How To Build A Shower Pan With RedGard

Water always finds the smallest of space in a shower pan and overtime creates a stinky problem. There have also been cases of water leaks in the bathroom due to cracks and watermarks on the bathroom wall but it doesn’t have to be this way if you want to build a shower pan. Most of you would have considered building your shower pan to avert these defaults and the only way to do this is through the use of RedGard. In this article, I am going to share how to build a shower pan with RedGard. 

RedGard is a product that serves as a crack prevention membrane for the bathroom walls or tiles and prevents water from seeping into walls.

What You Need

• Tile and bullnose tile
• Grout
• Mortar
• Thin-set
• 1/2×1”x7ft board
• Two 2×4”x8ft lumber board
• Mosaic tile for shower floor
• Tile caulk
• 1” nail 
• 4” screws
• ReGard

Tools

• Hammer
• Protractor
• Hammer
• Pencil
• Margin trowel
• Level
• Small foam roller
• Wet rag
• Bucket

How to Build a Shower Pan with RedGard?

To build a shower pan, you have to

• Build a shower pan shape structure with wooden frame
• Outline the shower curb to serve as a guide to position the shower door
• Create the structure using mortar mixed with water
• Apply RedGard to dry shower pan mortar structure to make it waterproof
• Caulk the drains and its corners to ensure it is completely sealed

1. Plan and build the shower pan shape

While building this pan, the main objective is to create a fully waterproof sloped floor with drain, shower tiles, and a raised edge frame. With the goal in mind, measure the space for the shower enclosure before building a pan.

With a 1” X 2” board, create a model representation of the shower pan. Once you get the right shape, tape the board to secure them. While also creating a representation, draw out the shape for the shower curb. The width of the shower curb should be around 3 to 4” wide. The measurement for the curb serves as a guide to position the shower door. So measure and mark spaces to position the shower door near the middle of the curb.

2. Outline the shower curb. This outline is the dimensions of the mold that will serve as the frame for the concrete curb.  Measure a 2 x 4” mark and cut them to fit the size of your frame.

Measure and mark the angles from which you will cut your inner and outer frame using a protractor. 

Align the end of the 2 x 4s to the marked angles

Assemble a wooden frame for your shower curb. This wooden frame should have both inner and outer edges.

Take out the taped down small boards. While taking out the boards, ensure that the curb still maintains a width of 3-4”

Cut the small boards to their required measurements and nail them together to secure your frame

Drill screws into the floor at every joint of the frame and about a foot of each other around the frame. Once the mortar is poured into the frame, the screws will hold the curb to the floor.The frame is ready at this point. 

3. Mix your mortar to the specific quantity needed and pour it into the frame. Stir the mortar around the frame to prevent air pockets. Keep filling the frame until it is filled to the brim. Level the top as much as possible because the shower pan doors need to rest on a flat leveled surface.

Check structure after 24 hours. By that time, the curb should be hard enough for you to take out the frame. 

With a drywall knife, scrape any rough edge off the curb to even the edges. Use a leveler t to even out the width of the curb to ensure all sides are leveled. If the leveler detects any unleveled edge, use a sander to level the part.

Place the shower pan on the curb with the shower drain 2” above the floor. Draw a line along the inside of the perimeter of the curb and the shower walls at 2 ¾” above the floor.  This will act as a guide to how much mortar you pour to the slope.

Mix mortar and with a leveler, measure every 5 degrees to make sure all sides of the curb are sloping towards the drain. Ensure there are no cracks or bumps in the shower pan by smoothing out the mortar.  While smoothing the mortar, make sure the perimeter is sloping to the drain. After 3 days, when the mortar has solidified, you can make the shower pan waterproof.

4. To make the shower pan waterproof, use RedGard to paint the edges, corners, perimeter, or nooks.  After painting with RedGard, the surface would turn red after the first coating. You can apply as many layers as you like to ensure it is authentic. 

When the surface is dry, it is time to add tiles to the shower floor. Make sure to use small mosaic tiles as they’re easy to create a gradual slope. Make sure you’re careful when applying the grout as not to puncture the waterproofing.

5. Caulk the drains and its corners to ensure it is completely sealed. When the grout dries up, seal all the grout lines.

Conclusion

After taking each of these steps, you will notice that your bathroom is clean and neat always without any offensive odor or cracks on the wall.