Setting a shower pan

[jbennin]

I'm in the process of a complete gut and redo of our cabin bathroom. Converting an old tub/shower into a shower only and I'm close to the point where I'm setting the 60x30 shower pan.

Purchased a Dreamline, right drain and did a dry fit yesterday. I have around an 1"-1/2 gap on one side to make up to get to the studs. Should i fill this gap with a small piece of wood and make it flush with the pan drip edge or just bring a piece of wood all the way to the ceiling and then go over that with cement board? And regarding the cement board, will this some to the top of the pan drip edge or actually go just below and in front? It will all eventually be covered in tile.

By the way, I ran the vinyl beneath the pan but after doing a little research, may actually cut it and trim it to the pan since I'll need to put a mortar bed in. I originally like the idea of running it to the wall but am seeing where that may not be a great idea, any thoughts on that?

I haven't set many of these but recall no gaps to worry about although I may have not had it down to the studs like this one. I've attached a picture.

 

[arctic bill]

I would fur out that wall all the way from the shower to the door , a clean line . or move the shower back and fur out the other wall .

 

[jbennin]

I would fur out that wall all the way from the shower to the door , a clean line . or move the shower back and fur out the other wall .

Ah so one long strip a long the wall, 8 footer for the 8 foot length. Then I’d be able to bring a full sheet down of whatever material. That makes sense

 

[JG plumbing]

I agree with Bill...again.

Just cut the vinyl an inch or less into the edge of the pan to hold it down, but you still have to use some sort of caulk so water doesn't weap under it.

Don't run the cement board (hardy backer preferred) all the way down to touch the pan's nailing flange water will weap up into it. Caulk the gap you leave then tile down closer to the pan then caulk again.

 

[Twowaxhack]

If you fur the entire wall out make sure it’s not your toilet wall if there’s a toilet in the room...

 

[jbennin]

In that same topic, what would you suggest for a mortar bed material on a right drain pan set? Do these pans have a natural slope vs the center drain styles? This would allow me to simply mark the studs for a mortar line level and set the pan.

 

[JG plumbing]

Most have built in slope. You should just be able to see it or manually check to it make sure it's sloped.

Yes I use a knotched trowel and set it like a giant tile.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

@jbennin I ran into essentially the same issue with essentially the same kind of shower pan, but in a friend's condo in Novi not a cabin up north. The challenge is the shower pan is *perfect* in size and square, and the walls and wall angles are probably anything but...

So the issues you must deal with are surrounding the walls with appropriate tile board, and making that meet up with appropriate drywall in the bathroom, and ensuring all is square and plumb...else you'll have tiling challenges.

What I would also recommend is you get your shower door in advance (some have long lead times) and familiarize yourself with the mounting instructions. Ensure you have proper structural support where the shower door parts screw to the wall. Also, while you have no walls up, add enough nailers and mark them somewhere (use the ceiling height as the reference, not the walls or floor...) so that you can install a safety grab bar into solid wood.

This is what is called an "alcove" shower (three walls) and due to some poor construction, my own lack of decades of experience with these kinds of things gave me new appreciation for the fine art of tile setting, and building the walls necessary to do it.

 

[Twowaxhack]

I use a cement/sand mix up to 2” thick. I mix it a little wet.
I’d leave the vinyl floor under the pan and put my cement on top of it.

You’ll use less cement if the floor is level.

You’ll use less cement toward the drain than towards the back of the shower.

I dry fit my showers sometimes and see where I need more or less cement.

Ive installed that same shower a couple of times, it’s nice.

Good luck

 

[helendarack]

it looks good, i like the way you did it

 

[CT18]

What did you do with the drain. Most tub drains are 1 1/2" and most showers call for 2". That is code in my area

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

What did you do with the drain. Most tub drains are 1 1/2" and most showers call for 2". That is code in my area

I don't know what the OP did, but yes, you are correct; I had the same issue. In my case the shower pan was supposed to be a "direct fit" to replace a "standard" 5' tub. Right. As if there is any standard. No, the plumbing didn't line up quite correctly. I had to use an offset sleeve in the shower pan set at just the correct angle, and then a 2"-->1.5" bushing adapter. Worked just fine. Was it code? Dunno. I just replaced one with another and made it work.

 

[arctic bill]

the code says if it is a 2 inch connection then you can not reduce the size.

 

[Twowaxhack]

the code says if it is a 2 inch connection then you can not reduce the size.

Exceptions are made everyday. There’s a 400 unit apartment complex that was renovated and sold as retirement homes. They turned apartments into condos......

Every unit had one tub removed and a shower installed.

Same thing in Pensacola,Fl and another in Tampa. Same in Biloxi,Ms.

All on 1.5” traps and copper drains with 2” shower drain. The ones in Biloxi were 1.5” cast iron.


Money talks, especially when Casinos are being built.

Of course the showerheads had low flow heads. Not 4-5gpm like they had in the 70’s.

 

[arctic bill]

I brought this up with the head inspector for the province of Quebec, and he quoted me if the shower has a 1 1/2 inch connection then you can connect it to a 1 1/2 drain , but if it has a 2 inch connection you can not bush it down,

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

the code says if it is a 2 inch connection then you can not reduce the size.

I did what I had to do to make it fit and work. I sincerely doubt whether I would have been able to fit in 2 inch drain pipe because of the way the joists were configured. Had I actually been able to do that, it would’ve also required removing a big piece of 3 inch drain stack and using Fernco fittings to install a 2”-3” sanitary tee. The shower drained and worked fine.

 

[Twowaxhack]

I brought this up with the head inspector for the province of Quebec, and he quoted me if the shower has a 1 1/2 inch connection then you can connect it to a 1 1/2 drain , but if it has a 2 inch connection you can not bush it down,

This is America. The op is in Michigan.