what kind of mortar to use for shower pan
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When installing a shower base, it is essential to use the correct type of mortar. This is due to the corporeality of water produced by the shower, and the amount of weight put on the base of operations by the user. You desire the base to be supported. So, what type of mortar should you use underneath it? We've done the enquiry to answer this question.
The best type of mortar to use underneath a shower base is a mixture of Portland cement and sand. This mortar will both support the weight of the shower and provide a bulwark that helps prevent water damage to the floor underneath.
When information technology comes to putting this blazon of mortar nether a shower base, you tin can either buy information technology already mixed (add water) or make your own. In this commodity, nosotros'll talk over why mortar is necessary underneath a shower and how to apply it for that purpose. Please continue reading to acquire more than.
Contents
- 1 What Do Yous Put Under A Shower Base of operations?
- one.one Shower Curb
- ane.2 Pre-Gradient
- 1.3 Membrane
- ane.iv Mortar
- 2 Practise You Need Mortar Under A Shower Base?
- iii What Type Of Mortar Should You lot Employ Nether A Shower Base?
- 4 How Thick Should Mortar Be For A Shower Pan?
- 5 How Thick Should A Shower Base Be?
- 6 How Practice Yous Mortar Under A Shower Pan?
- seven In Closing
What Practice You Put Nether A Shower Base of operations?
First things offset, let'south differentiate between a shower base and a shower pan to eliminate whatever confusion. The shower base is essentially the components you put on peak of the subfloor to provide construction for the shower. The shower pan goes on elevation of the shower base of operations and is what you stand up on to take a shower.
With that being said, there are four components that yous make up the base of the shower. What you'll need to install depends on if you're replacing the shower or edifice a completely new shower from scratch,
Shower Curb
The outset component is the shower curb. This is essentially the foundation of the shower and commonly consists of a layer of 2 10 4s or bricks that are mortared on top of the subfloor. It provides a layer of boosted construction on peak of the subfloor to support the weight of the shower.
Pre-Slope
Adjacent is the pre-slope. This layer of mortar is applied on acme of the curb that allows the shower pan to slope downwards and then that the water tin can drain out of information technology. The fashion that pre-gradient works is you apply it in a thinner layer around the drain and a thicker layer every bit you move away from the bleed towards the walls of the shower. (If you're replacing your shower pan, y'all won't need to install the curb and pre-slope.)
Encounter more: Where Should The Drain Be Placed In A Shower?
Membrane
Then, you need to install a waterproof liner or sealant on top of the pre-slope. This will ensure that any h2o that should seep through the shower pan (specially with tile) does not penetrate through the floor and goes to the drain instead.
Click here to see this shower pan liner on Amazon.
Mortar
Finally, you volition need to apply some other layer of mortar on peak of the liner. Mortar provides more than structural support (provided you utilise the right blazon) and likewise helps to keep water from getting underneath the shower. Then, you tin install the shower pan or tile on pinnacle.
Do You Demand Mortar Under A Shower Base?
Installing a new shower can already accept a couple of days, and now you have to extend that fourth dimension even longer by applying mortar and having to wait on it to dry? Information technology can be somewhat inconvenient, peculiarly if that'due south the only shower you have in your abode. Trust us; we get it.
But applying mortar under a shower base of operations is not a step that you want to skip. Depending on the shower pan you are installing, information technology can crevice due to stress or weight.
If that does happen, mortar adds an extra layer of protection that supports your shower and keeps moisture from getting onto the subfloor underneath. So to all-time answer this question, yes. You lot do need mortar under a shower base.
What Blazon Of Mortar Should You Use Under A Shower Base?
There are many different types of mortar out in that location. Don't exist overwhelmed past all of the choices because but one type works the best underneath a shower. All you lot demand to practice is await at the ingredients and make sure that it is a mixture of Portland cement and sand. Other ingredients are okay, too, as long as those are the main ingredients.
At that place is commercial cement and sand mortar mixes that you tin can buy, or you lot tin buy the sand and cement separately and make your ain. Commercial mortars are recommended because they tend to be stronger and are proven to work. If you opt to become with a commercial mortar mix, you'll add water following the instructions on the packaging.
If you can't find a commercial mortar mix in stock well-nigh you for some reason, you tin make your own. This will require more work because you have to mix the cement and sand yourself. But, it is an option if you're in a pinch or if you want to save a fiddling coin.
To brand your own, all y'all'll demand is a pocketbook of Portland cement and some fine sand. Mix the cement and sand in a ratio of one part cement to five parts sand. Add water and stir until you've reached a thick, peanut butter-like consistency.
How Thick Should Mortar Exist For A Shower Pan?
The thickness of mortar for a shower pan depends on the blazon of shower pan yous're installing. There are principal ways to install a shower pan. You tin either buy a manufactured one fabricated from various materials, or you can lay tile instead.
If you buy a manufactured shower pan, you will install it right on top of the mortar. The exact thickness of the mortar volition vary based on the material the shower pan is made of. This information can usually be found in the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer of your particular shower pan.
If you install tile on top of mortar instead of a manufactured shower pan, then the mortar needs to exist thicker. This ensures that water has a harder time penetrating through the tile and into the subfloor below. The thickness of mortar when installing a tile as a shower pan should be effectually 2-three inches thick and slightly thinner effectually the drain.
See more: Should You Tile The Floor Or Walls Outset In A Shower?
How Thick Should A Shower Base Be?
Recall that a shower base consists of different components. Each component adds more thickness to the shower base of operations, only each layer is not the aforementioned thickness. Here are the general guidelines for the thickness of each component, but remember that the exact thickness tin vary based on the manufacturer of certain materials used.
- The shower adjourn is ordinarily between 3-4 inches thick but tin can vary based on personal preference/materials used.
- Pre-gradient- starts at effectually ¼ inch effectually the drain and gets thicker toward the outside of the shower.
- Membrane- a sparse piece of plastic; adds hardly any thickness to the shower base
- Mortar- between ane to 3 inches thick, depending on the type of shower pan or tile and manufacturer recommendation
How Do You Mortar Under A Shower Pan?
Assuming that you are replacing the shower pan instead of building a whole new shower, mortaring under a shower pan is not a difficult task. If this is the case, then the drain, curb, and pre-slope should be already installed. You should need to lay downwards the membrane layer if information technology isn't there already, and then apply the mortar.
If you need to install the membrane layer, yous will lay information technology down on top of the existing components of the shower base, then cut a hole out where the bleed is. The instructions on the plastic liner should tell you how to practise this.
Afterward laying down the membrane, mix your mortar, following the instructions on the packaging. Then, pour some mortar onto the floor and use a flooring trowel to spread it beyond the shower base of operations. Remember that the thickness it needs to be depends on the type of shower pan you lot have.
Next, install the shower pan. Place it on top of the mortar and make sure information technology is level. Shower pans have fins on the lesser that embed into the mortar for structural support. Let the mortar sit for 24 hours earlier stepping into it.
In Closing
The best type of mortar to use under a shower base and the pan is a mixture of Portland cement and sand. This type of mortar provides both structural support and a h2o-resistant barrier underneath the shower. Call back to follow the instructions carefully when mixing the mortar and applying information technology to ensure information technology works properly. Thanks for reading!
Source: https://uooz.com/type-mortar-to-use-under-shower-base/
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