Do I need a shower pan on concrete floor?

You will have to ensure that there is no wax, oil, grease, or soap scum on the face of the concrete slab that could ruin or reduce the bond. After that, I recommend that you install a sloped shower pan to contain the shower water and prevent harmful organisms from becoming resident in the surrounding walls and floor.

Can you have a concrete shower floor?

Concrete may be an appealing choice for your shower floor, especially if your shower is an odd shape or size, since concrete is easily molded. Concrete can be colored with a variety of different chemicals, and acid stains are one of the more common choices.

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 you install a shower pan over tile?

Tile-Over Shower Pan Basics In a typical installation, the shower pan is set into a bed of mortar to level it and to secure it to the subfloor. You cannot tile over standard polymer or fiberglass shower pans because they flex too much and will eventually crack the tile grout and possibly even the tile itself.

Can you build a shower pan on a concrete floor?

Building a shower pan on a concrete slab floor is in many ways ideal. Tile showers are quite heavy considering the weight of the tiles plus the mortar and cement board backing. Some types of floors need to be reinforced in order to support a shower and build a shower pan on them, but with a concrete slab floor, you’re all set.

How do you build a curb for a shower pan?

Build a curb for the shower pan using 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) boards. The curb is the edge of your pan that isn’t along a wall and where you would step into the shower. Find the length of the side of your shower area that doesn’t have a wall. Lay a 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) board that’s the length you need and nail it into the subfloor.

How can I make my shower pan drain well?

Once you frame out your shower pan, spread and smooth out mortar so it leads to your drain. Once the first layer of mortar is set, add a waterproofing liner and another layer of mortar so you can put down tiles. In just a few days, you’ll have a shower pan that drains well and won’t leak!

How to make a shower pan out of mortar?

First Layer of Mortar 1 Remove the top half of the shower drain and plug the drainpipe with a rag to prevent debris from falling into the plumbing. 2 Pack the mortar with a wood float, then screed the first layer of mortar. 3 Use removable 1-inch screed blocks along curbs to establish a 1-inch to 1/4-inch slope toward the drain.

What kind of shower pan is needed for curbless shower?

Designed to create an ADA-compliant curbless shower, the manufacturer’s shower pans include Redi Free one-piece prefabricated shower pan with an integrated linear drain or Redi Free with a standard drain.

What’s the easiest way to build a shower pan?

Before that was possible, pros had to build a custom shower pan by mixing and applying mortar, troweling it flat, and laying ceramic shower floor tile. Although fiberglass units make shower pans quick and easy, they lack the elegance of a handcrafted mortar and tile floor.

Do you need a shower pan for a new shower floor?

To ensure your shower is water-tight, whether it’s a new plumbing installation or you’re looking to upgrade your current shower, consider a new shower pan. While it is possible to create a shower floor using a pan liner and tile, a ready-made shower pan makes shower installation easier.

What do you put in a concrete slab for a shower?

Plastic sand box that makes a blockout in the finished slab for the drain at a shower or bathtub. The blockout gives some space to adjust the drain piping, as shown in the picture below.