A Custom Tile Shower Is Best By Far

A tile shower is what I prefer. I know all the practical arguments for acrylics and fiberglass, but there's something superior about a hand crafted ceramic shower. It's the look and feel of luxury if you ask me.

If you're having a shower built or building one yourself, the more you know about shower construction the better chance that you'll get what you want. What about shower repairs? The key component of a ceramic shower is the shower pan. If your shower leaks, the pan has failed and must be repaired.

But shower pans are something of a puzzle because they're under the floor and out of sight. The best way to understand how a shower works is to watch one being built.

The traditional pan construction is masonry. The trick component is a shower drain with two sets of drain holes. The drain is set in place first. Then two layers of mortar are poured. Between the layers is a waterproof liner that slopes to the "hidden" drain holes.

You see, the floor of a shower is not waterproof. The grout especially does not stop water. Water weeping through the grout reaches the waterproof liner and down the lower drain it goes. If the liner leaks, the shower leaks and you have a problem.

Not to worry too much though, leaks are fixable. It's usually left to the pros. But if you understand how a shower works, you can fix it. Learn how here...

There are shower systems made of foam covered with plastic and systems that use fiberglass pans. But the traditional masonry construction is still most popular. Why? Easy. It costs less and done right it'll last for a long time. Then it's repairable.

Learn more about what it takes to build a shower yourself at this article...

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