| Installing a custom ceramic tile shower in | | | | nails. In addition, an opening in the |
| your home is something a do it yourself | | | | membrane should be cut out to allow the |
| homeowner can do with a little upfront | | | | adjustable shower drain assembly to slip |
| knowledge. The most important aspect of a | | | | through. |
| successful custom ceramic tile shower | | | | |
| installation is properly installing a shower | | | | With the shower pan membrane installed, the |
| pan membrane liner. The shower pan membrane | | | | cementitious ceramic tile backerboard can |
| liner is used to ensure a leak-proof shower. | | | | then be secured to the framed shower walls. |
| | | | The backerboard is a rigid material that is |
| Shower pan membrane liners are used to funnel | | | | ideal for attaching tile in wet areas such as |
| any water that seeps through the floor or | | | | a shower stall. |
| wall grout to the shower drain below. The | | | | |
| shower pan membrane liner is made up of a | | | | After installing the ceramic tile |
| flexible type of plastic material that sits | | | | backerboard, a final coat of mortar needs to |
| below a bed of mortar, and the tile, in the | | | | be applied on top of the membrane to protect |
| shower floor area. | | | | it and to provide a solid base for laying the |
| | | | ceramic floor tile. |
| Prior to installing the shower pan membrane | | | | |
| liner, the floor of the shower needs to be | | | | With the final coat of mortar cured, the |
| pre-sloped to ensure that the water will flow | | | | ceramic tile can then be installed in the |
| towards the shower drain assembly. The | | | | shower. |
| pre-slope is accomplished by applying a layer | | | | |
| of mortar to the floor of the shower unit | | | | Once the tile and grout have been installed, |
| area. The layer of mortar is troweled in such | | | | the shower drain assembly should be adjusted |
| as way as to create a gentle slope from the | | | | so that the drain height sits flush with the |
| shower wall edges to the center of the shower | | | | finished ceramic tile floor. |
| where the drain resides. | | | | |
| | | | For more information on installing a shower |
| Once the pre-slope mortar has cured, the | | | | pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan |
| flexible shower pan membrane liner can then | | | | Membrane Liner Installation EBook from The |
| be installed. There are a couple of types of | | | | Shower Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly |
| shower pan membrane liners on the market, | | | | teach you the step-by-step process for |
| with each having their own benefits. With | | | | installing the shower pan membrane liner |
| either type of membrane, the homeowner needs | | | | correctly. It includes instructions on |
| to form and fold the material into the base | | | | framing the shower stall, pouring the |
| of the shower area and secure it to the sides | | | | pre-slope and shower base mortar, and |
| of the shower wall frame with staples and/or | | | | installing the shower pan membrane liner. |