Installing Mortar Shower Pan Video

Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows how to install a mortar shower pan for a custom ceramic tile shower.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Installing Mortar Shower Pan
• Install Mortar shower pan
• tile shower pan

[mpwhat]

Thanks for this tutorial it is extremely helpful. Just curious if you used the same mortart mix in both layers? They were both the quik-crete sand topping mix? Thanks so much!

[HomeAdditionPlus]

@mpwhat Yes

[carmegkin]

Hi! me again! I have a few more questions. He also used concrete vs. mortar. Is there a difference? and I also noticed in the video, you placed mesh in the first layer of mortar, but not the 2nd layer-Why is this? Thanks so much for you help!

[HomeAdditionPlus]

@carmegkin Mortar is made from water, cement and sand, whereas concrete is made from water, cement, sand and chipped rock. You use a mortar in the shower pan so that there is no risk of sharp edges on the dried cement mortar bed to cut into the membrane liner. We don't place mesh in the top layer since it could potentiall poke a hole in the membrane liner.

[HomeAdditionPlus]

@carmegkin Yes, that should work.

[carmegkin]

@HomeAdditionPlus I'm not sure of proper terminology, but in this video I see that the drain is screwed to the sub-floor and then the first layer of mortar is placed. So what I was asking is can you screw the drain into concrete, then place your membrane, expose weep holes, and continue with a final layer of mortar? I'm assuming your saying it is okay as long as the drain assembly can reach the J-trap? Thanks so much for your help!

[HomeAdditionPlus]

@carmegkin The purpose of the weep holes is to allow any water that gets in under the tiles to have an exit path to the drain. The weep holes are effectively above the liner. You need to make sure that the drain assembly connects into the PVC J-trap under the shower pan. I'm not sure what you mean by installing the drain on top of the concrete. At this point I just go with what you've got.

[carmegkin]

I just came across your videos and they are excellent! I have a question for you. My fiance is installing a tiled shower and was going to reuse the drain from the old shower. He poured the first layer of concrete with drain in place. then I came across this videos and realized it doesn't have weep holes. Now we are getting the proper drain, but obviously we can not install it to the plywood. Is it okay to install the drain on top of the concrete, then continue with the membrane and 2nd layer?

[zykopat]

Awesome vid! I'm redoing the basement bathroom and I watch this vid at every step of the project to make sure I get it right.

[mavgolf4life]

Used this pan liner method for years and worked great when we used to float walls back in the pre cement board days. I started using a paitable membrane with fiberglass over the pre float after cement wall board install. Eliminates water wiking up board and keeps corners from kicking due to liner folds. Also makes curb install much easier. But theres definatly 100 different ways to do a shower pan, and this is definitly a tired method for a d.i.y.'er Thanks for the video!