Waterproofing For Shower Pans

Nearly every bathroom remodel in San Diego has a tile installation to go with it. Most of the time, that tile installation is the shower. Every tiled shower needs to have a water barrier. This page gives information on the types of waterproofing for shower pans that tile contractors and bathroom remodel contractors use in San Diego.

Type of Materials

Really, there is only one material tile contractors and bathroom remodel contractors use for waterproofing shower pans, rubber. However, that rubber material can be installed in different ways. Also, that rubber comes in a variety of forms. This page gives information about three of those forms.

Hot Mop

The hot mop option seems to be the most durable. When I started in the trades 29 years ago, hot mop was all I saw. Hot mop is tar and asphalt saturated felt. The installer first puts a pre-slope to make sure all of the moisture that passes the tile and mortar goes to the weep holes of the drain. Then the installer coats all surfaces of the pan with hot tar. Thirdly, the installer puts down a layer of asphalt saturated felt that fuses to the hot tar. Finally, the installer top coats the shower pan with hot tar. This is the most expensive of the three options. Furthermore, it will have your house smelling like a tire store. Nevertheless, it seems to be the preferred method used by bathroom remodel contractors.

PVC Membrane

Installing a PVC membrane as a water barrier might be the most common way tile contractors waterproof shower pans. The PVC membrane is just a sheet of rubber. Installing a PVC membrane is cheaper and faster than hot mop. Also, the tile contractor can do it himself. Why hire someone that charges $300+, shows up when convenient for them, and stinks up the place? This method does have a high rate of installer error. Sometimes the pre-slope is not installed, and the membrane has screws drilled through it low enough to allow moisture from the pan to escape.

Liquid Membrane

The third method for waterproofing a shower pan is the liquid membrane. This method is gaining popularity. However, it is ill advised to use this method as your main water barrier. Most installers do not use the required mesh where there is a change of plain. Also, usually the required thickness is not achieved. These details will no doubt leave the membrane susceptible to tearing in the corners.