How to fit a shower tray on a concrete floor?

The article aims to answer the question “How to fit a shower tray on a concrete floor?”. It also aims to list down the steps you can follow to make a shower pan and shower walls with concrete at home.

How to fit a shower tray on a concrete floor?

Follow the given instructions to fit a shower tray on a concrete floor. There are many things you will need to do before installing a shower tray on a hardwood floor. 

• Replace the floors in that region with a marine ply that is at least 18mm thick. Ensure that the waste pipes are accessible from the floor next to the tray. 
• Make an access hatch using a jigsaw for precision. Remove the garbage from the shower tray by drilling a hole. 
• As soon as you’ve taken all of your measurements, it’s time to put everything together. 
• Make a thin layer of mortar by mixing five parts builder’s sand with one part cement and spreading it under the shower tray. 
• Press the tray into place after checking its level with a spirit level. Allow at least 24 hours for the setting. 
• Connect the waste trap to the outlet pipe via the access hatch you installed adjacent to the tray (it is a good idea to keep the access hatch for future maintenance if required). 
• In order to prevent water from seeping under the shower tray, put a line of silicone sealant down the sides of the tray.

What do I need to fix a shower tray on a concrete floor?

To fix a shower tray on a concrete floor, you may need:

• Electrical outlet
• Drill 
• Drain
• Shower
• Shower tray
• Tub 
• Concrete
• Protective gear

How to fit a raised shower tray on a concrete floor?

If you want to fit a raised shower tray on concrete floor;

• Make sure there are no clearance difficulties by putting the tray where you want it placed first. 
• Once you’ve screwed in the legs, you may adjust the height to your liking. Make that the shower tray waste is in the right position. 
• Attach the shower tray’s waste to the trap after you’ve checked that everything is in the right place and connected to the trap. 
• Make sure the shower tray is perfectly level using a spirit level. Please keep in mind that levelling the tray in ALL directions is critical to avoid any problems in the future. 
• To prevent leaks, clamp the underside of the waste output pipe as tightly as possible. It’s a good idea to use a cold kettle, pour water down the waste/plug and put kitchen paper around the joint to inspect. 
• You’ll be able to find any holes in the system. 
• Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you may now install the shower tray side panel. 
• Finally, draw a line around the tray’s perimeter with your silicone sealant. When the shower is in use, water won’t be able to get below the tray.

How to fit a shower in the basement?

You will have to follow the given instructions to fit a shower in the basement: 

• Installing a basement shower over existing plumbing stub-outs is the most efficient and least costly way to do it without breaking concrete. 

• If the stub-outs are already in place, you may save a lot of money and time by utilizing them to add a bathroom to your basement. You don’t need to break concrete to run your plumbing lines from the stub-outs.

• Sewage is removed from a holding tank behind a toilet, tub, or shower and pumped into the home’s main drain (which connects to a sewer line or septic system) placed at a higher elevation in an up-flush drainage system. 

• A grinder for liquefying solid waste is also included in the up flush system.

• It is possible to hide the collecting tank behind a bathroom wall or to incorporate it inside a toilet. 

• An electrical outlet is required for pump operation, and the system must be connected to the home’s main drain and plumbing vent system. Home Depot and Amazon, for example, both sell up-flush toilets.

• The shower must be raised in order to properly drain into an up-flush system. Per linear foot, the normal slope for a drainage pipe is 1/4-inch. A raised shower base is required to accommodate the drain slope and a P-trap fitted in the drain line under the shower. 

• In order to get in the shower, you’ll have to go up approximately 6 inches. A raised shower base may be purchased from a store or built from treated timber.

• When installing a raised shower in a basement, you’ll find that the ceiling height is already lower than in the rest of the home. When installing a basement shower, keep in mind the height constraints of all the people who will be using the facility.

• The location of the shower will be determined by the up-flush drainage system in your bathroom. In general, it’s ideal to keep the shower, sink, or toilet as near as possible to the plumbing fixtures. 

• The higher the shower, toilet, or sink floor has to be, the farther away from the collecting tank it must be for proper drainage.

How to DIY concrete shower walls without breaking concrete?

You can DIY a concrete shower without breaking concrete by following the instructions mentioned below:

You can build your shower walls with concrete. You’ll need to construct a pan if you want to tile the floor of your shower. It is the shower pan that rests under the tile in a shower. They’re designed so that water flows into the drains.

Because you don’t want puddles, leaks, or standing water in your shower, a well-built shower pan is essential. Custom shower pans can be purchased pre-made, but if you want to make one, you’ll have to do it yourself.

The quality of the concrete mix is critical here. Quikrete’s shower pan concrete mix is the finest on the market. Floor Mud and Sand/Topping mix are the two items they produce. Shower pans may be built using either method.

If you want to make your concrete mix, you can do so. To make a nice dry concrete pack, use a basic mortar mix, sand, and Portland cement. You may use any of these mixtures to protect your shower floor and tile from water.

