How to Build a Corner Shower Pan

shower pan
  • 4-8 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 150-300
What You'll Need
Mortar mix
Drain base
Waterproof membrane
Tools for plumbing
Trowel
Metal wires
What You'll Need
Mortar mix
Drain base
Waterproof membrane
Tools for plumbing
Trowel
Metal wires

A corner shower pan is a good solution to keep the water from flooding your bathroom every time you take a shower. It saves you the trouble of wiping and cleaning every time you do so. Building a customer pan is a better solution than buying a prefabricated unit. The process is moderately challenging, but by following these steps, you will guarantee successful results.

Step 1 - Getting Started

Measure the corner of your bathroom. Keep the size of the shower pan small enough to suit the dimensions of your washroom. Ensure the capability of the floor to sustain the weight of a shower pan.

Since the pan will be lined with cement and structured in multiple layers, it will be quite heavy. Add an additional base of plywood with similar dimensions to that of the measurements to strengthen your base.

Step 2 - Install the Drain

The drain is the only place that allows water to run; therefore, in a good shower pan, the floor of the pan slopes towards the drain to discourage standing water. Locate your drain on the center of the pan because sloping towards the center is easier. Use adjustable finished drains for ease of use, as they will adjust to the thickness of your pan base.

Step 3 - Create a Thin Mortar Mix Bed

Use the mortar mix and the trowel to make a 3/18-inch concrete bed over the membrane with the slope grading towards the drain. Apply the mix evenly and ensure that you do not clog the drain by covering it with the PVC liner temporarily. Allow the mortar to harden for at least 24 hours.

Step 4 - Line the Base With Waterproof Membrane

Once the mortar mix dries, use the waterproof membrane to line the base of the pan. At the corners, where the pan touches the walls, ensure that you line the membrane at least 6-inches above the floor. Tuck the membrane neatly around the curbs and use a hammer and nails to prevent loosening.

Step 5 - Create the Second Layer of Mortar Bed

Create the second layer of mortar bed using wires to run across the bed for strength. Identify the slope and ensure that it approximates 0.25-inch per foot. Allow the mortar bed to dry for 24 hours or more.

Step 6 - Test the Drain and Pan

With the pan nearing completion, test the working of the drain and the slope of the pan by filling it with water and unblocking the drain to allow the water to run through.

Step 7 - Install the Floor of the Pan

Use a tile floor to finish the base of the pan. Install the tiles systematically, starting from the sides and approaching the drain. Maintain the slope that you built earlier.