Fiberglass Shower Pans As Replacements

If you have a leaky shower pan and must replace it, a fiberglass shower pan can be a good replacement.

The first step is to get the old pan out. If you have ceramic tile walls, you'll need to do some cutting. Use a dry cut-off saw to cut through the tile and the supporting layer. Cut in a grout line about 12 inches above the floor. You will be replacing the tile below that line. You need that much room above the floor to get the new pan in and seal around it.

Use a pry bar to loosen and remove the old tile below your cut line. Remove the old pan whether it's fiberglass or masonry. If it is masonry, you'll have some chipping out to do but it will be fairly easy. Now clean everything out and see what the condition of the sub-floor is and check out the walls too. Any serious rot or mold must be addressed.

When the sub-floor is in good shape, install the fiberglass shower pan and leak test it. Protect the new pan with duct tape and building paper. The gel coated surface of your pan is easily scratched and must be protected.

Now the backing of the area to be tiled above the pan determines how you prepare for the tile. One way to start is to install a layer of 15-pound roofing felt as a membrane where the new tile will go. Overlap by 4 inches at seams and corners.

Install a flashing over the new membrane that fits under the old tile and over the flange of the new pan.

Now install reinforcing wire over the membrane as a backing for a mortar layer.

Construct a wood template that will be used to cut off the new mortar at just the right thickness so your thinset and new tile will be just even with the old tile. The template will slide along th old tile and wipe the mortar off evenly at the right thickness.

Now if you are working over a solid surface, you can apply wall mortar with a finish trowel to the wire. The excess mortar is cut off with the template.

If the mortar must be applied over an area without solid backing, first work a coat of mortar into the wire as a base coat. Then when it dries, apply the finish coat as above. Let this base coat cure and clean off the old tile and you're ready to install the new tile.

Install the tile and grout just like anywhere else except clean out any grout from the corners and between the new and old tile and at the bottom of the new tile. Use silicone sealant at those areas.

Get more answers to your shower pan questions at our ceramic tile installation article. See that article at this link...