Building a shower can be a fulfilling home improvement project as long as you have the right bathroom essentials. Some of these essentials include a shower head, a water drain, a shower stall, and a shower pan. It’s essential to assemble these items and consider other aspects of shower construction, such as plumbing, lighting, flooring, and acquiring permits. If you want to build a shower for a new home or remodel an existing one, this article will help you navigate this process.
What is a shower pan?
A shower pan is a barrier that goes on top of the shower base underneath a shower’s tile floor. It’s a pan-shaped structure made of lead or vinyl that collects any water that seeps through the tiles – think of it as a funnel that redirects any water that collects under the shower toward the drain. Shower pans may also have sidewalls that help contain and divert water. Because they stop water from collecting under the shower, they prevent molding and structural damage to your shower.
Why is it important to have a shower pan kit ready?
Having a shower pan repair kit ready ensures that you install the right size appropriately, which helps prevent leaks and increases the longevity of your shower. You can get a custom shower pan kit, depending on the size of your shower and the materials you want to use, such as fiberglass, acrylic, tile, metal, or stone. Consider who’s going to use the shower. For instance, if people living with disabilities or older adults will be using the shower, it’s important to prepare a low-profile or curbless shower pan kit for ease of use.
Where can you buy a shower pan kit?
Once you identify the right size, shape, material, and drain location for your shower, the next step is to buy a shower pan drain kit. You can find Ready To Tile or PreFormed shower pan kits from stores like ours—Flooring Supply Shop. As you shop, you can also purchase other shower construction materials, such as tiles, drains, preformed shower slopes, shower wall panels, and shower heads.
Browse through various shower floor pan kits and other construction materials to find the colors, materials, and textures that meet your needs. You should also compare their price points to obtain a tile shower pan kit that fits within your budget.
How can you install a shower pan?
Follow these steps to install a shower pan:
- Start by assembling all the necessary equipment, including measuring tape, drills, levels, pencils, cardboard, a bucket, a plumber’s putty, a mortar, and the shower pan repair kit.
- Measure the area where the new shower will go to get the correct dimensions for the custom shower pan kit.
- Clean and dry the space to ensure it’s well-leveled for shower pan installation.
- Place the shower pan over the space to dry-fit it, take measurements for adjustment, and ensure its stability. Once you’re satisfied with the fit, remove the shower pan kit and attach the drain to it, alongside all the washers or gaskets that came with the drain. Place the shower pan kit with the fitted drain over the space to ensure it lines up with the drain pipe.
- If everything fits properly, remove the shower pan kit and prepare the mortar base. Mix a bag of mortar with water, making sure it’s not too runny or too hard, and then spread it over the area, making sure it’s about one inch thick. Leave a few inches of space away from the edges to make cleaning easier, then place the shower pan with the drain over it. If the shower pan slope kit came with brackets and screws to attach to the wall studs, place them.
- Leave the shower pan system kit overnight and check for leaks by pouring water into it. Once you confirm there are no leaks, install other shower parts, such as the shower head, shower stalls, and lighting.
Why is it important to get professional help to install a tile shower pan?
If you don’t have experience installing shower drain pan kits or your shower pan has leaks, it’s important to get professional help. Plumbers will be able to evaluate your shower area, identify the reasons for leaks, and advise on the most appropriate materials, shapes, and sizes for your shower. They may also help acquire the correct permits you need to construct showers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you make a simple shower pan?
Outline the shower floor where the shower pan will go. Next, create a first layer, which is a sloped mortar subfloor that’s usually ¼ of an inch thick near the drain and one inch thick near the shower walls. Afterward, you can place the second vinyl layer liner. Make a drain hole with a utility knife and lay a metal lath over the liner. Cover it with another layer of mortar, and then add the drain to the drain hole.
2. What type of shower pan do I need for tile showers?
Tile showers need a composite shower pan.
3. Are all pre-sloped shower pan kits foam?
No, some are made from acrylics, composite, custom tile, fiberglass, stone, stainless steel, concrete, and vinyl.
4. Do they make a repair kit for shower floor pans?
Yes, you can find repair kits for shower floor pans, depending on the material of your original shower pan.
5. How do I install a shower pan kit?
You can install a pre-sloped shower pan kit by assembling equipment, cleaning the floor space, dry-fitting the shower pan kit to ensure it’s the correct size, attach the drain kit to the shower pan, apply a one-inch layer of mortar over the shower floor, place the shower pan kit with the drain onto the mortar, wait 24 hours, and then check for leaks by pouring water onto the pan.
6. How can I install a shower pan kit on a concrete floor?
If you want to install a shower pan kit on a concrete floor, check the floor for cracks and fill them with a concrete repair filler to create a level base for the pan. After this, apply a concrete primer to the floor to strengthen the bond between the mortar and the concrete, making a solid foundation for the shower pan. Once the foundation is set, you can install the drain kit to the shower pan, place and level the pan, and then secure it with screws.
The post Why You Need a Shower Pan Kit in Your Shower Construction first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.
Shower Pan