best method – shower tear out / rebuild
I need to do a tear-out and rebuild of the shower in my master bath, and time and work constraints require that I hire it out to a pro. I’ve searched on the subject and have found a lot of useful information, and it’s clear there is more than one “right†way to do this. I want to get opinions on how I should have the job done.
Background: The current shower stall is tiled walls and floor on a mortar bed. The shower was built with the house in 1991, and is now unusable due to leakage. After ruling out the plumbing, I’ve discovered that the tile was applied directly over sheetrock, which I assume is causing the leakage. For all I know the pan is leaking also. It’s a non-standard size neo-angle tucked into the corner of the bathroom. The dimensions along the longest walls are 48†x 48â€. I want the new shower to occupy the current footprint.
Some have recommended a modular acrylic unit or a fiberglass insert for practical purposes, but I like the look and feel of tile. Still, I have obvious concerns about the new shower being waterproof. I get the impression that a fully-tiled shower can be waterproof if it’s done correctly (the original shower was obviously not).
So here’s my question for the pro’s – how would you do it? What’s the most fail-safe method in your experience or opinion? I know there’s more than one way, so let me know which alternatives you’d consider too. I’ve read a lot of good things about Kerdi, but their local distributor said he doesn’t know of too many guys around here (Rochester NY) who use it frequently. Would I gain anything by going with a pre-fab one-piece pan / base? As a pro, how receptive would you be to a homeowner asking you to construct the shower a certain way? For that matter, how would you go about selecting a pro (the toughest part)?
I hope my questions aren’t too broad or too presumptuous, but this is likely to be a big-ticket expense for me. It was already done incorrectly the first time, and I’m anxious to not be in this position again.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Rob
Replies
Lotta ground to cover there..........
There's a right way and a wrong way, a few variations on right possibbly, but they're all pretty close.
We know the sheetrock was a wrong choice, the prefab base......eh..........some like 'em some don't.
Now, a custom mud base is something to be done by a proffessional, it's not something for a w/e warrior, or even many so called pros.
If you feel you need to know how it is done properly, then go buy or look at some books, maybe Micheal Byrnes book by Taunton, stay away from the doityourself type books. Visit John Bridges website. Wait for Boris to come along, if he feels like typing he can give you the blow by blow.
No pro should balk at doing it your way, as long as it is the right way!
If you have any tile stores in your area, you might try asking for some referals to local contractors.
Good luck, I'll keep an eye on how you are doing,
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
well .. let'see ...
ok .. first. The prefab. Only one "one piece" in the world that I know of ...
that's neo-angle 48X48 .... Clarion Bathware. I know .. because about 9 months ago an architect made me find this one ..... and it was brand new to the market at that time ... and it's really 49X49 .... but a nice unit. And big. Where's your bath ... this thing ain't fitting up many stairs ans thru many doors ...
But ... if one piece ... meaning walls too ... is what ya want ... this is the one.
now .... how do I do mine. Pretty much like the M.B. Tile Setting book .... studs ... poly... backer .... custom mud floor ... from the sub ... felt ... preslope ... membrane into the 2 part clamping drain ... second layer of mud with diamond mesh ... membrane/mesh/mud go up and over the curb to form the curb .... membrane/mesh/mud go up the walls 6 or 8 inches to make for my swimming pool ...
and is floated flush with the CBU that's been held up that 6 to 8 inches ...
and the wall poly is left long and runs down ontop of the membrane as for correct drainage ...
then .... tile.
And there are other ways of doing it. Minor differences .... or a full mud job on the walls too ... which I don't do. Not that I'm opposed to trying it.
as far as the customer telling me how they'd like it done ....
depends. If we agree ... great .. no problem.
How about I tell ya how I like to do it first .... then see if you like my way?
I'll listen to your method ... and might do it ... buy chances are I'll tell ya why my way is better ... to me.
Then again ... if you told the first guy using drywall for shower walls isn't a great idea ... you'd be way ahead of the game.
you can also get a premade pan and build your walls off that .... but I like the idea of having my floor membrane as one piece .... tucked into the botom ... and run up the walls. Unless you are buying the floor pan as one part of a whole system .... I don't like them. But that's just me ... as I like to form my own.
Haven't worked with Kerdi ... from what I've read ... it's a good system. If you said that's the way you wanted to go ... I'd be happy to give it shot in your shower.
Shlusters(sp?) other products have worked great for me ... I'd trust anything they put out.
Jeff
Thanks, guys.
Here's the line that will tell you when the post was made:
by RobRing in reply to Anonymous [original] on Fri, 10/08/2004 - 05:24
Still, he answered the question. Even though the question was 8 years old, the answer is the same if it was given then or will be given in 8 more years!
Maybe in another eight years he'll find the Enter key.