Can I use quikrete floor mud?

Yes, Quikrete floor mud can be used to build shower pans and walls. It is a Portland Cement-based concrete mix. It’s an overlaying mortar for laying travertine, slate, and marble floor tiles and making shower pans as a dry pack mix.

It is simple to compress and shape the mixture to be poured down a drain. Having a water-resistant and smooth surface when it is created makes it ideal for laying tile.

Because QUIKRETE Floor Mud is pre-blended, there’s no need to measure out any of the components. It’s as simple as opening the bag, mixing it up, and getting to work. It’s a breeze to combine and use.

Add the needed water to a mixing tray, bucket, or wheelbarrow filled with Quikrete. For every 80-pound bag of the mix, you’ll need 4 quarts of water. It has the following benefits:

• This mixture may support heavy stone tiles.
• Use on the outside or inside.
• After 28 days of cure, exceeds 5000 psi compressive strength
• They are easier to use than making your mixes since the math is already done for you.
• The contour and slope of the floor may be easily moulded.

There’s no better concrete mix than Quikrete Floor Mud when it comes to shower pans. To my knowledge, it has never been sold at either Home Depot or Lowe’s. A tile supply shop is where we get ours from.

It might be difficult to achieve the right blend if you don’t have the right people around. This is an excellent product for shower pans if you can get your hands on it, though.

Another minor nitpick is that Quikrete Floor Mud is only available in 80 lb sacks. Even though I only purchase 80-pound bags, it isn’t a big deal since I usually need more than one bag to make a whole shower anyhow.

However, Quikrete Sand/Topping Mix is a good alternative if you need a modest mix or want to handle smaller bags. 

Conclusion

Basement plumbing stub-outs, which may be used to connect up a shower, sink, or commode, may be present if your builder made preparations during construction for constructing a bathroom there. 

Showers may be installed without removing any concrete in basements with main drains located above the basement floor or in basements without basement drains. Installing an up-flush drainage system is the best solution. The water from the shower is pumped into your home’s main drain using this system.

Concrete is prone to discoloration due to its porous nature. Your bathroom is full of things you don’t want to be permanently etched on the walls of your home.

Frequently asked questions (FAQS):How to fit a shower tray on a concrete floor?

How to fit a shower tray on a concrete floor?

There are many things you will need to do before installing a shower tray on a hardwood floor. Replace the floors in that region with marine ply that is at least 18mm thick. Ensure that the waste pipes are accessible from the floor next to the tray. 

Make an access hatch using a jigsaw for precision. Remove the garbage from the shower tray by drilling a hole. 

As soon as you’ve taken all of your measurements, it’s time to put everything together. Make a thin layer of mortar by mixing five parts builder’s sand with one part cement and spreading it under the shower tray. 

How to fit a raised shower tray on a concrete floor?

Make sure there are no clearance difficulties by putting the tray where you want it placed first. 

Once you’ve screwed in the legs, you may adjust the height to your liking. Make that the shower tray waste is in the right position. 

Attach the shower tray’s waste to the trap after you’ve checked that everything is in the right place and connected to the trap. 

How to install shower in the basement without breaking concrete?

Installing a basement shower over existing plumbing stub-outs is the most efficient and least costly way to do it without breaking concrete. 

If the stub-outs are already in place, you may save a lot of money and time by utilizing them to add a bathroom to your basement. You don’t need to break concrete to run your plumbing lines from the stub-outs.

Sewage is removed from a holding tank behind a toilet, tub, or shower and pumped into the home’s main drain (which connects to a sewer line or septic system) placed at a higher elevation in an up-flush drainage system.

Grinder for liquefying solid waste is also included in the up flush system.

Can I use concrete to build my shower pans?

Yes, you can build your shower pan with concrete. You’ll need to construct a pan if you want to tile the floor of your shower. It is the shower pan that rests under the tile in a shower. They’re designed so that water flows into the drains.

Because you don’t want puddles, leaks, or standing water in your shower, a well-built shower pan is essential. Custom shower pans can be purchased pre-made, but if you want to make one, you’ll have to do it yourself.

Can I use concrete for building concrete shower walls?

Yes, using Concrete for the walls of your bathroom is a viable option. Using Concrete in bathrooms has been a popular trend since industrial design. Concrete is a common design material in modern interiors, so it’s not like this is the first time something has been done.

On the other hand, Concrete isn’t one of the most popular bathroom design options. Quartz, marble, granite, or another form of stone are preferred by many homeowners when it comes to bathroom wall coverings.

Bibliography

Kim, J. K., Moon, Y. H., & Eo, S. H. (1998). Compressive strength development of concrete with different curing time and temperature. Cement and Concrete Research, 28(12), 1761-1773.

Khalid, M., & Aslam, M. (2013). Waterproofing treatment for masonry and lime concrete surfaces.