Tile a shower floor?

Thought maybe I would post in here. Got lots of good advice on other projects here.

Ripped up an old fiberglass shower and plan to make the shower a bit bigger and do pebble stone on the floor and 6x6 on the walls.

My questions are these.

1. how to waterproof the floor. I've watched videos and read books, but they are all different. Pre pitch? Concrete? Mortar?

I think i have to lay a membrane down. Then pour concrete and slope towards drain, then lay tile?

2. Is there an easier way? Or an easy way to get the slope correct?

Thanks.

 

My only advice is to watch as many episodes of Holmes on Homes as you can.

Fink

 

Look into Schluter shower systems if you have no experience with EPDM or other shower pans systems

 

Check this out, this is old school and proven.

http://www.ontariotile.com/preslope.html

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXTAkwMqtEc&feature=grec_index

That is basically what this guy did. Looks like it works pretty well.

 

Thanks OZ. I did look at that option, but its damn expensive here. It would almost be cheaper for Lowes to come out and measure and prefab a shower pan for me.

 

OZ is correct as well, the new Schluter systems are great, but a little salty.

 

Schluter is easier for a first timer and IMO a better system

Great link though

 

We use a hybrid , where we do a sloped bed of mortar , then Scluter Kerdi over that with the Kerdi drain , we skip the styrofoam

 

You just like it because of the name

 

You could use concrete backer board and then coat it with a product called Red Guard, i think thats what it is called. you can find it at Lowes i know. if you have ever seen Holmes on Homes he uses a material called Detra. this stuff is basically the same principle. Brush or roll it on and let it dry. Supposed to be good even though i have never personally used it. Let it dry and start tileing.

 

Ditra is a Schluter product

 

Ditra mat is good stuff. I will be using it when I re-do my girlfriend's bathroom in her condo this winter. I also plan on using it whenever I get around to re-doing my master bathroom.

I have also done a shower using the method in the link above. I wouldn't recommend tackling that unless you've had some experience using a trowel in the past. It takes a little finess to get the slope right...also you need to make sure you mix the mortar dry enough so it doesn't settle on you.

 

Good info there! I agree with others though, that's not for a first timer unless you have someone experienced to help you through.

 

You actually use Kerdi on the shower floors and walls , not Ditra .

 

This is a shower we are doing right now that will use the hybrid system .



We have Ditra under the floor pan to isolate the future mud base from the heated slab below , there is Kerdi on the walls and we will pour a sloped mud base using the Schluter drain and Kerdi on top of the mud base .

 

Who's Kerdi? Is he that green frog? Frogs are waterproof right?

 

So for a beginner, what should I do? I've done concrete work before, never really "finished" concrete, but i have worked with it. It's something new and i've never done it before, so im nervous. Im sure once i get into it I'll be fine.

I was just looking for easier ways. And some of the ones mentioned are easier, but a hell of a lot more expensive.

 

Kerdi is a Schluter product

Kermi is not , but I bet he is watertight and his fingers smell like pork

 

The mortar bed isn't the hard part , getting the EPDM mat waterproof and correctly connected at the drain is the tricky part