Installing A Tile Shower Pan On A Sub Floor

3 popular choices for a custom shower pan.

Installing a tile shower pan on a sub floor.

Once demolition of the old tile is complete install a cement backer board in the shower area image 1. But if you re thinking of installing a tile shower floor you ve got some decisions to make when it comes to your method of installation. Mark the outline of the shower pan on the subfloor using pencil or a chalk line. A mortared shower pan allows you to custom fit a shower enclosure.

After you have put down a double layer of plywood to provide the base for a custom walk in shower pan you need to cover the subfloor with a layer of tar paper in this case referred to as a vapor. Waterproof the shower pan. Depending on local building code you can use a vinyl sheet membrane or hot mop with tar. How to install mud in a shower pan for a tile shower stall.

While prefabricated pans are faster and easier to install if you want to use tile instead of an acrylic or fiberglass enclosure you need this tailor made option. If the subfloor is wood it should receive a layer of cement board to protect the wood from the mortar bed under the pan. All three of these methods will result in a professional quality. Over the membrane a mortar bed floor supports the tile.

This custom built pan provides the necessary base over which to lay tile. Pre drill holes through the shower pan rim at the marked locations. You will later screw the shower pan into the wall studs. Keep the type of shower door in mind when deciding on the right shower pan size.

These days if you want to put in a shower you can just go to a home center and pick up a fiberglass unit. In our project the shower pan is poured concrete image 2. When installing a tile shower whether it be ceramic marble travertine or any other tile product. Lay out the shower on the subfloor using your finish materials in this case tile and glass block to help define its size and shape for shower pan installation.

Mark the center of each wall stud on the shower pan rim. The key to a successful installation lies in the use of a chlorinated polyethylene cpe or pvc membrane tough but flexible plastics that form the pan of the enclosure and make the floor waterproof. This is necessary for durability style and so the pan is the exact size and shape for your new shower. If you use a sheet membrane you will have to install a layer of roofing paper first and then install the vinyl membrane.

If your next bathroom remodel includes a tub or prefab fiberglass shower base then the installation is going to be pretty straightforward.