Shower Pan Liner Installation Options

Shower Pan Liner

• A shower pan liner generally consists of a single waterproof membrane crafted out of vinyl, though some shower pan liners may be made from a rubber material. The liner’s non-porous material prevents the water from the shower from passing through the shower floor to the subfloor below. The liners may come folded in the packaging or on a roll, which can be stretched out over the floor’s surface.

One-Liners

• Some manufacturers make shower pan liners known as one-liners. One-liners are crafted from sturdy plastic materials and are similar to fiberglass shower enclosures, consisting of one piece that comes in a particular size and installs on the floor of the shower with adhesive. One-liners work well for shower enclosures in which you intend to install a flooring type that needs a flat installation surface, such as tile flooring.

Laying Out a Liner Below a Shower Pan

• Generally speaking, a shower pan liner should not be laid out before the pouring of the shower pan, but if you intend to use the concrete shower pan as the main shower surface, you can line the subfloor beneath the shower pan to prevent water from seeping into the subfloor. For proper installation, spread the shower pan liner out on the floor’s surface and smooth it down so that it has no lumps or bubbles, then use adhesive or nails to secure it in place, depending upon the recommendation of the manufacturer.

Laying Out a Liner Below a Shower Floor

• If a shower pan liner was not installed to a subfloor prior to the installation of the shower pan, you can install the liner on top of the shower pan prior to installing a fiberglass, tile or stone shower floor. When installing a shower pan liner over a poured shower pan, lay the liner out so that it lies as smooth as possible against the floor, apply waterproof adhesive around the drain beneath the liner to prevent water from getting in at the edges, and secure the liner to the floor with the nails or adhesive the manufacturer recommends.