Hello all,

I'm new to the forums and a new homeowner. We've gutted the entire upstairs of our house and are doing it completely over. My question concerns the shower drain, specifically, it's location. We're building a customer mortared shower pan, and because of the joists below the shower the location of the drain is not quite centered in the shower. Is this an issue or not? We live in MA and our plumber rough plumbed in the new plumbing as we moved it from where the tub used to be. I'm hoping and praying for a speedy response as it'll be easier to re-frame the shower enclosure right now than move the drain later! Thank you in advance for any help!

Hi Marky:

Centered is always best, but the drain doesn't have to be centered as much as the shower floor needs to pitch in relation to that drain location... ;)

Now, who's building that new shower pan and floor for you? Material to be used? Let me know... OK?

Mark

Hi Marky:

Centered is always best, but the drain doesn't have to be centered as much as the shower floor needs to pitch in relation to that drain location...;)

Now, who's building that new shower pan and floor for you? Material to be used? Let me know...OK?

Mark

Mark, I am building the shower pan and floor. I'm planning on using (in order of laydown):
15lb Felt paper on floor
Metal Lath
Sand and Portland Cement mix (4:1 ratio) with latex additive instead of water for the pre slope. Will slope to top of 1st 2X4 block of frame.

Then the liner will be installed over the presloped bed after letting it cure overnight.

Metal lath over the curb, stapled only to the outside of the curb.

Then the actual shower pan (same mix) will be sloped a min of 1/4" per linear foot out from the drain location.

Metal lath over the curb, stapled only to the outside of the curb.

Finally the curb gets mortared, but this is a different mix. The name of which eludes me right now.

Thank you for answering my question!

All good...

I would, however, recommend that you install another layer of the felt paper AFTER the presloped mortar bed has dried and then add the new liner. Without the felt paper in between the mortar and the presloped floor the liner could get abraised/cut and cause a leak over time... never a good thing... ;)

Also, be sure to keep the WEEP HOLES in the shower strainer assembly open using small, rounded pebbles around the strainer, so they don't get plugged when you pour the final floor.

Let me know if you have more questions... OK?

Glad to help.

Mark, thank you very much for the information and I will certainly let you know if I have any more questions!