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Curb construction question

netrate | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 3, 2013 08:15am

I am having a hard time trying to come up with the correct way of asking this question, but maybe I am over-thinking it.

 

 Is the CURB/LIP of the SHOWER considered to be part of the frame or an addition to it?  Right now, there a two  2 X 4 waiting to be put in place (see picture) – they are just sitting there and not cut to size yet.

I am going to place THREE 2 X 4’s in there (the bottom one will be pressure treated since I learned something new about 2 minutes ago).

 Now am I going about this the right way?  Again, when I pour the concrete/cement bed, do I assume the LIP/CURB is part of my frame for the SQUARE frame. 

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  1. toolpouchguy | Sep 03, 2013 08:45pm | #1

    shower

    you can never co wrong with  Schluter-Systems 

    when we use to do showers that way it would be part of the frame and we would rip a bevel on the top 2x4 and use pl to hold them all together 

    and your bottom plates should be presure treated 

    1. netrate | Sep 03, 2013 10:58pm | #3

      I will buy some PT wood for the bottom of the curb for sure.

  2. florida | Sep 03, 2013 09:30pm | #2

    It's not part of the frame, it's just a curb. Coul dbe made of foam or bricks. If you're going ot use wood use ALL pressure treated. All your bottom plates should have been PT and I would have preferred to have all the framing or borate treated. You can't be too carefyul around a shower.

  3. sapwood | Sep 04, 2013 11:50am | #4

    For the very best information on building a shower, go to http://www.johnbridge.com and read the forum. It is extremely active and they are extremely pro-active when it comes to keeping DIY's on target. You can learn more there in an hour than anywhere else. Go, go....

  4. User avater
    Mongo | Sep 04, 2013 07:54pm | #5

    Yes

    You'll want your bottom piece to be pressure-treated. KD if possible. Wet PT can move an awful lot. Attach the bottom piece to the slab. the others can be nailed to the bottom poece, as well as toenailed to the studs on the sides.

    What type of membrane are you planning on using. It's a requirement that your membrane be sloped, the membrane can not sit flat on the slab with sloped mud on top of it. 

    "...when I pour the concrete/cement bed..."

    Understand this: Your "bed" is not made from "concrete". Nor is it "poured". The sloped bed is typically made from deck mud. It's easy to make your own at about a 5:1 ratio of sand:portland cement. Add just enough water so it when you form a ball in your hands it stays clumped but you can't squeeze any water out. It'll be like sand castle sand at the beach. Too dry, it won't hold together. Too wet, it slumps or flows.

    You then dump the mud into place and pound/pack it into it's sloped shape. Literally pound it into shape. You can use a wood trowel, or a piece of 2x4.

    If you reply with more info about your intended methods, we can provide you with additional feedback.

    Good luck.

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