| When you install a shower base in your bathroom, | | | | Make Precise Joins for the Drain Pipe Assembly |
| you want to be sure that the shower base floor | | | | Use the drain fitting tool supplied with the shower |
| is even, the drain connects to the waste water | | | | base kit to thread the drain pipe to the drain hole |
| pipes correctly, and that the entire shower will be | | | | precisely. Fit all washers tightly against the drain |
| waterproof to prevent mold growth. Pay | | | | pipe nut before attaching the drain pipe assembly. |
| attention to these 7 tips for installing a shower | | | | Cover the Shower Walls with Cement Board |
| base to create a functional, effective shower for | | | | Before Tiling |
| your home. | | | | Cement board is a non-permeable solid surface |
| Make Sure the Subfloor is Even and Level | | | | that when placed under tiles in a wet area such |
| Install your shower base only on top of a level | | | | as a shower, virtually eliminates water leakage |
| subfloor. The shower base itself is sloped toward | | | | through the tile. It is heavy to install, so have two |
| the drain hole to allow the water to exit down the | | | | helpers handy to carry and support the board as |
| drain smoothly and quickly. If the subfloor is tilted | | | | you affix it to the wall studs with specially |
| by even as little as an inch, the shower base drain | | | | designed cement board screws. Insert the screws |
| will not work properly and your bathroom could | | | | to just below the surface of the cement board to |
| be flooded. | | | | allow for level tiling. |
| Install Your Shower Base with the Proper Tools | | | | Caulking and Grouting |
| and Fasteners | | | | Take great care with caulking and grouting to |
| Use only the screws, bolts and nuts from your | | | | create a smooth, easily cleanable surface inside |
| shower base installation kit to attach it to the | | | | the shower. Match the color of the silicone caulk |
| subfloor and the stud beam blocks. Changing to | | | | to the tile grout to make the shower walls and |
| different fasteners will prevent a correct fit of | | | | floor appear to be a seamless unit. Apply the |
| the shower base flange and the drainpipe | | | | caulking with a good-quality caulking gun to do the |
| assembly, so your shower will not function | | | | job as neatly as you can. Use a slender putty |
| correctly. The walls and floor of the bathroom | | | | knife to grade the caulked surface to an even |
| could suffer damage from leaks and spillage. | | | | thickness. |
| Attach the Shower Base Flange to the Shower | | | | With attention to these details, you will build a |
| Walls | | | | durable, functional shower that you will enjoy |
| Place vertical blocks between the wall studs, cut | | | | using for many years. |
| to the height of the shower base flange. Attach | | | | Tile the Shower Walls from the Floor Up |
| the flange to these blocks and make sure it is | | | | Laying tile on the walls from the floor upward will |
| level at the top. Slip narrow plastic or plywood | | | | minimize the gap between the cement board wall |
| shims between the metal flange and the wood | | | | and the shower flange top. You will fill this gap |
| blocks to ensure a snug, flush fit. | | | | with silicone caulking later. |