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Discussion Forum

Shower pan for a fat man

restorationday | Posted in General Discussion on October 3, 2006 09:04am

I have a client who is large man (360 lbs linebacker type guy) and he called me yesterday about a crack in his shower floor. He currently has a one piece Crane fiberglass shower in his bath that is probably 10 years old (he bought the place six months ago). Well when he stands in it in deflects a bit and he has finally managed to crack the floor. The crack is about 5 inches long radiating from one corner towards the center drain and when he stands in the shower I can stick a small screwdriver through the hole. He claims it has not been like this for long so I am not worried about water damage to the subfloor but the shower needs to be repaired. I filled the crack with silicone as a stopgap measure and advised him I needed to do some research.

My question is… Is there a way to repair the cracked shower unit? I have not heard of a good one so I will probably need replace the shower. I have a feeling that if I just install a new fg unit then it will crack again in six months or so. In that event… Is there a fiberglass pan that is rated for that kind of weight? The salesman at my plumbing supply house/ bath showroom thought most of the units he had were rated for 275 to 300 lbs. Is there a way to reinforce the bottom of a fg pan? I know I can do this with tiled shower no problem but the HO likes the ease of care and the cost of a fiberglass unit. Are there any other options out there that I could try to sell the client?

thanks,
day

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Replies

  1. Junkman001 | Oct 03, 2006 09:27pm | #1

    If you want to replace with another f'glass unit set it in a base of mud.

     

    Mike

    Insert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
  2. User avater
    Gene_Davis | Oct 03, 2006 09:30pm | #2

    Makes me think of that song by Little Feat.  Anybody want to name it?

    1. oldhouseguy | Oct 03, 2006 10:04pm | #4

      From the classic album Waiting for Columbus

      Fat man in the Bathtub also worth reviewing ROcket in my Pocket adn of course Willing.

      1. User avater
        Gene_Davis | Oct 04, 2006 12:21am | #8

        Don't forget "Old Folks Boogie," on the Waiting for Columbus album, and the great line from it, "just give me one more chance, to spin one more yarn."

        Lowell George, one of the best voices in rock'n'roll.  Too bad he died so young.

    2. calvin | Oct 04, 2006 03:03am | #12

      Too Stuffed to Jump?A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

      Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

      Quittin' Time

       

      1. User avater
        Gene_Davis | Oct 04, 2006 04:14am | #13

        I thought that album was by Stacked Deck.

        1. calvin | Oct 04, 2006 04:50am | #14

          Sorry Gene, I had a dumb attack.

          Amazing Rythm AcesA great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

          Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

          Quittin' Time

           

    3. stevent1 | Oct 04, 2006 05:56am | #16

      "Fat man in the bath tub with the blues" "I'll be youre Dixie cicken if you'll be my Tennesee lamb. Oh hot' Lanta....Attended his last concert in Wah. D.C. so long ago I forgetWillin' ( weed,whites and wine)Chucklive, work, build, ...better with wood

  3. rnsykes | Oct 03, 2006 09:52pm | #3

    I agree, set the new pan in a mortar bed.  I've seen everything from structo-lite, to quickrete, to expanding foam used for setting tubs, so I don't see why it won't work for a shower pan.  I'd prsonally stay away from the foam especailly for a shower.

  4. JonE | Oct 03, 2006 10:49pm | #5

    Upgrade from fiberglass to a heavy acrylic unit, and definitely put a mud bed under it.  Structolite or sand mix.

     

  5. JohnT8 | Oct 03, 2006 11:08pm | #6

    I can remember one 48" fg showerstall I helped install where we mixed up a bag or two of concrete and set the stall into that.   A day later I was standing in the stall mounting the faucet and I didn't notice any deflection.  I ain't quite as big as your client, but I ain't petite either.

     

    jt8

    'Grandpa used to say "know your role and shut your hole." '   --Stilletto

  6. User avater
    JeffBuck | Oct 03, 2006 11:53pm | #7

    full mud bed or swan stone unit set in mortar.

     

    the mortar'd be there "just in case" ...

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. cliffy | Oct 04, 2006 05:03am | #15

      I haven't seen you around in awhile.  Whats the deal?   You're back in time to ask if your Penguins are going to do anything this year with Sid the kid and the new Russian cry baby?   What was the tag line deal with your buddy Ron?

      Have a good day eh!

      Cliffy

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Oct 07, 2006 10:52pm | #20

        we'll find out more about the new Pen's this weekend, eh?

         

        Not a bad first Nite for the new owner ... let's see how things pan out ...

        could be good ... could be same old same old.

         

        I'm rooting for at least entertaining!

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. cliffy | Oct 08, 2006 03:57am | #21

          Rumour on the north side of the border is that the Reasearch in Motion guy wants to move the team to Hamilton.  That would be smack in between the leafs and the Sabres but there is plenty of fans to go around  I think.  

          I think Sidney Crosby is going to break out this year.  We've been hearing about him since he was about 12.  You know Canucks love their hockey.   

          With the Evengi  Malkin and Crosby together or line one and two the Penguins might rock this year.   You have two of the best young players in the world their.  As for old farts that still want to play, The Hardy Bullets have them,  and we won't be moving any where soon except maybe for a cold drink after the game!

          Have a good day, Its 2nd intermission with Leafs vs. Canadians here.

          I'm flipping between that and the Mets vs. Dodgers. 

