How do I make a shower with using my existing concrete floor?

Question

I am remodeling my bathroom and the house is on a slab. The room is stripped to the stud walls right now and I have installed drains. Which right now are roughed in, as such the drain pipe for the shower I want to put in is 2 inch and still has a rough cut opening around it. I am looking for the most economical way to have a functional shower floor (pan). Walls and ceiling I pretty much have figured out but it's the floor! Can I use the existing concrete florr possibly adding more concrete to get my 1/4" taper per foot? Paint and seal it? I need some ideas. Thanks.

Answer 1

Although you might not think so, building a custom leak-free shower is actually quite tricky.

The process has evolved over the years, in past days a pan made out of lead was common, but they were guaranteed to fail given enough time. These days, using a membrane material is the de-facto standard, although they are not foolproof (you have to be careful with the seams, slope and your drain connection to the membrane).

A somewhat related method using a product called Kerdi from Schluter Systems (http://www.schluter.com/) is becoming popular - but the material is somewhat pricey. You can buy an ebook online from a world-class pro telling you exactly how to build a Kerdi shower: http://kerdishowerbook.com/

You can find loads of resources for creating showers here:

http://www.johnbridge.com/serv02.htm

Good luck with your project.

Answer 2

you dont say dont say if you are intending a 'fabricated' pan, or building your own with membrane, mortar, and tile or stone.
If you are building it, you should use an adjustable drain because you will need some elevation to compensate for product thickness. The membrane should pan up the shower walls to prevent any seam leakage. The floor base should be poured in place as one step, dont try to shape and set tile at the same time. Do the base, come back to it when set, and begin tiling.

Answer 3

Most of these answers are correct in one way or the other. You can take something from each one. I have put in more then several showers and have used them.

It's easier to use a pre-molded shower pan, then build it up and use a convertible drain, then you can go from there. You have the right idea.

Answer 4

what you are describing is a walk-in shower.

most people will tile the walls and floors with the drain in the middle of the floor so that the floor will slope to the drain..

i just finished a remodel just like this, but it was a remodel and had to move the drain and the walls to do so.

if you have an email i can send you some pic's.

email me your info

Answer 5

the easy way is to build a ,frame ,3ft x3ft .made from 2x4 lumber ,
and insert a rubber mebrane, it must reach ,at least 3ft high
and tile it ,
you can buy it at lowes, or your local lumber yard

Answer 6

use a rubber floor membrain found at homedepot