How to build a shower base?

[Sedg]

Hello again

i posted a question regarding framing the other week and recieved some great help, thank you. now i am measuring and locating where the new wall will go and i see the recess in the concrete overlaps the location for the new frame about 40mm. also the recess for the shower is very rough and not square, it is just over 1000 long and wide with rough edges and varies in depth 70 - 90 mm deep.

obviously i need to reshape and fill this "whole" can you suggest how ? should i build a square box and center is and fill the outside with grout or concrete or something else? and what about the base or floor area, surley that will require rendering with something

here are some pictures, i hope you can help oh ftu the copper pipes will go and i will re blumb with PEX. thank you

[JacobZ]

Hi @Sedg,

It's good to see you are moving on to the next stage of your project.

The easiest way to refinish the sides of the recess would be to build a formwork in the shape of what will eventually be your finished recess and pack Lanko 702 Durabed Structural Grout into the space around this formwork. 

Make sure you give the concrete edge a good clean to remove any concrete dust before pouring. You could also drive some masonry screws into the wall of the current recess before adding your grout, to help hold the new grout to the old surface.

Assuming the existing recess is not currently sloped towards the drain, then there is no real need to do anything to smooth and level the surface prior to waterproofing as fall will need to be created using screed, which will fill in the depressions in the floor.

Allow me to tag @Nailbag and @Dave-1 to see what they think and if they have any insights to offer.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @Sedg 

I don't think I can add anything to the excellent advice already provided by @JacobZ . Looks like your doing a terrific job BTW, very neat!

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @Sedg 

@Nailbag took the words out of my mouth, nice tidy work, it makes it much easier to do things And yep @JacobZ has pretty much done the same thing with the way he would procede I like the idea of some masonary screws to give it a good attachment.

Dave

[Sedg]

 

Thanks JacobZ

 i sort of thought that would be the case other wise it would be impossible to tile. I thought a 900x 900 box then fill in between the box and the old edge   The base area is rough , will the screed take care of that or should i use the structural grout as a flat base ?

[Sedg]

Thanks Nailbag

jest Jacob seems to have covered all areas, i just asked him about the floor area of the existing shower base, it is very rough and i was wondering if screed would do the job or should i lay a base with the grout ?

[JacobZ]

Hi @Sedg,

I don't see any reason you'd need to tidy up the bottom as long as screed was being put over the top.

Once screed goes down and tiles go on, then you're never going to know it is there.

Jacob

[Sedg]

Great 

thanks , ok I’ve got some jobs to do

ill keep you posted 

cheers 

[Sedg]

Hi Again

things are moving along, im sheeting interior now however match old and new board and old and new farmwork, im getting some gaps, see pictures,

I've looked on line but there are so many suggestions Sikaflex oe one of several types of a fill-Crete,

i would appreciate your advice again

thank you

steve

what do you suggest? 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Sedg,

Nice work so far, it is coming along nicely.

To cover these gaps, you'll want to use mesh tape and James Hardie Compound Base Coat.

Apply the tape over the joins, then encapsulate the tape with the base coat, using a joint knife to apply it.

This is a suitable fix before waterproofing and tiling.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob