How to Build a Walk-In Shower Pan on a Wooden Floor

Building a walk-in shower pan on a wooden floor involves some masonry work and basic carpentry skills which most homeowners already have. This project is extensive and will require at least two full days to complete because you need to allow drying time for your mortar. If you have never laid mortar, you may want to practice forming a sloped floor because it is imperative that you slope the shower pan floor to allow it to drain properly.

Roofing paper
Steel mesh
Metal snips
Razor
Floor drain
Wrench
Sand mix cement
Trowel
Waterproof membrane (or shower liner)
Hammer and nails

Instructions

- 1
  Place roofing paper and steel mesh over the wooden floor and staple it to the floor with a heavy duty stapler. Cut away the material covering up the drain with metal snips and a razor. Mount the base of the drain to the floor with the provided drain bolts and a wrench.
- 2
  Cover the floor with sand mix, which is concrete mixed with construction-grade sand. Pat down the mix with a large trowel to create a floor base that is about an inch deep and slopes towards the drain in all directions. Allow for at least 24 hours of dry time.
- 3
  Spread a waterproof membrane (or a shower liner) over the new concrete floor. Tack the liner to the wood framing around the tub and to the shower's curb with a hammer and nails, so it is flat and smooth on all sides. Cut the liner from the drain opening with a razor. Mount the top of the drain to the base of the drain with the provided bolts and a wrench.
- 4
  Pour more sand mix over the liner and spread it evenly about the floor. Pat down the sand mix to create another solid layer that follows the slope of the previous layer. Let this dry for 24 hours and then tile as desired.

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