[canadaclub]

I can't find 'drypack' anywhere in my area. Can I use regular thinset and just mix it drier to use as a base for the shower floor membrane and tiles?

 

[RuthL]

We just did this. If you read the thread that I started when we began this project, we got some very good advice.

Installing a shower pan--questions on concrete floor
RuthL


Good luck. Ours turned out very well.

 

[clasact]

Not real sure what your calling Drypack but you need sandtopping mix for you base both the big box stores carry it and almost all the other home stores I know of have it

 

[canadaclub]

Thanks all for the replies! That johnnridge site is awesome. I think I will go with the 5:1 portland and sand.

 

[clasact]

sand topping mix IMO is much easier to use and already mixed but its your choice

 

[RuthL]

We agree about the sand topping mix. It was easy to use and available at Home Depot. We did add some sand to it as noted above. It was very easy to work with. We added a little more water to the mix for the second layer of concrete because we knew it would take us longer and we did not want to run out of time. It was like "sand castle" sand.

 

[canadaclub]

sand topping mix IMO is much easier to use and already mixed but its your choice

And the thinset adheres to it well?

 

[RuthL]

We have not done the tile portion of the project yet. That starts tomorrow. Thinset is supposed to adhere to concrete according to the directions and everything that we have read. We are using ceramic tile.

 

[clasact]

yes it hold very well this is what most of the pro use.I did mine about a year ago with sand topping mix all is still fine.The thinset( get the right one) has held the membrain in place and I used natural stone tile nothing has moved and it has gotten a work out since it was the only shower for awhile when I tore the other apart