A friend of mine is doing a re-model and is putting in a new tile shower. The tile supplier is trying to sell him on using an Italian made foam plastic shower pan for about $300. He says this is better because any moisture absorbed through the masonry won’t make it through this like it would in the old mortar bed type.
Is this the way to go now, or just a bunch of bunk?
Replies
About 10 years ago we put in a tile shower in our house. I had already purchsed a plastic shower pan but all of the masons (three) that we asked for a bid refussed (or least were hesitant) to use the plastic pan. They believed that the pan would flex too much and the seal between the wall and pan would leak eventually. Anyway, we got rid of the plastic pan and the mason put in a full mud base. It's been fine over the years. I'm no expert on this subject but unless things have changed a lot in last 10 years I suspect that most tile guys will still be reluctant to use a plastic pan.
Chip
i just look at that system fri. i'll tell you i didn't really see how it was going to work out any better than mortar. it had a big pc of foam about 5" wide by 6" tall for the thershold,i was wondering if movement might be a problem on it being as people tend to put there full weight down as they step in. maybe after it's out 10 years we'll all laugh and go " i shoulda been using these for the last 10 yrs" or not larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
I have never used a foam shower base, but I plan to install one in about three months in a new house. The one I've been looking at is a Schluter product, though, and I have a lot of confidence in Schluter. They know tile work. It comes with a drain made to suit it and a CD ROM of installation instructions.
Another interesting product they make is a foam board for assembling tiled walls. The foam is coated both sides with mesh and some sort of mortar. You put it in place, stick it there with mesh and mortar, tile both sides and you have a rigid panel that water can't hurt which might be an inch thick.
Ron
Ron, I spoke with a Schluter rep about that, and am also intrigued. Hope to have a project that uses it one of these days. Saves doing the pre-slope. Should knock day(s) off the process, be/c you can set it, and the membrane, and start tiling the same day, iirc.
I wouldn't worry much about the foam flexing underfoot. It ought to be able to bear 2,000 or so pounds per square foot without breaking down.
Ron
Agreed. I'd have faith in it. Schluter's got good stuff.