A couple of years ago we did three bathrooms in one house and used two “Tile Ready” shower bases, (with 1in mosaic porcelain tile over). I wonder if anyone else has had this experience. We had to do some special stuff to make these work. Don’t know if they’re still around, because I don’t see how they would work if you used them as they come. Bought them from an ad in FHB from Hollywood Florida.
The shower bases came and were fairly thin plastic but a nice shape. The directions said to use “Bull” (a flashing cement used by roofers that sets up??) under the base. The curb of the base had a chunk of beadboard hot-glued-in (read not firm). We made calls and wrongly concluded “bull” was plastic roof cement. We put it under one, and since we had other stuff to do we waited a couple of days and it was still squishy. It was a mess taking it out, but not as bad as you would think.
We decided we were on our own. We removed the BEADBOARD in the curb, and drilled three 1 1/2 holes on the top of the curb. We set the base in fine mix concrete, and funneled more loose concrete into the curb holes. We knew this curb concrete would shrink back. It did, about 1/4 inch. We drilled about 4- 1/4 inch holes in the top of the curb and hot-glued 3 inch lengths of clear plastic tubing onto the plastic base. We then squirted epoxy into these tubes until the curb was fully supported.
We glued the mosaic porcelain tile on the base with epoxy adhesive and had no problem. Sorry this has been long, but I wanted to give enough detail to those it might concern. It turned out good and I would use it again with this procedure. Has anybody else used them? Do they still exist?
Replies
wow..that sounds like more work than a site formed shower pan!
I'll kep an eye out now that I know what to avoid.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I am wondering if "Tile Ready" shower bases are still in business. Actually, the concept was great I think. The product just needed some honing in. Does anybody know if you can still buy bases that can be tiled over?
I am wondering if "Tile Ready" shower bases are still in business. Actually, the concept was great I think. The product just needed some honing in. Does anybody know if you can still buy bases that can be tiled over?
http://www.bonsal.com/tilepage.html?sid=1714
These have been getting rave reviews from people who have tried them, including tile guru Michael Byrne (author of the FHB tile book). I believe the TCA has endorsed it, but I'm not positive on that. I've never tried them- most of my work is remodeling so I usually have to site-build a shower pan, but I haven't heard anything negative either.
Thanks Andy,
That looks good from here. I added it to my favorites.
Fonzie
AndyL
Awesome.its now in my favorites too. Thanks
Be well
Namaste
Andy"Attachment is the strongest block to realization"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Just make sure that your local building official will approve the shower base, I had to take out 3 of them because the building department would not approve. THe issue is it is extruded polystryrene with a cement product cover, they did not believe it would be work long term as the pan liner.