A tiled shower base is the foundation of a properly built, waterproof walk-in shower. There are different ways to create a waterproof shower floor suitable for tile installation, the most common is called a dry-pack or poured shower pan.
Traditional Dry-pack / Poured / Mortar bed / Mud bed
The above terms all describe exactly the same thing – a specific ratio of cement and sand mixed with water and placed into the base of the shower to create the ‘shallow bowl’ effect suitable to allow water to drain correctly. The traditional waterproofing method for dry-pack is a multi-layer process. It begins with the bottom layer, or preslope, placed over a moisture barrier on a wooden subfloor or bare concrete / thinset over bare concrete for a concrete subfloor.
The preslope is shaped like a very shallow bowl with the drain at the very bottom. This ensures that your waterproof membrane drains properly and does not sit flat on the substrate beneath your tile, allowing standing/pooling water.
The waterproof membrane or liner is then placed over the preslope and attached at the drain.
The last step is another mud bed placed on top of your waterproof liner, and shaped in the same manner with the drain at the lowest point. Once this layer is cured your tile is then installed directly to it.
This is known as a water-in, water-out system. Water that gets beneath your floor tile will soak through the top mud bed and drain down to your waterproof liner, then be channeled down into the drain. The water that does not drain right away and is retained in the mud bed between showers is flushed through with new water with every use of the shower. A constant cycle – water-in, water-out.
When properly built a traditional mud bed is completely waterproof and channels water from the shower down into the drain.
Topical Mortar Bed
A topical mortar bed utilizes the same dry pack mortar (sand and cement) but it only consists of one layer placed over the substrate and shaped to allow water to drain correctly. Your waterproofing layer is then bonded to the surface of the cured mud deck, then tile is installed directly to that waterproofing layer.
These are products such as liquid waterproofing membranes (Redgard, Hydroban, etc.) or sheet waterproofing membranes like Schluter Kerdi, our preferred method of waterproofing for tiled shower bases.
Topical waterproofing is cleaner and more efficient since any water from your shower that gets beneath your floor tile (that’s completely normal – tile and grout are not waterproof) will immediately hit your waterproofing layer and be channeled down into the drain. Nothing beneath your tile remains saturated between showers.
Topically Waterproofed EPS Shower Base
Unlike the previous two, an EPS shower base is a custom-made high-density expanded polystyrene base. That’s just a really big technical-sounding term for very dense foam similar to styrofoam, but MUCH more dense. Once tiled the PSI of the product is more than enough to meet the requirements for a tiled shower base. A properly tiled piece of high-density EPS can have a forklift driven over it – literally. Don’t let the “foam” aspect of the name fool you.
The surface of the EPS base still requires a proper topical liquid or sheet membrane installed over it, then tile is bonded directly to the membrane.
EPS shower bases are ideal in many applications due to the much lighter weight of the finished product. Mud beds are cement, EPS is foam. The square foot weight difference is significant.
For a 4 foot X 4 foot shower base the dry pack base will weigh nearly 200 pounds, the EPS weighs less than 8 pounds. These are ideal for locations such as second floor bathrooms or over framing that may not have the needed deflection ratio to support a regular dry-pack shower base.
Curbless and Wheelchair-Accessible Shower Floors
TileArt also specializes in barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible shower base construction. Our preferred method of curbless construction is high-density EPS shower base fabricated specifically for your shower specifications. We have the EPS custom-made to fit your shower space to provide a properly constructed shower base which meets ANSI and TCNA standards for slope and drainage, as well as ADA standards for necessary access and slope requirements.
A barrier-free or aging in place construction for your shower ensures you will enjoy your new shower long into the future without the need to rebuild as major life changes show up.
Not sure which base is right for your shower? That is exactly the conversation we have on site. Our installation methods page covers how we approach the rest of the build, and shower tile covers what goes on top. Call (970) 213-3682 or use our contact form for a free estimate. See finished showers in the gallery, read common questions on our FAQ page, or see the areas we serve across Northern Colorado.