DIY Cement Shower Pan

Tile and grout alone are not enough to ensure that your shower is sufficiently waterproof. Beneath the tile lies a cement shower pan that provides both support and additional waterproofing for the entire shower structure. Whether you are installing a new shower or simply replacing an existing shower pan, you can construct a new shower pan out of mortar mix and strengthening additives. A correctly installed cement shower pan can last for decades before needing to be replaced.

Roofing felt
Staple gun
Drain assembly
Mortar mix
Bucket
Flat trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Line the shower area with waterproof material, such as roofing felt, to serve as the base of the shower pan. Staple the waterproof material in place.
- 2
  Attach the bottom portion of the drain assembly over the roofing felt.
- 3
  Mix the mortar for the shower pan, following the instructions on the package. A sand-based mortar mix is best suited for constructing shower pans.
- 4
  Pour the pre-mixed mortar into a bucket. Scoop mortar out of the bucket with a trowel and spread it over the waterproof shower base. Keep the mortar clear of the drain at all times.
- 5
  Angle the wet mortar toward the drain with the trowel. The thickness of the shower pan is up to you, but giving the shower pan a slight angle of approximately 1/2-inch helps ensure that excess water will flow toward the drain rather than out toward the bathroom's sub-flooring.

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