What Kind of Mesh for a Shower Pan?

Shower Base

• A shower base contains everything between your feet and the floor of the bathroom when you stand in the shower. This includes three primary layers -- the shower floor, the pan and the pre-pan. The pre-pan provides an anchor for the pan and a barrier between the pan and bathroom floor. A shower pan is a waterproof layer that prevents water from leaking through the shower floor to your bathroom floor. Additional layers exist between these three layers to help bind everything together.

Building a Base

• Building a shower base begins with placing the pre-pan on the floor of your bathroom. The pre-pan usually consists of a material such as tar paper, which adheres to and protects your bathroom floor, and a layer of mesh and mortar. On top of this goes the shower pan. A shower pan consists of a sheet of waterproof plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), or a liquid sealant placed on the mortar. Another layer of mortar, then mesh, then more mortar go on top of the pan. The shower floor goes on top of the final layer of mortar, which holds the floor in place.

The Purpose of Mesh

• Mesh goes underneath each layer of mortar placed in a shower stall base. Mortar, a cement-like material, works as a bonding agent when used in shower stalls. It helps the layers of the base adhere to one another, strengthening the unit. Installing mortar works best when you place it on top of masonry surfaces such as concrete, or when you use mesh. The mortar forms a bond with mesh, which anchors the mortar and helps strengthen it. The mesh allows the mortar to better perform its job. Mesh for this purpose is called lath.

Mesh to Use

• Always use metal lath as your mesh when installing a shower stall. Numerous types of metal lath exist, and they are differentiated by the thickness of the metal used in the mesh. For a shower pan, use lath with a tight mesh. The density of the metal in lath with tight mesh provides a high degree of strength, ensuring that your shower pan lasts for as long as possible. When purchasing materials for your shower base, talk to a hardware store employee about your shower stall to ensure you get the appropriate mesh and mortar mix for your job.