?

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.

Does Thinset stick to shower pan liner?

No. Thinset or tile glue (adhesive) should never be applied directly to the shower pan liner.

Do you glue the shower pan liner down?

The standard sizes of shower liner can require a seam that needs to be glued to ensure a watertight connection. Not using the correct adhesive allows the lapped seam to separate and water to pass by the liner. An incorrect lap does not provide enough protection against water leaks. Showers require a sealed base.

What do you put between tile and concrete?

Install an Uncoupling Membrane Between Concrete and Tile To prevent those movements from transferring to the tile floor, consider installing an uncoupling membrane between the concrete and tile surfaces. This flexible polyethylene layer is easy to install and can protect the tile from both cracking and moisture.

What do you put on concrete floor before tiling?

Level. Use floor leveling compound for large holes or flaws in your cement floor. The compound is a cement-based material that is thick enough to stay where it needs to be, but also flows well to fill in depressions to ensure your floor is flat.

How do you waterproof a concrete floor?

Step 1 – Remove any paints, sealers, tile adhesive, efflorescence, and oils from the concrete. Step 2 – Shop-vac the surface of the concrete removing loose or crumbling concrete, mortar, dust, and dirt. Step 3 – Seal the concrete walls and floor against moisture and water vapor with RadonSeal Concrete Sealer.

What type of cement do you use for a shower pan?

The ideal mortar for a shower pan is a mix of standard cement mix with sand and Portland cement. This type of mortar creates a great water-resistant barrier that can support the weight of the shower unit.

How thick should a concrete shower pan be?

Thickness for Concrete Shower Pan – Base Layer The shower pan base mortar layer thickness should be approximately ½ to 1 inch thick. Since the shower floor already has a pre-slope, just apply a base mortar layer that has an even thickness throughout the shower floor area.

Can I use quikrete mortar for shower pan?

The Quikrete Floor Mud is a concrete mix manufactured by QUIKRETE which is ready for use in creating shower pans, slate, travertine and marble floor tiles. When mixed with water, it creates a smooth and water-resistant surface which is ideal for shower pans.

What goes first shower pan or walls?

Whether you choose to install tile or the panel walls, drywall always goes on top of the shower pan, after the pan is set into the floor. Both tile and shower walls perform the same function, they just do so with different types of materials.

Do you need to waterproof under a shower base?

DON’T ignore the importance of waterproofing when installing an acrylic shower base. The walls and the area around the top of the acrylic base along the wall are very important for proper waterproofing and it is essential that it be done correctly. In a bathroom, proper waterproofing is non-negotiable.

What goes under shower pan?

Mortar is recommended to use under all shower pans.

How do I put a shower in my basement without breaking concrete?

The best way to install the shower in a basement bathroom without damaging your floors is to look into an upflush toilet system. While traditional basement showers require you to drill into shower base and concrete to add a drain, a Saniflo system sits on top of concrete floors.

What goes on top of a shower pan liner?

The rubber membrane in a shower installs on top of a thin layer of sloped mud that runs to the drain, and another layer of mud installs on top of the membrane to create the base for the tile. This is usually around 2 inches.

Should you pre slope a shower pan?

One of the most important preparation steps is to pre-slope a shower. A pre-slope is necessary because once water has reached there, it needs to be directed to the drain area. If underneath your liner is flat – without any slope to the drain – this will cause water build-up, eventually causing mildew.

Does Thinset bond to PVC?

Just thinset over a pvc or cpe membrane will not work.

Can you tile directly on shower pan liner?

Installing tile on the floor of your shower gives it a sleeker and more aesthetically cohesive look than having tiled walls and a rubber shower pan. The other plus to tiling over the shower pan membrane is that you are not forced into a square or rectangular shower.