I am in the process of adding a bathroom addition to my cottage and have to make a custom size shower because the inserts won't fit. I have read one of the other posts that directed us to a website that explains how to build your own shower pan. I found the site very helpful but I still have a couple of questions. Once the liner is down, how thick should the mortar be between the liner and the tile floor? Secondly, can the lath that is used for the curb also be used for the mesh in the floor or is that mesh something different? Thirdly, I was planning on using pre-mix mortar from Lowe's for everything. Should I use the dry mix under the liner and the mortar above the liner or doesn't it make a difference?

Any help with these questions will be appreciated.

 

I moved this thread into this forum to see if someone who deals with tile has more experience with the particulars with this.

 

Dont use the premixed mortar mix (that is if you meant a bag of masons mix) for anything but the curb as it contains lime and is a bit stickier than dry pack and would be tougher to float. 4-5 parts sand to 1 part portland, which would be 4 shovels of sand mix (3-1 ratio) to 1-2 shovels of sand. Yes, the lath at the bottom of the pan on your preslope bed and the lath over the curb are one and the same. Where gloves when handling, that stuff is sharp. Use the same mix both under the pan for your preslope bed and over the liner for your setting bed, 1 1/4" thick over a wood structure. Be certain to notch your studs for the pan liner and leave spaces bewteen corner studs so you have somewhere to tuck you liner folds in the corners. Then be sure to use powder form modified thinset from a bag for taping you backer seams and to set your tile. No premixed products at all. Everything you use should come in powdered form, no matter what the bucket says as for it's usable areas. Planning a bench in this shower?

 

I agree with Tilebri but I wonder if another solution is to just put on another layer of 1/4", staggering the joints, and then RedGard the whole thing? That is basically my plan for my shower, except that I will use 1/2" Hardibacker.

 

Tyger52, you talking about the curb?, if so, you will nailing through the liner, the Redgard will only keep water out above the curb, won't help from water wicking up below it and getting through the nail holes.

 

I put my reply to a different post here by mistake. Sorry!