One of the key parts of a shower is the shower pan, the floor area where you stand that also functions to keep water inside the shower area. A shower pan is an integral part of any shower and needs to be built just right for it to protect your shower the right way. Remodeling an entire shower can be incredibly rewarding, but even the best design can be ruined by an improperly installed shower pan, which can lead to leaks and other major problems. So here’s some advice on how to do your own DIY shower pan for tile.

Step 1

Reinforce the floor. An effective shower pan uses heavy materials that can support people standing on it, so you need to make sure the floor underneath can support the new weight.

Step 2

Hire a professional to install the 2-part drain. The drain not only needs to be installed in the floor, but also connected to existing plumbing. For this step, you’re better of hiring a professional to do this for you.

Step 3

Use 2×4 wood planks to build the box frame. A good shower pan also includes a curb top, a vertical curb that keeps standing water in the shower pan. This will also play a role in waterproofing.

Step 4

Apply a layer of SANI-TRED PermaFlex to the floor and the raised box area creating the curb top. This ensures a waterproof seal not only in the floor of the shower pan, but also in the few inches above. Let PermaFlex dry for 1-2 hours in 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5

Cut hole in PermaFlex to put second part of drain back in. Tighten the bolts provided on the drain and screw the drain itself in to a height of about 1 ¼ inches to allow for concrete pour.

Step 6

Cover 2-part drain with duct tape to protect it from the concrete.

Step 7

Apply concrete and smooth it out with a trowel. Make sure to use screeds to give the shower floor a slope so water will go toward the drain.

Step 8

Clean all concrete away from drain.

Step 9

Allow concrete to cure for 2 to 3 days before installing tile.

After the concrete cures, your new shower pan repair will be completely waterproof. From there, continue the waterproofing process on the rest of your shower until it is entirely waterproof. Then it’s just a matter of installing the tile that’s right for you and finishing your beautiful new shower.

SANI-TRED PermaFlex can waterproof your entire shower quickly and permanently. This ensures your new shower, from the basement shower pan all the way up, will not leak and will stay in pristine condition for many years to come.