[SMLWinds]

I am attacking my first real tile shower and need some advice and help on where to start. I have done a preformed shower pan and tiled walls before but have never made a floor pan.

My tiled shower is 4'x8'. Currently, I have studs and a concrete wall with a drain pipe installed. I know how to do the walls, but the floor pan is the challenge.

I have read and watched videos and it seems there are a bunch of ways to do it. What would you guys recommend? Any help you can offer on the best way to get a sloped floor pan ready for tile would be greatly appreciated!

If you have links to articles, good videos, or anything like that please include them. Thanks for your help!

 

[FullSwing]

You have to decide on waterproofing method. Personally i like hot mop, first you would need to install hot mop drain, then frame a damn using 3-2x4s stacked on top of eachother, make sure the bottom 2x4 is pressure treated. Then you want to install 2x6 blocking between all studs around the entire inside of the shower perimeter. Blocks will sit directly ontop of sole plate so hot mopper can hotmop up onto them. After hot mop use diamond lath and tuck it around the dam with no fasteners, pack pan and diamond lath using deckmud creating a slope to drain. Also use lath when bridging the gap between floor and walls. Good luck!

 

[SMLWinds]

Thanks for the reply. I will investigate the hot mop method. I haven't seen that one.

Just so I can make sure I research everything, what are my other options? Can you get a custom preformed pan that is 4'x8'? I see that there are pans that are 4'x4'--can I join them together? I have seem various mud and concrete constructs with a waterproofing layer. What water proofing systems are recommended? I have used a lot of Ditra and know Kerdi is an option so need to investigate that.

 

[FullSwing]

You could look into PVC liners which would require a different type of drain but is also an acceptable method of install. Good luck!

 

[JazMan]

Hot mop is a method often used on the left coast and rarely anywhere else.

For someone who has to "ask", you're much better off with a traditional PVC with a pre-slope (of course), or better yet a completely water tight method such as the Kerdi system. http://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/Shower-System/c/SS

Research several choices then come back with your questions.

Jaz

 

[SMLWinds]

Jaz-Thanks for your messages. I looked at the Schluter page. I had never seen Kerdiboard but that looks pretty neat. I think I am going to use that on the walls but I still have to make/buy a floor pan.

I would love to get a preformed floor pan but since my size is 4'x8' I don't think that is possible since I can't find one the correct size. So, I assume I am stuck creating one. What would you suggest for a 4'x8' shower for a rookie? I can learn and can follow directions if you can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

 

[SMLWinds]

So having done a lot of reading and research, it seems there are a lot of opinions and ways to do this.

For my project, it seems a preformed will not work because of size so I will have to do a mud bed with dry pack cement.

I am confused by the differences in the layers between videos I have seen. Would it be best to do dry pack cement, waterproof liner, then more dry pack? Some sites have said just do the dry pack cement and then the liner and tile over the liner. Furthermore, I have seen a few sites that use a waterproofing product like Redgard or Hydroban instead of a liner. Is one better than the other?

Thanks!

 

[SMLWinds]

Help! I would really appreciate some assistance! I have searched and searched and cannot find a consensus way to create a sloped pan for an atypically sized shower.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[FullSwing]

Watch this video. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dRwu1SE_Ass