subfloor thickness for shower pan

Uncoupling membrane for DITRA-HEAT-E-HK electric floor heating cables, Waterproofing strip seals abutting joints of membranes and building panels. Remove any dampness or debris on the . With the utility knife, create slits for the four bolts on the shower drain to protrude upward. 1. A recessed shower floor allows for the installation of a sloped mortar bed or a prefabricated shower tray that is flush with the rest of the bathroom floor. However, if you are building a second story walk-in shower that is larger than 4 feet square, you should contact a structural engineer to make sure the second-story joists can handle the weight of the add-on and what shoring (if any) needs to be done. There is no difference between a shower tray and a shower pan. Hold the 1-by-4 rod on edge against the surface of the subfloor and move it across the surface of the mortar in a sawing motion. In 35 years, he's gained expertise in all phases of residential construction, retrofit and remodeling. Did the Golden Gate Bridge 'flatten' under the weight of 300,000 people in 1987? In order to add support and reinforce the subfloor structure, you can add a secondary layer that the built up shower pan will sit on top of. Long showers, slow drains, or minor cracks or shrinkage in the grout can allow some water to sneak through the shower floors surface. The curb is the open entry point where the user enters the shower. The thickness of the subfloor for a shower pan depends on several factors, including the specific requirements of your local building code as well as the finished floor material you will be using. Once it dries, it creates a waterproof barrier over which you can install the tile. But a shower pan isn't just about function. Bring all of these elements together using the profiles and fasteners specifically designed for KERDI-BOARD assemblies. or 40 mil. DITRA performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering. With KERDI-BOARD, you can build custom vanities, shelving units, bathtub surrounds, free-standing partition walls, kitchen islands, and so much more. Is it safe to publish research papers in cooperation with Russian academics? The flange is fusion welded to the perimeter of the shower base's core. It is where visible water will escape and limit the rise of water up the walls. in reply: 1) Lawrence Taylor - The subfloor is the first layer of plywood over the joists, which I lowerd about 1 1/2 inches by removing 2-by material that was put over these joints by the last guy who remodeled this bathroom. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. The shower tray, available in a range of sizes with thicknesses from 1-21/32" (42 mm) to 2-3/8" (60 mm), eliminates the need for a mortar bed, and is easy to install. This means that you will have a steeper slope on the walls closer to the drain. But remember, the code is a minimum standard and not a measure of fine home building. If your shower is not a square, and they rarely are, you still need to have the same thickness at the walls all the way around the perimeter. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. Prefabricated sloped shower tray: Schluter-KERDI-SHOWER-LTS, 3. Cut out the hole for the shower drain. You can also use the two-by-four as a screed to smooth down the mortar. The shower pan should be slightly larger than the drain assembly. Made of polyethylene, DITRA serves as a waterproofing layer that protects moisture-sensitive substrates, such as plywood/OSB. When choosing your subfloor material, take into consideration how the thickness will effect the overall heigh of the built up shower pan in relation to your shower curb. I will have to look some more when I get home, but i don't think there will be any getting around using hangers. I ripped my old shower down to the studs and joists. What do I do about the Missing Stair Nosing and Short Stair Tread. Its important to not make a mess when filling the pan for the test, as a dry floor is necessary to ensure there are no leaks. Upstairs shower pan on floor that bounces slightly. This doubles as an anti-fracture membrane which is painted onto the surface of the concrete with a paintbrush or a paint roller. One way of measuring is to remove a floor register and insert a slightly bent coat hanger in a corner crack until it hooks onto the bottom of the subflooring. This one starts at around 1 1/2 inch thick at the drain and should slope outwards 1/4 inch for every linear feet away from the drain. You should end up with material leading to the edge of your framed walls and shower curb. The dimensions will be about 40" x 10' (mud shower pan over entire area). There's nothing you can use instead of a shower pan in an enclosed shower. If necessary, lift the pan or base out of the way and install additional deck screws or level a low spot. DITRA is specifically designed for ceramic and stone tile installations. The first layer of deck mud does not have to be precise; it merely needs to provide enough slope from the outside edges of the shower to the actual drain for the pan liner to slope to. The dimensions will be about 40" x 10' (mud shower pan over entire area). What is the difference between a shower tray and a shower pan? This slope is later refined with a second bed of mortar. The tile is set in a thin bed of mortar or thinset. The first step in a site-built shower pan installation and the first signal to the inspector of whats to comeis the two-part drain assembly. A piece of plywood can be purchased in 1/2 or 3/4 thickness, and most cement backer boards will be 1/4, 1/2, or 5/8 thick. Using Tile To Create a Custom Shower Floor in Your Bathroom. Mix it thoroughly with the trowel to remove any clumps. Free-space on the underside of the matting provides a route for excess moisture and vapor to prevent damage to the tile layer above. Wood floors first need to be able to withstand the weight of a custom walk-in shower. DITRA-HEAT-DUO features an integrated bonding fleece that provides sound control, as well as a thermal break. How to Prepare a Floor for a Walk-in Shower Prepare subfloor and drain plumbing. thickness, and include a range of dimensions such as: 5 ft. x 6 ft. 6 ft. x 33 ft. 5 ft. x 40 ft. 4 ft. x 50 ft. 5 ft. x 50 ft. 6 ft. x 50 ft. A major perk of site-built shower pans is that they allow the installation of custom tile, stone, or other aggregate floor surfaces. DRY PACK SHOWER PAN For Beginners --- The Easy Way!!! Install Subfloor The flange is a 1/8" thick, 5" high FRP composite MATERIAL that is designed to rise between the stud wall and the showers backer wall. The issue is that the previous subfloor was 1/2" ply over joists 17 1/2" OC - by my research, not enough support. In the mixing tray, mix the mortar with water, using a garden hoe. 