Installing a shower...retaining wall?

[JM Aggie08]

Our home is DR Horton, built in 2010. As such, a lot of the default hardware is crap. Our master shower has a very standard vinyl shower pan (33.5" x 33.5" x 3"); it is white, and looks cheap/awful. Additionally, the shower door looks like crap as well.

Ideally, I would like to remove the current shower pan, and install mosaic rock tile flooring in its place. Functionally, everything should work the same, but aesthetically, we will no longer hate our shower. After that, we'd want to replace the door, but would only do so after the flooring has been done. My concern with removing the pan and installing mosaic tile, is that we will no long have a 'retaining wall' (example here) below the shower door to keep water from pouring out into the bathroom.

What is the best route to take for ensuring that water does not come rushing out every time we take a shower? What materials/kind of structure should be put in place, since the mosaic tile with be completely flat, relative to the current shower pan with the 3" lip?

 

[bfun_x1]

If you're putting in a new mud floor it needs to be sloped and not flat. Without a slop towards the drain you'll have standing water followed by mold and mildew. A mud and tile retaining wall can be added during the build process but you'll need to consider how you want to handle the door and walls. You might be be better off ripping it all out and starting a new. If you want to reuse your walls and door you'll need to plan for it in the build. Rebuilding a shower is actually pretty complicated and the floor might be the most complicated part. A lot of skilled handy men try to tackle showers and get them wrong. I'd consider having a professional plumber put in the base and the drain and then you can try to tackle the rest. Getting it wrong could cost you way more in the long run.

 

[boomerang]

I can't answer your question directly but the first thing that comes to mind is that notwithstanding the curb issue, removing your existing pan will not leave behind a waterproof surface on which to put your tile. That will have to be dealt with. Many tiles are in actuality only water resistant and grout is the same.

You need to find a company that can provide a shower base with curb. I believe there are a number of companies out there that have various solutions.

I know nothing about this company linked below and I know nothing about their products. I have no practical experience performing this work I only know what I have seen on the how-to shows. What you need is out there though, that much I do know.

https://www.showerbase.com/?gclid=C...lfH2uECgIilNPWVBev-06zO3zthzWnjBoCFwQQAvD_BwE

 

[Greenman]

You don't want to do this. Pulling the pan and installing a mud pan will work, but you won't be able to get a proper seal between the two membranes. The possibility of failure is very high.
The "retaining wall" is actually called a curb. There are methods of building a shower pan without a curb, but it will require you to remove a portion of the floor joist below the shower. That may or may not be possible depending on how the building is framed and the loads on the structure.
If you decide to move forward, do the entire job. Remove all of the tile and backing and install a complete water proofing system. You will probably trash the floor, plan on replacing it as well.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Hiring a professional it is, then. Appreciate the information, everyone!

 

[paperfist]

https://www.schluter.com/schluter-u...RD-Panels/Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD/p/KERDI_BOARD

 

[Greenman]

The kerdi system is slick, but if your shower isn't pretty close in size to the two or three they make, you're out of luck.

 

[paperfist]

The kerdi system is slick, but if your shower isn't pretty close in size to the two or three they make, you're out of luck.

There's another company that puts out a similar product but I can't recall their name. Think they were more geared toward pans.