          Cliffy

          1. User avater
            JeffBuck | Oct 11, 2006 12:07am | #22

            "Rumour on the north side of the border is that the Reasearch in Motion guy wants to move the team to Hamilton. "

             

            Yeah ... that's ben the talk the whole time. He was "interrested" way back when, then the league said 99% chance of No Move, and he backed out.

            Latest reports are he knows full well there's little chance the league will let the Pens move "if" they do get a new arena, and no shot at Hamilton ... as 3 teams would be 1 too many.

            Plans for a new hockey arena have been a huge sports story around here for a while. Legalized gambling and a casino are hoping to have a tie in, and there's finally local and state support for Plan B Funding if that falls thru .... so as long as the Pens get new digs .... they look to be stuck here.

             

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

          2. cliffy | Oct 11, 2006 03:26am | #23

            The talk of the new rink has been talked about here too.

            If the NHL had half a brain they would have put a team in Hamilton long ago.  The area would easily support it.  You know Canada is hockey.

            Another rumour mention about the RIM guy (I can't remember his name) is that he has already spent a wack of cash on legal advice to see if he could take that avenue to force the NHL to let him move if he doesn't like the long term in Pittsburgh.

            I'm picking the Bruins again this year again! UNtil playoff pool time which is when I look at the situation and pick accordingly.

            Jeff, Have a good day

            Cliffy

          3. User avater
            JeffBuck | Oct 12, 2006 08:44pm | #24

            Another rumour mention about the RIM guy (I can't remember his name) is that he has already spent a wack of cash on legal advice to see if he could take that avenue to force the NHL to let him move if he doesn't like the long term in Pittsburgh.

             

             

            I'd believe that. Don't get that rich being dumb. Either he decided Pgh ain't so bad after all ... or he's hiding some cards up his sleeve.

             

            Hamilton ain't so bad either ... spent a long weekend there with my buddy from Toronto visiting a girlfriend if his and some of her friends .... if was a fun town ... I remember a few hrs here and there!

             

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

    2. restorationday | Oct 04, 2006 07:59am | #17

      Thanks for the advice guys, this kind of work is not my normal bag but the guy pays cash, trusts me and I did a boat load of work on his old place before he sold it, so the job was mine. I have seen mud put under a shower just never done it myself.Guy called me and wanted to get moving on something this afternoon so I went over and pulled the old shower (I don't think I was clear... the floor and walls were a single piece). Found that I had some more work than expected as it looks like the original plumber cut the hole through the subfloor for the drain with a sledgehammer. The extra piece of plywood that is normally glued to the bottom of the shower at the back for support was sitting on air. I guess my client's fatness was not the only contributing factor. Makes for easy access to the crawlspace below! Further there is some water damage from the leaking valve opening. But hey that's about par for the course on this McMansion.Let me get this straight, after I lay in a new piece of Advantec I just mix up a bag of Structolite and lay down an inch thick bed of the mud and then set the new unit down on top of the bed and then proceed like a normal install? Do I need to use a barrier or backer board of some type or do I just lay the mud on the subfloor? What is dry/weight bearing time on the mud? The standard 24 hours?Again, thanks,
      Day

      1. JonE | Oct 04, 2006 02:25pm | #18

        I installed two one-piece acrylic units in my house (Maax Aker, FWIW).  It's somewhat important to measure the distance that the floor of the unit sits off the subfloor so that your mud bed is the proper thickness.  Just one inch, may still leave it hanging.   I put a layer of 30# felt over the subfloor (Advantech) and then mixed a dry sand mix, about what you'd use for a mud bed in a tile shower.  Smooth it out, set the new unit, and step inside to set it.  Wait 24 hours min.  48 + would be better. 

        1. rnsykes | Oct 04, 2006 05:54pm | #19

          Yes, it's best to set it on some tar paper.  I think the trickiest part is getting the right amount of mortar down.  You want enough to fill most of the voids on the bottom of the pan, but not too much as to prevent the pan from resting on the sublfoor.

  7. brownbagg | Oct 04, 2006 12:31am | #9

    one foot thick concrete slab with rebar. lots of rebar

    1. User avater
      SamT | Oct 04, 2006 01:24am | #10

      LOL

      you overbuilding concrete guy.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Said the pot.SamT

  8. Frankie | Oct 04, 2006 02:51am | #11

    What type of walls does the shower have? Tile? 3-Piece unit set over GWB?

    As a temp. measure you can remedy the situation by drilling a 1/4" hole along the crack, maybe at the 1/3 point from the highest, part and inlect expanding foam into the void. Let the excess squeeze out and when hard, trim.

    Be sure to use the foam rated for door and window jambs, as they do not expand as much as the other. The foam is pretty powerfull and you don't want to risk lifting the whole pan.

    Set new pan in Structolite.

    Frankie

    Experiment with the placing of the ingredients on the plate. Try the mozzarella on the left, the tomato in the middle, the avocado on the right. Have fun. Then decide it goes tomato, mozzarella, avocado. Anything else looks stupid.

    Richard E. Grant as Simon Marchmont - Posh Nosh

  9. ned44 | Oct 12, 2006 09:12pm | #25

    you could set the new showerpan in mortar or use a compound like levelquik but the mix should be reasonably stiff. Tile setters often use a somewhat dry mix to create a base for thinsetting tile. after the base mix is leveled, or in your case molded to the shape of the pan use then sprinkle water on it. it will harden after you set the plastic shower pan.

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