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Donato Pompo, CTC CMR CSI CDT MBA, is the leading tile and stone forensic expert and consultant in North America, and he is a National Tile Contractors Association Recognized Consultant. If it leaks, it fails. Top-quality cast iron shower pans are very costly yet also very durable and can last for decades. Contact us: 888-472-4588 CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Coat both sides of the seam with the primer or sealer appropriate to the material, covering about 4 inches from the edges. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. The objective of this piece of paper is to provide a layer of moisture-inhibiting protection on top of the wood so that when you put the first layer of your deck mud in place to slope to the drain, the wood does not soak up the moisture and cause the concrete to dry too quickly. KERDI-DRAIN features an integrated bonding flange to which the KERDI waterproofing membrane is adhered and forms a waterproof connection at the top of the tile assembly. It's about how it looks and how it feels underfoot. ANSWER - First of all, the way you construct a shower pan is to first apply a pre-sloped mortar bed to establish a slope to the drain of 1/4" per foot. After the sloped subbase is in, the liner can be installed. Waterproofing corners Schluter-KERDI-KERECK. DITRA-HEAT features a thickness of 1/4" (5.5 mm) and is especially designed to allow for the easy installation of DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables. This is especially true when remodeling at an existing subfloor. 3. Kerdi Shower Tray ST Subfloor Requirements Cut and lay down the tar paper on the floor of the shower. Premanufactured kits do not weigh enough to be of concern, so you can go directly over the existing subfloor (plywood or OSB). If the subfloor is not flat and level, apply a self-leveling compound following the . Synopsis: Code expert Glenn Mathewson explains the details required by code and modern plumbing standards when fabricating a shower pan, including the two-part drain assembly, the subbase material and slope, the curb height, and the liner application. See Recessing the Shower Floor Technical detail here. Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive deals you wont find anywhere else straight to your inbox! If you were going to tile the rest of the room, I'd consider adding another sheet of ply, at least 3/8" thick (the thinnest suitable to a second layer with tile) under the whole floor. Test fit shower pan drain housing into subfloor bore hole. Waterproof, multifunctional tile substrate and building panel. PDF Tile Redi - Shower Pan Installation Guide What risks are you taking when "signing in with Google"? Unless you waterproof the entire room floor, walls, and ceiling, steam induced moisture is going to penetrate SOMEWHERE to wood. Mix a batch of skimming mortar in a bucket or mixing tub, using fresh water and a wooden trowel. If total energies differ across different software, how do I decide which software to use? DITRA-HEAT features a thickness of 1/4" (5.5 mm) and is especially designed to allow for the easy installation of DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables. Replace the top cap and screw or bolt it tightly into position. Acrylic shower pans are the least expensive type of pan and can last for about 10 years before there could be a crack or leak. Whatever the product, the liner must extend at least 2 in. Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants. Do I need to mud under shower pan? - Liquid Image Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Further, DITRA performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering. Do I need to apply a waterproofer such as Redgard to the subfloor ply before I apply the thinset to set the Kerdi shower pan? Use mortar between OSB and old concrete subfloor, in shower? Although curbless showers that were originally meant for handicap showers has become more popular and more in demand. One side will be resting on a wall, the other side the joists will be hung using strong-ties or the like. Uncoupling membrane for DITRA-HEAT-E-HK electric floor heating cables, Uncoupling membrane with integrated sound control and thermal break. KERDI-DRAIN grates are available in four stylish designs and multiple finishes. Trusted, comprehensive guidance from the pros for a great-looking tile job in any room of the house. Premanufactured panels and pans as walk-in showers can be installed directly over the top of the concrete without any concern. This may require the services of a qualified design professional (e.g., architect, engineer, etc.). 2. One side will be resting on a wall, the other side the joists will be hung. No I would not apply water proofer to the subfloor under the shower pan (unless we are going to be waterproofing the entire floor it might be easier to just continue it under the shower pan). The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. However, shower bases can be sloped on a single plane to a linear drain, enabling the use of attractive large-format tiles. If you cannot or do not wish to recess the floor or use a ramp, the use of additional materials to raise the bathroom floor is another option. The downside of these finishes is that they arent themselves waterproof. How to install a shower pan drain with this non-standard drainage pipe? Did the Golden Gate Bridge 'flatten' under the weight of 300,000 people in 1987? Installing an Acrylic Shower Pan in a Mortar Bed - YouTube Clean the Subfloor. A minor leak may only be discovered after the nearby walls or floor below are heavily damaged (code is not concerned with a visible escape of water pouring out onto your bathroom floor, but rather a sneaky invisible leak). When an inspector shows up to do the rough-plumbing inspection and sees a two-part drain in place, it triggers a future inspection that not every house receives: a shower-liner inspection, detailed in section P2503.6 of the IRc. Increasing subfloor thickness under new shower pan, Installing ceramic tile on top of wooden bathroom floor. Toe-screw 24 blocks to the subfloor every 12 inches and 1/2 inch away from the line to allow for the thickness of the hardboard siding. Recessing the Shower Floor | Schluter The subbase must slope 1/4 in. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Prepare shower pan for the first mortar layer. See technical detail for how. It also prompts the verification of solid blocking in the walls surrounding the shower for backing and attaching the liner. Donato is the founder of CTaSC. With the rest of the shower drain temporarily in place, draw a pencil or chalk line around the perimeter of the walls to add a reference line, which represents the top of the tile. Install the Subfloor. Determine whether the floor needs to be leveled and mark the floor at the low spots. The hyperbolic space is a conformally compact Einstein manifold. How to Build Shower Pans (DIY) | Family Handyman