What type of concrete for shower pan

The variety makes it a little easier to buy exactly what you need. Just add the correct amount of water and mix it with a trowel, shovel or hoe. When done right, the shower floor will be very strong and smooth. When it comes to concrete, you can either buy a premixed bag or make your own. Concrete is a simple thing to make. By altering the levels of each ingredient you change the strength and function of the concrete.

DIY mixes are a great option for a few reasons. With Quikrete, the mix is made for you. You can include in some additives but most people just use it as is. But with a DIY mix, you can vary the ingredients however you want. Although I recommend just going with the standard ingredients and ratios like Quikrete uses. Just two ingredients mixed with water. For an 80 lb bag worth of concrete you need about 4 quarts of water. First, measure out your cement and sand separately.

Second, place the ingredients in a concrete mixer, tray or wheelbarrow and mix the dry ingredients thoroughly with a hoe, shovel or trowel. Finally, add in water and mix until you have a finished concrete. While mixing your own shower pan concrete can save you a little money, it does add more work. You have to buy each of the ingredients separately, measure them out and mix it yourself.

Since water tends to run downhill you will need to make sure that the tile drain is at the lowest point. The important thing is to begin placing your mortar at the drain and work your out and up. The overall thickness of the mortar depends on a variety of factors. If you are using a preformed shower pan, the manufacturer of the pan should provide instructions as to how thick the mortar bed needs to be.

If you are installing tile, the mortar bed should be inches thick on the outer edge and slightly less at the drain. By the way please wear gloves when messing with mortar. Some folks have more sensitive skin than others but overexposure can cause burns and irritation. The intent is simply to push hard on the trowel until all of the mortar is tightly in place and relatively smooth.

Once the mortar is in place allow it set overnight. Once the mortar is set you can continue the process of placing either the shower pan or tile. Note for tiling: Tiling should begin within approximately 16 hours of the mortar bed installation. After 24 hours, the mortar bed enters a green state and should not have tile adhered to it for 28 days. Technical Resources. All Products.

All Products Technical Center. Search product, project, or keywords. This creates a strong mix that can support tiles of all types, including heavy natural stone.

It can also be used in interior or exterior showers. Quikrete products result in a durable shower pan that can withstand up to psi after curing for about a month. This convenient way to customize your shower pan gives you the opportunity to create beautiful tile flooring in bespoke patterns or create a solid base for your shower. If you decide to use Quikrete Floor Mud, keep in mind that it may be a little harder to find. You can probably find it at a nearby tile store or order it online.

If you can get it, it may be the best product for concrete for shower pan installations. Also, Floor Mud only comes in large bags of 80 lbs. It has Portland cement and other ingredients, including commercial-grade sand. It comes in a lot more sizes than Floor Mud. This gives you the option of getting a larger bag if you have other projects or buying a smaller bag to complete your bathroom renovations. You can use this product to slope the shower pan appropriately and add customized designs if you so desire.

It forms a smooth and strong floor. When you build your own shower pan, you can tilt it at the angle you choose. This can prevent water from puddling in the shower , which can happen with shallow commercial shower pans. The primary purpose of the shower pan is to protect your flooring and walls from damage. This can create a moist environment that can damage the structure of your home. This can lead to expensive damages, and you could end up spending a lot of money getting the shower fixed.

Otherwise, it may be better to leave the installation to the professionals.