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Shower base

todpod

todpod

Golden Member
Going to remodel the up stairs bathroom and going to put a shower in. I was thinking of using a kit that has the walls and floor. But the room isn't square so I got to thinking about using a showers base and tile the walls. . It would be like a 42" shower not huge.

Any thoughts
 
Are you talking about bases to put tile on, or fiberglass bases and then tiling the walls?
Schluter KERDI and Tile Ready are the 2 major ones to apply tile to.
I think both are fine if you know what you're doing.

I have a contractor installing a Tile Ready shower base in a few weeks. It is on order.
We are applying marble tiles to it.
 
I used the Schluter KERDI shower kit myself. I got the 4x4 and mudded up the other foot (wife wanted at least a 5x4 shower).

Been about 3-4 years now and still perfect.
 
Jimzz said:
I used the Schluter KERDI shower kit myself. I got the 4x4 and mudded up the other foot (wife wanted at least a 5x4 shower).

Been about 3-4 years now and still perfect.
Click to expand...

I'm using Kerdi and Ditra for my shower remodel. Picked up the thin-set yesterday. Just about ready to install the material. Pad is completely concrete because it's an unusual shape.
 
I had to do the opposite, cut down a 4x4 Schluter base. I am not that thrilled with it myself. They could have used a much stronger foam, I noticed while working in there the toe of my shoe tore into it some when I was kneeling in there working on the wallboard. Not confidence inspiring.
There are some better alternatives out there. I have a brochure I'll find later today and post.
See if you can get a price on a wedi base. They are much tougher IMO. Custom Products has a new one coming out soon as well.
 
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skyking said:
I had to do the opposite, cut down a 4x4 Schluter base. I am not that thrilled with it myself. They could have used a much stronger foam, I noticed while working in there the toe of my shoe tore into it some when I was kneeling in there working on the wallboard. Not confidence inspiring.
There are some better alternatives out there. I have a brochure I'll find later today and post.
Click to expand...


Once the thinset drys and you use 1" or larger tiles the weight is spaced out over the foam.

I was also worried, yet knew how spacing weight out works but still very costly if it did not work. But years later, and even using natural stone, still going. Mind you I am "only" 200 pounds and every one else that has used it is much less than I.
 
Yeah, I know how it should work in theory. I'd rather it was tougher to begin with. The wedi and the sample of the Custom products I saw had that armored surface over even denser foam.
Wedi had some linear drain options as well.
We'll be grouting the floor Wednesday, after setting all the wall tile I have. Had to order some parts to finish out.
 
I did it when I remodeled a bathroom a few years ago. I envisioned screwing up the shower pan and floor tiling and decided to just install the base and tile the rest. It turned out fine. Full tile would have looked better but I'm happy with how it turned out. I'd post a picture but it's my teenage son's bathroom and it looks like a teenager's shower right now.

I don't recall the brand but it was something I got off the internet. I think Home Depot would order one too but it was significantly more expensive.
 
SearchMaster said:
I did it when I remodeled a bathroom a few years ago. I envisioned screwing up the shower pan and floor tiling and decided to just install the base and tile the rest. It turned out fine. Full tile would have looked better but I'm happy with how it turned out. I'd post a picture but it's my teenage son's bathroom and it looks like a teenager's shower right now.

I don't recall the brand but it was something I got off the internet. I think Home Depot would order one too but it was significantly more expensive.
Click to expand...
🙂
People wanted a "before" picture or two of this remodel, and I declined for similar reasons.
Why would I want to document this !@#!%^$^ I am tearing out? 😛
 
I have a fiberglass base and tiled walls that I did about two years ago in my remodel. Ease of maintenance was a concern that prompted me to do this instead of having it all tile. It looks and performs great. I recommend using epoxy grout in the shower to make it even more care-free.
 
We used a 3 part system in the first tub-shower enclosure from Laticrete, but that is a messy process. It kicks off relatively quickly, and is more like cleaning up grease or butter than normal grout. It is really maintenance free, but there is a new system out called Grout Boost.
Use normal sanded or unsanded grouts, and add Grout boost in place of water. It does not kick off like laticrete, is easier to clean up.
The only caveat is, don't leave standing water on it for the first ten days. Some folks will start showering in a couple of days and just wipe it down with the bath towel.
The nice part about grout boost is the color choices, you can pick from any grout company and just add the boost. Laticrete has a limited color choice by comparison.
 
When we remodeled our bathrooms some years ago, the shower got redone with tile and a Swanstone shower base. It's very nice. If you are building a 42" square shower with one door you probably want this. I got the Swanstone from either HD or Lowe's, don't recall which.
 
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CPA said:
I'm using Kerdi and Ditra for my shower remodel. Picked up the thin-set yesterday. Just about ready to install the material. Pad is completely concrete because it's an unusual shape.
Click to expand...

Just make sure it's actual thin set and not premix/mastic (which is water-soluble over time). I had to straighten out my contractor for trying to use premix in my shower.
 
Kerdi and Ditra both require unmodified thinset. I hear folks trying to install it or recommending their favorite modifieds, but that voids any warranty from Schluter.
I got some really nice thinset from Custom that is specific for Ditra uncoupling membrane. I used Ditra because I have floor heat installed.
 
Go away for a couple of hours and you have all sorts of responses. Yes we are starting from scratch, gutting the old bathroom and starting over. The current bath is cobbled together. I went to home depot and they had a couple of shower bases for about $140 depending on the size. Nine made the mention of using just the base and tiling from there. They want to sell the walls too. I will have to do some research on the shower bases that they have and see if they will work.
 
Those composite bases look crappy IMO. I like either tile or the swanstone ones someone linked earlier look nice.

We did all tile for our shower, costs a lot more, but looks good. We had our contractor build it up from scratch, but you could save on the labor by getting a tile-ready base.
 
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