You’ll need to build a shower pan on top of your concrete slab, so that the shower pan can drain into the drain pipe below. You can use a texture sprayer or rubber float to finish and smooth out the surface, then install a liner.
Building a shower pan out of concrete is a great way to get your bathroom in tip top shape. Not only does it make the floor water-tight and easy to clean, but it also creates a solid foundation for your new tile shower walls. This project can be completed within a weekend and you only need a few basic tools. You don’t even need any experience in construction or remodeling because there’s not much skill involved with this project.
If you’re remodeling your bathroom, putting in a shower pan is a good way to make it look nicer and more high-end. The process of making a shower pan is actually quite simple, but does require the use of some tools that you might need to rent for the job. Here are some steps for building a shower pan on cement slab so that you don’t have any problems during the installation:
Step 1. Prepare The Shower Pan Liner
- Prepare the shower pan liner
1a. Clean and dry the shower pan liner.
1b. Use a utility knife to cut the liner to size, allowing for 1/4″ clearance all around for expansion joints or seams and cracks in your concrete slab flooring. If you are installing a new shower pan over an existing bathtub that is not cracked, you can skip this step and use a 3″ wide piece of flexible waterproof tape as an alternative to using separate pieces of sealant at every joint between your new bathtub surround and its surrounding walls or flooring surfaces.
Step 2. Put The Shower Pan Liner In Place
- Put the shower pan liner in place.
- Make sure it is level.
- Make sure it is straight.
- Make sure it is not crooked.
- Make sure it is not twisted or bent so that the drain flange can be attached to the pan with its washers and nuts without any problems.
Step 3. Create A Perimeter For The Concrete Mix
- Mark the perimeter of the shower pan.
- Use a straight edge to ensure that your line is straight.
- Use a level to ensure that your line is level.
- Mark your measurement with a pencil, then use a trowel to spread mortar mix into the mortar box until it reaches 3/4 inches deep, leaving about 1/2 inch between each layer for expansion and contraction during curing time.
Step 4. Put The Mortar Mix On Top Of The Shower Liner
- Put a bed of mortar mix on top of the shower liner.
- Make sure that you have enough mortar mix and that it is level with the bottom of your shower pan liner. This will help ensure that water doesn’t seep under your waterproofing process, which could lead to mold and mildew growth over time as well as constant leaks in your shower floor’s foundation (which could be expensive to repair).
- Use a trowel to spread out this layer until it is even across all sides of your new shower pan liner (the part where you stand). A long-handled mixing paddle will work well for this step too if you prefer something without sharp edges that can scratch up the surface of your newly installed model once completed.
Step 5. Put The Mix Into Place And Level It Out
After you have finished mixing the mortar, use a level to make sure that the mix is flat. Using a trowel, spread an even layer of mortar over the entire area where your shower pan will sit. Make sure that it’s level throughout by gently tapping the side of your trowel against any high spots until they are leveled out.
Step 6. Put A Stick On Top Of The Shower Pan
- Place a stick on top of the shower pan. Use a level to make sure that the stick is straight and level. The shower pan should be level as well to prevent water from leaking into your basement or over your finished flooring.
Step 7. Pour Grout Into The Mortar Mix
When the mortar mix is ready, you’ll need to spread it over the slab. To do this, carefully take a bucket of mortar mix and use a trowel to spread it evenly across your slab. If you want to make sure that your shower pan is level, use a level while spreading the mortar mix so that all sides are even.
Once you’ve finished spreading the mortar mix on top of your concrete slab, get out a wood stick or piece of cardboard and smooth out any bumps in the surface by pressing down firmly with both hands on either side of each bump until they disappear. You can also use a putty knife for this step if you have one handy—just be sure not to gouge into or scrape off too much material when smoothing out bumps with either tool!
After smoothing out any imperfections, allow 24 hours for your new waterproofing layer to cure before using it as part of your shower system at home.
Step 8. Get Rid Of The Air Bubbles Within Your Shower Pan Mix
When your mortar mix is dry, you’ll want to use a putty knife to level out the top surface of your shower pan. This will ensure that when you set up your shower flooring later on in this process, it will be perfectly flat and even.
Next, you can smooth over the new mortar with a trowel. Be sure to go over every inch of it so that it’s totally flat and smooth.
Finally, use a broom in sweeping motion across all surfaces of your shower pan until there are no air bubbles left within its walls (if there are any at all). Then vacuum up any excess mortar mix that may have escaped during this process.
Step 9. Put A Stick On Top Of Your Shower Pan
Once you have the base cemented in place, it is time to check for level. Place a long straight stick across the top of your shower pan and level with a quick measure from side to side. If there is an adjustment needed, use some more mortar mix and re-level as needed until you’ve achieved a perfectly straight horizontal surface across your new shower pan.
When your base looks even on both sides and all corners are square, leave it alone for 24 hours so that it can cure properly before adding another layer of cement over it.
These steps will give you a clean and functional shower pan.
With these steps, you can build a shower pan on top of your concrete slab that will be clean and functional. This is a good way to build a shower pan if you have access to the tools required for it.
Final words
We hope these steps help you to create a shower pan that will last for years. A little extra time invested in the installation process can save you from an expensive, messy, and time-intensive repair job later on down the road.
