Alternatives to Concrete for a Shower Pan

Installing a free-standing shower stall in your bathroom requires a waterproof and stable shower pan. This structure forms the base of the shower, otherwise created by a bathtub in a combination shower. Concrete works for a strong and long-lasting shower pan, but it is tricky to pour and shape for beginners. A variety of alternatives make installing a shower pan easier.

Concrete contains cement mixed with a larger aggregate, such as gravel, while mortar is cement mixed with sand and sometimes lime. This mixture gives mortar a finer texture and makes it easier to shape when building a shower pan. Latex additives used in place of water, when mixing concrete or mortar, also increase the material's strength to nearly what concrete offers, according to Harry Dunbar of North American Tile. Laying a mortar shower bed takes as much time and skill as laying a concrete shower pan.

A fiberglass shower pan comes pre-formed and ready to install, taking all of the sloping and shaping work out of the process. Fiberglass offers better strength than other pre-formed shower pan materials. The curb, or lip, that prevents water from running out of the door area of the shower is usually also built onto the pan. Fiberglass pans allow you to use a caulk-free shower drain seal assembly that makes installation much faster, notes The Family Handyman website.

If you prefer to assemble the shower pan yourself but feel uncomfortable with building a mortar or concrete bed from scratch, try a foam system. These kits come with pre-formed foam slabs that take the place of the sloped concrete in a shower pan, according to AfterDinnerDIY.com. You still get to cut and install the drain anywhere you want, and you'll also need to lay the waterproofing membrane. The foam is strong but easy to cut, allowing you to make custom-shaped shower pans without the challenges of pouring concrete.

Some older homes feature lead sheeting over a thin base of mortar to create a solid shower pan. However, this metal isn't the best choice for replacing concrete in a new shower installation. Although it is strong, a decade or more of constant exposure to moisture causes it to wear away, notes tile expert John Bridge. It's hard to tell when the lead becomes damaged enough to let water into the walls and floor around the shower, but you'll find out when these structures rot and become soft.

How to Make a Concrete Shower Pan eHow
www.ehow.com Home & Garden Building & Remodeling Bathrooms
This is how to frame and pour a concrete shower pan for use with or without tile. The most important thing is to make the shower pan leak proof.
How to Install Shower Pan Liner on a Basement Concrete Floor
www.ehow.com Home & Garden Building & Remodeling Bathrooms
The shower in your basement is only as leak-proof as the liner you install. Shower pans come in a variety of different types, including fiberglass, vinyl and acrylic.
Installing Shower Pan On A Concrete Floor - Remodeling - DIY ...
www.diychatroom.com/f15/installing-shower-pan-concrete-floor-27056
I building a guest room with a slab concrete floor. Im ready to install the shower. I have a 2 inch ABS drain coming through the slab floor (with a trap below the ...
How to do Shower pan - float shower mud bed with mortar - cement ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDqFj6Emn8U
http://tilemasterga.com I am showing ho to build shower floor and slop..... Atlanta tile installation and remodeling - how to - ceramic marble granite bath ...
How to Build a Shower Pan on a Concrete Floor
www.bukisa.com Home Remodeling & Repairs
Building a shower stall over a concrete slab is a straight forward process. Just don't let the concrete slab trick you into thinking that you don't need to waterproof ...
Do you need to install a shower pan or liner when installing a ...
wiki.answers.com Home & Garden Home Improvement Plumbing
Do you need to install a shower pan or liner when installing a tile shower on a concrete floor?
How to pour a shower pan in concrete? - Yahoo! Answers
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090821172014AAwtsVFLast updated: Aug 22, 2009 5 posts First post: Aug 22, 2009
Aug 22, 2009 Best Answer: OK, there are a few things to consider here: Firstly, concrete is (compared to ceramic, plastic, iron or porcelain) very porous and (though ...
How to Build a Shower Pan - hoagy.org
www.hoagy.org/howto/HowToBuildShowerPan.html
Ryan's "How to build a shower pan" Page. Last updated: July 4th, 2004. Finished shower. Ahh, so you want to build a fancy custom-sized shower pan.
How to Design A Custom Concrete Shower Pan : How-To : DIY
www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-design-a-custom-concrete-shower-pan
A house needs a strong foundation and so does a custom shower. Amy Matthews shows how to pour a custom concrete shower pan that is perfect for tiling.
Installing a New Cement Shower Pan - Tiled Shower Floor
ezinearticles.com Home Improvement Bath and Shower
Jun 15, 2010 Tips on how to install a leak free shower base for tile. A must read for the DIY Guys. An in depth tutorial on cement floor pans.