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View Full Version : Steps to building a shower base on cement basement floor


al-21
Apr 14, 2008, 09:09 AM
Hope someone can help.

I want to build a custom - tiled shower base in my basement (cement floor). The area already has the rough in for the shower. I have read the steps for building the base if you need to lay a sub floor i.e
Subfloor, tar paper,metal lath, floor mortar, laminating adhesive, membrane, thick bed mortar, metal lath, floor mortar, thin set then tile.

As my floor is cement, am I able to miss some of these steps (start straight from step 5 laminating adhesive) or is there another solution?

I'm also thinking of using the paint on membrane (from Home Depot) is this a good product and, if so, do I need to cover right up the shower walls or just the first 6" or so?

Thanks in advance
Al

massplumber2008
Apr 14, 2008, 10:14 AM
Al.. I am not familiar with the paint on membrane... sounds chancy to me.

I use blu seal membrane for my shower pans. And being on cement does not really simplify things too much. Check out the link below. It is really the only way to install a shower pan, in my opinion (pitching the pan by floating pitched floor underneath is very important.. then installing the membrane over that... weep holes at drain need to have crushed rock installed around drain so any water that does seep down will fall into drain... increases life of shower pan concrete).

How to Build a Shower Pan (http://www.hoagy.org/house/HowToBuildShowerPan.html)

Hope that helps... Mark

al-21
Apr 14, 2008, 01:19 PM
Thanks Mark very helpful