View Full Version : Concrete shower base
mamapiglet
May 18, 2008, 09:54 AM
Hi, we're installing a ceramic shower in our new bathroom there are to many different ways of installing a membrane liner or plastic type(pvc).what is the easiest way to install the liner and concrete bed. And what type of concrete do I use for this installation ? Thanks in advance for any help. mamapiglet (Brenda). I guess this goes in the plumbing section
speedball1
May 18, 2008, 10:24 AM
This may help answer your questions; Ceramic tile Installations (http://www.thetiledoctor.com/installations/firstthing.cfm)
If you need more click on back. Good luck, Tom
mamapiglet
May 18, 2008, 02:28 PM
Hey there I got another question for you, we don't want to center the drain but locate it closer to the back, so do we slope the concrete base to wards the back. And does the flange go in the concrete to set it , or what, it's still kind of confusing to me. Thanks for any help. Brenda
massplumber2008
May 18, 2008, 04:05 PM
Hey mama:
You definitely want to pitch the floor to the drain... even if forcing toward the back wall.
The flange of the drain needs to be installed as part of the shower pan... here, the shower pan membrane gets glued (so you need membrane glue) into the flange of drain and then top part of the drain gets bolted to the drain, locking the membrane between the flange and upper part of drain (see pic.).
Then you need to install small gravel stone or similar around drain so the WEEP holes in the drain work correctly after concrete is poured.
Then you duct tape the drain.
Then you set the drain at finished floor height minus 3/8" or so and pour the concrete and screed the concrete to pitch it to drain. Once all concrete poured and pitched to drain, then you want to LOOSEN the drain by spinning back and forth and set a tile up to the drain... then RAISE the drain so it becomes just slightly higher than dry fit tile. Later, will install the tile in thinset mortar which will raise it EQUAL to the drain height.
Keep spinning the drain for a little while so can make adjustment to drain in case you missed height. This way you are guaranteed to have drain height equal finish floor height.
Here is a great site for custom showers... I would follow the advice they give:
How to Build a Shower Pan (http://www.hoagy.org/house/HowToBuildShowerPan.html)
Let me know if you need more... MARK
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mamapiglet
May 19, 2008, 10:07 AM
hey there i got another question for ya, we don't want to center the drain but locate it closer to the back, so do we slope the concrete base to wards the back. and does the flange go in the concrete to set it , or what, it's still kind of confusing to me. thanks for any help. Brenda
Hey Mark
Do you want to run down here to Alabama and go over that 1 more time :) whew I think I got the jist of it though didn't know about the gluing down part or the adjusting of the drains dry fit, thanks for the info. Later mark , Brenda p.s. and the link
speedball1
May 19, 2008, 11:06 AM
You do realize, don't you, that the flange will have to be setand a shower pan installed before you can even think of sloping the floor?
we don't want to center the drain but locate it closer to the back In a custom tile installation the drain can be located anywhere you wish just as long as the floor slopes to it. Go back and study the links Mark and I put up for you.
Good luck, Tom
mamapiglet
May 19, 2008, 12:06 PM
Hey Tom yep I think I got it but printer is working over time don't want to screw it up , you know the rule of thumb measure twice cut once got to be sure of it ,so thanks for all the help still looking at all the links, later Tom, Brenda