Make a Shower Pan
Building your own shower pan is an inexpensive alternative to purchasing a prefabricated shower pan. The building process is relatively simple and can be completed within a few days.
Steps
- Ensure your floor can support the weight of a shower before beginning construction because the concrete can be quite heavy.
- It may be a good idea to reinforce the floor below the shower pan with exterior grade plywood.
- Prepare your shower drain prior to pouring the concrete or hire a professional plumber to install the drain you plan to use.
- You will need a two-piece drain.
- One piece of the drain will sit flush with the floor and connect to drainage pipes beneath the surface.
- The second drain piece will be on top of the membrane liner and poured cement.
- Install the drain using PVC cement or use PVC connectors if your pipes are not PVC.
- Follow the PVC cement manufacturer directions to connect the drain and pipe.
- Check local building codes to assure you are using liner that meets thickness requirements, and that the depth of your shower pan is sufficient.
- Use 2x4 wood planks to build the shower floor frame for your concrete pour.
- Spread the rubber membrane over your frame, with the edges overlapping the form by at least 10 inches (2.54 dm.)
- Be sure there's enough material on all sides to extend up the wall to the correct height.
- Flatten the membrane snugly against the bottom of the frame, and then attach the material to the walls by nailing it at stud points at least 8-inches (2.03 dm) above the floor.
- Local building codes requirements may vary.
- Use nails with large heads to attach the liner to the wall.
- Cut a hole in the membrane over the drain using a utility knife so any water that leaks through the concrete will be directed down the drain.
- Attach the second part of the drain to the first part using the screws or bolts provided.
- Screw in the drain to a height of about 1 1/4 inches (0.32 dm) to leave room for the concrete.
- Cover the drain thoroughly with duct tape to protect it during the concrete pour.
- Mix your concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- A sandy mix concrete will dry to a good, smooth surface.
- Pour your concrete, spreading it out smoothly with a trowel.
- The concrete should slope from a 2 1/2-inch (0.64 dm) height around the outer edges of the shower pan to 1 1/4 inches (0.32 dm) around the drain.
- Clean all concrete from the drain.
- Allow the concrete to cure for two to three days before tiling.
- Be sure to seal your tile and grout with at least two coats to help repel the shower water.
Tips
- The shower floor slope should be at least 1/4 inch (0.06 dm) for each foot. For example, if the wall of the shower is {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} from the drain, the slope should rise to 3/4 inch (0.19 dm) at the wall.
- Shower pan membrane or liner can be found in hardware stores. The liner comes in a large roll and is cut to the size you request.
Things You'll Need
- Exterior grade plywood
- Two-piece drain
- Membrane liner
- Cement
- PVC cement
- 2x4 wood planks
- Large headed nails
- Utility knife
- Tile
- Grout
- Sealant
