| Installing ceramic tile in a shower starts with a proper | | | | flexible shower pan membrane liner can then be |
| foundation. The foundation consists of WonderBoard | | | | installed. There are a couple of types of shower pan |
| or Durock cement board on the walls and a Shower | | | | membrane liners on the market, with each having |
| Pan Membrane Liner in the shower floor, if the | | | | their own benefits. With either type of membrane, |
| shower floor is to be tiled too.WonderBoard or | | | | the homeowner needs to form and fold the material |
| Durock cement board, also known as backerboard, | | | | into the base of the shower area and secure it to |
| are resistant to water and are ideal materials for | | | | the sides of the shower wall frame with staples and |
| applying ceramic tiles to high-moisture areas. Durock | | | | or nails. In addition, an opening in the membrane |
| can be applied directly to wall studs and ceiling joists | | | | should be cut out to allow the adjustable shower |
| using hot-dipped galvanized nails or galvanized wood | | | | drain assembly to slip through.With the shower pan |
| screws.Thin-set or an adhesive mortar can be applied | | | | membrane installed, the cementitious ceramic tile |
| directly on the WonderBoard or Durock cement | | | | backerboard can then be secured to the framed |
| board for attaching the ceramic tiles. However, | | | | shower walls. The backerboard is a rigid material that |
| fiberglass mesh tape should be applied over all seams | | | | is ideal for attaching tile in wet areas such as a |
| and smoothed out with a latex thin-set prior to the | | | | shower stall.After installing the ceramic tile |
| application of ceramic tiles.If ceramic tile is desired on | | | | backerboard, a final coat of mortar needs to be |
| the floor of the shower as well, then a shower pan | | | | applied on top of the shower pan membrane to |
| membrane liner should be installed prior to the | | | | protect it and to provide a solid base for laying the |
| installation of the WonderBoard or Durock cement | | | | ceramic floor tile.With the final coat of mortar cured, |
| board. | | | | the ceramic tile can then be installed in the |
| The shower pan membrane liner is used to ensure a | | | | shower.Once the tile and grout have been installed, |
| leak-proof shower. Shower pan membrane liners are | | | | the shower drain assembly should be adjusted so |
| used to funnel any water that seeps through the | | | | that the drain height sits flush with the finished |
| floor or wall grout to the shower drain below. The | | | | ceramic tile floor.For more information on installing a |
| shower pan membrane liner is made up of a flexible | | | | shower pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan |
| type of plastic material that sits below a bed of | | | | Membrane Liner Installation EBook from The Shower |
| mortar, and the tile, in the shower floor area.Prior to | | | | Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly teach you the |
| installing the shower pan membrane liner, the floor of | | | | step-by-step process for installing the shower pan |
| the shower needs to be pre-sloped to ensure that | | | | membrane liner correctly. It includes instructions on |
| the water will flow towards the shower drain | | | | framing the shower stall, pouring the pre-slope and |
| assembly. The pre-slope is accomplished by applying a | | | | shower base mortar, and installing the shower pan |
| layer of mortar to the floor of the shower unit area. | | | | membrane liner.Over the past 20+ years Mark |
| The layer of mortar is troweled in such as way as to | | | | Donovan has been involved with building homes and |
| create a gentle slope from the shower wall edges to | | | | additions to homes. His projects have included: building |
| the center of the shower where the drain | | | | a vacation home, building additions and garages on to |
| resides.Once the pre-slope mortar has cured, the | | | | existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. |