I have been trying to install a shower pan following the instructions in a Taunton Press article dated 10/18/04. The article is very complete, but I can’t get a good seal. The problem started when I put the drain base in a little crooked. To solve that problem without chiseling out the floor (the pan is on a concrete slab floor) I poured epoxy to give me a level surface to glue the membrain to. Now I have a perfectly smooth, flat surface to adhere to but every time I try it still seeps. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Don, if this is a one piece membrane, then you are not applying enough clamping pressure on the 2 part clamping drain. You really need to torque that down a bit--I always undertighten scared stiff that I will strip the bolts, and it always leaks--until I re-tighten.
Beware of the instructions in that issue--the author pounds nails into the curb through the mebrane then mickey-mouse's the waterproofing issue with backerboard and trowel on waterproofing. This is not acceptable. Is the leaking through the drain as I suspect, or at the curb level?
Please advise.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
There have been two FHB shower articles in the last five or six years, and both were suspect. I still recommend using Michael Byrne's techniques and check either on johnbridge.com or the JLC tile forum for the latest tweaks.
Boris,
Thanks for the tips. You are right it leaks at the drain and initially I didn't tighten the clamping part of the drain enough. However, since then I increased the pressure until I did srip the bolts and solved that problem by epoxying 1/4" studs where the bolt holes were. Now I can get adequate pressure but it still leaks. Today I plan to try some silicone sealant instead of the contact cement that I have been using to bond the membrane to the drain base.
What do you think of that idea?
Thanks , Don
Do not put any sealant on the top of the membrane between the top of the membrane and top half of the two part clamping drain. This will clog the weep holes. It is fine, and perfectly acceptable to seal the BOTTOM of the membrane between the lower half of the two part clamping drain and the bottom of the membrane.Another tip is to double up on the membrane around the drain area. I usually add a second donut hole of pvc or noble membrane onto the bottom of the pan, to make a thicker "gasket" so the two part drain has more to grip to.I always run a bead of butyl caulk (for PVC) or Nobelseal for Nobel membranes on the bottom.I never use PVC drains for the same reason you are experiencing. I use cast iron drain assemblies.Good Luck.Regards,
Boris"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934