Mortar for under a corner shower base

[IHateMyJob2004]

I am remodeling my bathroom and have a corner shower. Well, the room is down to studs and it is time to install the new base. I know how to do everything except for one little detail.

The picture at the top is the kind of base I am referring to:
http://www.hammerzone.com/arch...hower/base/install.htm
By coincidence, that guide is using my actual base. Having read my installation directions for the same base, I don't know what on Earth tis guy is doing/thinking in some parts of his install. The point of hte picture is that I want you to know what kind of base I am talking about.

Back to the point of this thread!
The installation instructions recommend but do not require using a mortar base around the drain. Basically, circle the drain area with mortar and build it upwards. Then when you push the pan down, the mortar will form a rigid base for when you stand in the pan. Though optional, I decided that I am using mortar base. I went to Home Depot. I looked at mortar and cement. Actual mortar seems to make no sense to use since it is not designed for thick applications. It is only meant to be used in small thicknesses. I figure that I need a 1-3" thickness. I did find a cement product that fit this bill, but what exact product should I be using?

Please, no guessing on this one. I need someone with experience doing this telling me what kind of mortar base (or cement) to use.

EDIT 1:
In this thread:
http://www.diychatroom.com/showthread.php?t=8950
Someone recommended a product called flexall. The poster (2nd down) also mentioned that osme use joint compound?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Please, no guessing on this one.

Where's the fun in that IHateMyJob2004?

 

[bctbct]

Any portland based product should work. Thinset, type S brick mortar, even sackrete although I would steer clear of that because of the gravel.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

bctbct,

Thanks. Type S brick mortar? What is Type S and what are the other types?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
bctbct,

Thanks. Type S brick mortar? What is Type S and what are the other types?

Mortar: What?s Your Type?

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
bctbct,

Thanks. Type S brick mortar? What is Type S and what are the other types?

Type S has the sand in the premix...some other types do not have the sand.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

This is great, I'm reading that I can use deck mud, which is also called dry pack mortar or floor mud. I'd imagine this is sold by the thinset at home depot.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Any material that gives you a rigid support will be fine. Most installer cut a tight opening for the drain and forgoes the base support filler.

No-caulk drain fitting is easier to use in a remodeling situation because you can?t access the drain from the underside, therefore regular glue fitting is more difficult to work on.

Cut an access hole around the shower drain to work on the drain pipe, and cut/glue (or use a Fernco mechanical coupling) a new length of ABS that protrude through the floor, replace the cut out with a new piece of match plywood with the opening (hole saw work well in this situation, but a square cut is fine too) that accommodate the fitting. And follow the manufacture suggestion of No-caulk fitting to install the base/drain.

Glue fitting require a bit more planning, making sure that the riser pipe is line up perfectly to the drain hole and is cut about 1/2-1 inch shorter than the floor surface (measure the shower drain fitting and/or use manufacture suggestion to make allowance for the floor drain), then follow floor drain manufacture guide to install floor drain on the shower base before you apply the base onto the floor (dry fit it first before use glue, and work fast because you have about 15-30 second before the glue is set, put lots of glue on both surface will buy you sometime up to about 60 seconds).

Good luck!

 

[sandorski]

I'd think that any mortar would not only kill all occupants, but totally destroy any shower it hit. No need for "Types" in this discussion.

 

[Kadarin]

Here is everything you need to know about mortars..

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
Here is everything you need to know about mortars..

And that'll buff right out f you know what you are doing...

 

[thecrecarc]

When I first read this title, I was like WTF!??!?! Then, it hit me.