Installing A Shower Pan The Traditional Way
Installing a shower pan using mortar is possible for a handy person. There are various modern methods for building shower pans that eliminate the mud work. Each has disadvantages. High cost is one for sure.
The general steps for building shower pans are quite simple.
Key parts must be right though. A pre-slope mortar layer is a must. Even some professionals skip this step and cause long-term problems.
Proper installation of the actual liner membrane is also critical. The real trick with the membrane is to get it in without any holes within the area of the shower floor.
Another place to go wrong is at the walls. The current best practice seems to be installation of cement boards on the walls. But the boards must be backed by a moisture barrier layer and must be supported properly on the back. Plus, all joints in the cement boards must be properly taped and mudded.
Then the other key detail is the curb construction. The curb foundation should be either stacked dry lumber or brick. Do not frame the curb using hollow construction. It's sure to fail.
Get a few details right, and installing a shower pan can be a perfect way to get the tile shower that's just like you want.