[farmer19]

Can you just have a concrete shower floor- what kind of finish
Would be required ?

[ballengerb1]

I am confused, you ask if you can have just plain concrete and then ask about the finish. Concrete is not used to build the pan so I am not certain you have finished doing your homework yet. Sounds like this is a new type of DYI project for you so I suggest you consider a fiber glass pan or a shower system like Shluter. System components - Schluter-Systems I would not recommend a pan from scratch to any DIYer unless you can get a pro to help or super detailed instructions like How to Build a Shower Pan

[speedball1]

Can you just have a concrete shower floor- what kind of finish would be required ?

. If you're attempting to convert a floor drain into a shower then all you have to do install a mixing valve, raiser and shower head. If something else please explain farther. Regards, Tom

[iamgrowler]

. If you're attempting to convert a floor drain into a shower then all you have to do install a mixing valve, raiser and shower head. If something else please explain farther. Regards, Tom

Given the porosity of concrete, he will need to seal the concrete to inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold.

Several coats of an epoxy paint engineered for concrete would do the trick.

There will be some surface prep, so follow the directions carefully.

[speedball1]

Growler,
You're probably correct, ( you usually are) but I grew up in Wisconsin in a house with a basement floor drain shower with no ill effects. Regards and thanks for the update. Tom

[Milo Dolezal]

Farmer19: Great to see somebody thinking out of the box ! To answer your question: Yes, absolutely, you can. Concrete floors and walls are actually quite common and fashionable in So.California. It gives shower industrial look. However, there are few things you should not forget when installing concrete shower pan:

1. You still have to water-proof the pan. Either by applying hot mop or using PVC liner and then pour 2 1/2" of concrete slab over it - just like when you are building a regular shower pan (only difference here is that you don't use tile on top)
2. Use diamond pattern mesh to reinforce concrete. Also, when finishing, use poly-mesh and trowel it into the surface. This will eliminate cracks.
3. When finishing, use trowel with finest notch to score the floor. Otherwise, floor will be very slippery when wet ( young people usually don't care about this / older people always make it a point )
4. After floor is poured and scored - let it dry. Then apply good solvent-based, clear, masonry sealer.

As far as the finish goes: you just trowel it smooth with metal trowel and than score it to create anti-slip surface. Metal trowel brings cement to the surface making it very hard, almost like glass surface.
As far as color goes: they sell all kind of concrete tint you mix with the concrete before the pour. These tints are even sold in Home Depot and Lowe's.

Let us know how you did. Posted photo of the finished pan would be great, too ! Milo

[ballengerb1]

4of us answering our heads off and where is farmer?? If he ever returns maybe we can get down to what he is actually asking. LOL