I have leaking shower stall built on a concrete slab, home built in 1959.
The tile on the walls and ceiling of the stall is Pepto Bismal pink and gray attached via mortar and metal screen and has some small cracks (shoulder height).
The tile on the floor looks like a glass mosaic with the grout beginning to erode away (Must be retiled).
I've torn out the pasterboard behind the shower and ruled out the copper plumbing.
The inside of the iron drain pipe looks flaky/scaly.

1. I've heard of the term "shower pan". Is it normally used on a concrete slab?
2. Can I remove all the floor tiles and the wall tiles about a foot above the floor and put in a new drain and retile? Or am I looking at a total re-gut? Or maybe a custom acrylic insert?
I'm on a limited budget but have plenty of time.

Thanks

Hi Eric,

Why tear out the cast iron drain? After 45 years it may look a little flakey but I bet it still works. That sounds like overkill and a lot of extra work unless the drain itself was leaking. We use shower pans on 2nd. Floor installations. In my area of Florida all the homes are built on slabs. The tile man slopes a cement base to the drain and then sets the tile. Unless you wish to make it one it doesn't sound like you have a plumbing problem. Most older tile showers begain to leak when the tile grout shrinks where the stream from the shower head hits it. I can see why you wish to change out the outdated tile but it sounds like your plumbing's intact. Hey! If it ain't broke don't fix it. Or have I missed something? Regards, Tom