Installing A Tile Shower Pan On A Sub Floor

This custom built pan provides the necessary base over which to lay tile.

Installing a tile shower pan on a sub floor.

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. 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. These days if you want to put in a shower you can just go to a home center and pick up a fiberglass unit. Pre drill holes through the shower pan rim at the marked locations.

If you use a sheet membrane you will have to install a layer of roofing paper first and then install the vinyl membrane. Mark the center of each wall stud on the shower pan rim. A mortared shower pan allows you to custom fit a shower enclosure. The standard installation of a tile redi polyurethane shower pan starts with a framed in shower alcove that is sized for the shower pan.

If your next bathroom remodel includes a tub or prefab fiberglass shower base then the installation is going to be pretty straightforward. You will later screw the shower pan into the wall studs. 3 popular choices for a custom shower pan. All three of these methods will result in a professional quality.

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. 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. This is necessary for durability style and so the pan is the exact size and shape for your new shower.

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 outline of the shower pan on the subfloor using pencil or a chalk line. Have a professional install a shower membrane and shower pan appropriate for the space. If the subfloor is wood it should receive a layer of cement board to protect the wood from the mortar bed under the pan.

When installing a tile shower whether it be ceramic marble travertine or any other tile product. Over the membrane a mortar bed floor supports the tile. The roofing paper provides cushion between the concrete and the vinyl membrane which is critical. In our project the shower pan is poured concrete image 2.

Waterproof the shower pan.