How to Set an Acrylic Shower Pan in Mortar

Your shower pan needs to have some sort of base.

A shower pan is the shallow pan that goes in the base of a stand-up shower. You can use the pan to replace a bathtub if you have no need or space for one. It can be made from various materials, but a common material for shower pans is acrylic. An acrylic shower pan is typically set on a mortar bed. You can purchase a prefabricated mortar bed, or you can build one yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Mortar screed
• Trowel
• Drain
• Mortar
• Water-resistant vinyl sheet
• Waterproof grout or caulk

Instructions

1. Add a mortar screen, which is mortar used for finishing, to the area where you're installing the acrylic shower pan. Spread it in the corners with a trowel. Then, insert the drain. Having the drain in place will prevent the mortar bed from blocking it.

2. Fill the area around the drain with mortar to keep it in place. Then, build up the first layer of the mortar bed to about half the height of the drain. Use a straight-edge trowel to smooth this layer inward toward the drain. This step will prevent leaking problems.

3. Place a water-resistant vinyl sheet over the first layer of mortar after it has dried for 24 hours. Then, add a second layer of mortar to even the base up with the drain.

4. Wait for the mortar bed to cure for 24 hours. Then set the acrylic shower pan in place. Seal the pan on all sides with a waterproof grout or caulk.

References

• Fiberglass Shower Pan.org: Fiberglass Shower Pan
• Schluter Systems: Tile Shower -- Installation Instructions Using a Mortar Bed