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-   -   Shower base not level (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=337040)

  • Apr 2, 2009, 10:33 AM
    Jenny67
    Shower base not level
    I have a neo angel shower stall installed by previous owner on concrete floor. The base is not level, so there is always water on the lower part. Also, the drain pipe is the same height as the base, so the drain is a little higher than the base, which makes the water drainage difficult. Are there ways to fix the two problems without demolishing the shower?
  • Apr 2, 2009, 11:35 AM
    massplumber2008
    Hi Jenny...

    It is very unlikely that you will be able to do anything with the base as long as the shower doors and walls are installed as they have been installed in relation to that unlevel base...

    Is this a neoangle shower where the shower walls are built into the stud walls, or are the neoangle shower walls glued on top of the sheetrock?

    Most likley you will need to remove the door, remove the walls and then level the base. At a minimum, if you are lucky you could reuse most of the shower unit, but hard for me to say without seeing it.

    Any chance you could post some pictures?

    Thanks...

    MARK
  • Apr 2, 2009, 01:19 PM
    Jenny67
    The three piece shower walls are glued on the drywall. Thanks, massplumber!
  • Apr 2, 2009, 03:07 PM
    Milo Dolezal

    You could try to put few wedges under front curb lifting that side. Other than that, there is not too much you can do about leveling it off.

    Drain can be lowered by cutting it down a bit.
  • Apr 2, 2009, 05:00 PM
    massplumber2008
    If walls are glued then you could try to force the unit up by "wedging" the base as Milo suggested, otherwise, you will need to remove the doors and see what can be done after that. Most likely the unit can be salvaged... ;)

    If you do remove the doors and loosen the base you will want to see if you can install the base in a bed of structolite gypsum plaster or similar beddding substrate to keep the base level in the future.

    Let us know what you decide to do...

    MARK
  • Apr 2, 2009, 07:51 PM
    Jenny67
    I will try to remove to door and loose the base and add some mortar if possible. Which is better, motar or structolite gypsum plaster ?
    How to cut the drain pipe shorter because it is inside the base hole?
    Thank you so much, Mark and Milo!
    Jenny
  • Apr 2, 2009, 08:26 PM
    Milo Dolezal
    1 Attachment(s)

    Jenny67: Depending on what type of drain you have, you should be able to loosen it a bit. Once you finish leveling, tighten the seal again. But I would first try to lift front edge w/o loosening the drain. It actually may hold the middle at low point while you are raising outer edge, helping you in re-creating the missing slope...

    They sell plastic wedges we use for balancing wobbling toilets... (see pic ). They are about .25 cents each. I would buy few of those and use them to lift front edges. Drive them in all the way so they end up flash with the edge (... so you don't have to cut them off ). You will have a hard time getting mortar under the pan. Even I do not like using foam I would suggest that you use it here . With pressurized foam, you can insert spray-can nozzle under the lip and spray foam inside.

    Let us know how you did...
  • Apr 3, 2009, 03:50 AM
    massplumber2008
    1 Attachment(s)
    Structolite is a perlited gypsum plaster... see picture. If you can find it at a local home depot buy it as it dries overnight.

    If you can't find it use any mortar mix from a bag.

    Good luck!

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