DIY Shower Pan Plumbing Installation

The Installation of a Shower Pan Liner

Custom showers can be built using standard stud material and backerboard for the walls, and either a prefabricated base or a custom shower pan base.

Though a prefabricated base can save you money and time, it typically is constructed out of a fiberglass material and is not designed to support ceramic tile. Many homeowners today prefer the complete ceramic tile shower. A DIY homeowner can tackle the installation of a shower pan and the associated drain plumbing with a little education and willingness.

It is important to understand that ceramic tile showers, by themselves, are not water proof. They are only water resistant. Thus it is imperative to properly install a shower pan and the associated drain plumbing to ensure a leak proof custom shower.

The shower pan liner is a made out of a flexible PVC material that can easily be formed into the base of a custom shower unit. It is sandwiched between two layers of mortar that are pre-sloped towards the shower pan plumbing drain.

Ceramic tile is secured to the mortar based floor and the backerboard shower walls such that water that may permeate the tile or grout lines drains down to the liner which then empties out into the shower pan drain plumbing.

For more information on installing a shower pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation EBook from www.HomeAdditionPlus.com. The Shower Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly teach you the step-by-step process for installing the shower pan membrane liner correctly. It includes instructions on framing the shower stall, pouring the pre-slope and shower base mortar, and installing the shower pan membrane liner.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com/ and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com/