60” x 32” alcove shower pan install

[Felix]

Hi All. Any ideas on how to lower down/install a fairly heavy 60” x 32” shower base (with a built in seat) onto a bed of mortar without disturbing the floor mud mortar too much? The space is an alcove (stud walls on three sides), so very tight. Cheers.

 

[Terry]

Those are hard to install with the three sides already in place. I normally set in dry, mark and shim to level, then lift out, and figure out where the piles of mortar will go. They need to be spaced so that they squish out and conform, allowing the pan to drop all the way down, and yet providing support for most of it. When it sets up, it will be like a rock.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Felix]

Those are hard to install with the three sides already in place. I normally set in dry, mark and shim to level, then lift out, and figure out where the piles of mortar will go. They need to be spaced so that they squish out and conform, allowing the pan to drop all the way down, and yet providing support for most of it. When it sets up, it will be like a rock.

Great advice, cheers!

 

[Jeff H Young]

I set them like Terry , Plus I'll put a block on the corners so mud doesn't get deformed then when its basically in pull blocks and gently squish pan down , at least that's the plan

 

[Rocknroj]

What kind of mortar is proper for that, regular or modified or does it matter? Did a delta a while back and they specifically stated not to use modified thinset.

 

[Jeff H Young]

I used block mortar or deck mud . not thin set

 

[Reach4]

See https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/what-type-of-mortar-for-acrylic-tub-mortar-bed.55357/ for a prior discussion.

 

[Felix]

Those are hard to install with the three sides already in place. I normally set in dry, mark and shim to level, then lift out, and figure out where the piles of mortar will go. They need to be spaced so that they squish out and conform, allowing the pan to drop all the way down, and yet providing support for most of it. When it sets up, it will be like a rock.

Thanks. I am concerned how I am going to lower down this heavy shower base (with seat) within an already tight fitting 3 stud wall alcove, onto mortar piles. Was thinking of first using a self levelling compound on the alcove area which will at least level the floor and make the pressure on the shower base ‘feet” more even if I can’t get the mortar piles in place. Would welcome opinions on what would be best. Is self levelling compound strong enough to support a 100lb shower base in the long term without cracking?

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Thanks. I am concerned how I am going to lower down this heavy shower base (with seat) within an already tight fitting 3 stud wall alcove, onto mortar piles. Was thinking of first using a self levelling compound on the alcove area which will at least level the floor and make the pressure on the shower base ‘feet” more even if I can’t get the mortar piles in place. Would welcome opinions on what would be best. Is self levelling compound strong enough to support a 100lb shower base in the long term without cracking?

If you use a self levelling first, it will conform like a liquid to the subfloor and transfer the load of the shower and mortar used to fill gaps. Just be careful to prep the floor first so the self leveller doesn't disapear through gaps in the floor.

 

[Jeff H Young]

I had a Tight shower fit last month hadent actually done one in a while, i actually notched a couple studs with my hole hawg and ripped them a bit with skill saw about 1/2 inch deep then I built it back up with furring sounds like a lot but it was pretty minor I thought I might sister one stud but really wasent nesesarry wasent a bearing wall anyway. the pan can be very hard to manuener in place, you might have to get agressive

 

[Felix]

I had a Tight shower fit last month hadent actually done one in a while, i actually notched a couple studs with my hole hawg and ripped them a bit with skill saw about 1/2 inch deep then I built it back up with furring sounds like a lot but it was pretty minor I thought I might sister one stud but really wasent nesesarry wasent a bearing wall anyway. the pan can be very hard to manuener in place, you might have to get agressive

One other thing I was thinking about. Should a frame be built to align with the space under the fiberglass shower base seat to give it more support and reduce the risk of cracking?