PVC Shower Pan Liner Install

[Hammer Head]

Hi Bobcat,
I do a lot of custom PVC systems and use the Schluter systems also.
It looks like you have done a great pre-slope job.
Is that a clamping type shower drain (to clamp the shower liner)? If you are all set with the clamping drain, liner and ready for the mortar bed.
If your drain has weep holes, be sure to use some fine aggragate around the holes so the do not plug up with the mortar.
That will allow water to go into the drain if it were to get through the tile and mortar to the liner.

 

[MNBobcat]

Hi Bobcat,
I do a lot of custom PVC systems and use the Schluter systems also.
It looks like you have done a great pre-slope job.
Is that a clamping type shower drain (to clamp the shower liner)? If you are all set with the clamping drain, liner and ready for the mortar bed.
If your drain has weep holes, be sure to use some fine aggragate around the holes so the do not plug up with the mortar.
That will allow water to go into the drain if it were to get through the tile and mortar to the liner.

Hi HH,

Thanks! Yes it is a clamping style. I saw in youtube videos where they either put down some small pebbles by the weep holes or they use a plastic cover that goes around the drain and then they mortar over that. The cover has ridges that allows the water to flow under it. I was planning on using the pebbles.

 

[rtimgray]

Hi Bobcat - thanks for the contribution. Right now I'm at the same point that you are - I've installed the sloped mortar bed and my next step is putting the liner down. I'm using the same kind of clamping shower drain.

Did you put metal lathe in the sloped mortar bed? That's one of the things that I keep seeing being different from one set of instructions to another. Some show putting it in the bottom mortar bed, some in the top mortar bed, some in both, and some in neither. Kind of makes me think it doesn't matter.

I've called Oatey a couple more times and have never gotten past being "on hold". I still don't know what type of adhesive they recommend to adhere the liner to the mortar bed.

Good luck and take care.

 

[Hammer Head]

We never have used adhesive to adhere the liner to the pre-slope. Just make sure it is laying flat and the corners and folds are sharp.
We do use 14Ga. Galv. 1/2x1/2 hardware mesh, some call it hardware cloth in the mortar bed. It won't keep it from cracking, if it does crack it will keep it from shifting.

 

[MNBobcat]

Hi Bobcat - thanks for the contribution. Right now I'm at the same point that you are - I've installed the sloped mortar bed and my next step is putting the liner down. I'm using the same kind of clamping shower drain.

Did you put metal lathe in the sloped mortar bed? That's one of the things that I keep seeing being different from one set of instructions to another. Some show putting it in the bottom mortar bed, some in the top mortar bed, some in both, and some in neither. Kind of makes me think it doesn't matter.

I've called Oatey a couple more times and have never gotten past being "on hold". I still don't know what type of adhesive they recommend to adhere the liner to the mortar bed.

Good luck and take care.

I had an oatey brand drain that I ripped out. I didn't like the design because it sat flush to the floor and was actually recessed a bit into the floor. I purchased a new drain that had a clamping surface a 1/4" above the floor. That meant I could have a 1/4" of mortar depth around the perimeter of the drain.

I didn't put any metal in the pre-pan mortar. I did put down another layer of 1/2" osb on the floor (just in the shower) before doing the pre-pan. That gave me 1 3/4" of sub floor which should be plenty rigid. I didn't bother with durarock on the floor as it all gets covered with mortar anyway.

I won't use any adhesive on the liner. But I will put some slicone under the liner at the drain before clamping it down.