Shower floors, also called shower pans, are often tiled to create a stable standing surface for bare feet and to add decorative flair to the bathroom. When redecorating your bathroom, you may wish to redo the tiles in the shower floor with tiles that match your new decorating color scheme. You can put tiles over existing tiled shower pans as long as they are structurally intact, have no visible damage and do not leak.
Things You Will Need
- Screwdriver
- Masking tape
- Angle grinder
- Diamond-angle grinder blade
- Thinset mortar
- Trowel
- Waterproofing membrane
- Utility knife
- Sponge
- Drain grate
- Tile spacers
- Grout
- Rubber grout float
- Grout sealant
Remove the screws from the shower drain cover with a screwdriver and remove the cover.
2
Cover the drain and the edges of the shower pan with masking tape.
3
Run an angle grinder with a diamond blade over the existing tile to roughen them up and create grooves. The grooved surface gives the thinset mortar microscopic edges to cling to, allowing it to form a stronger watertight bond when the thinset cures.
4
Apply a layer of thinset mortar over the old tile with a mortar trowel.
5
Set a waterproofing membrane over the thinset mortar. Cut out a hole for the drain with a utility knife. Run you hands over the membrane to flatten it. Remove any air bubbles by running the trowel over the membrane. If any excess thinset oozes out the sides of the membrane, wipe it off with a damp sponge. Let the membrane sit for 24 hours to allow the thinset to cure.
6
Cut off the protruding knobs or the bolt holes from the top of the drain flange with the angle grinder.
7
Apply a layer of thinset mortar around the drain and on the bottom perimeter of the drain grate with the mortar trowel.
8
Remove the masking tape and insert the drain grate into the drain. Push it down firmly to ensure that the thinset covers the bottom of the grate where it extends onto the shower floor so that it creates a watertight seal when it cures.
9
Add thinset to the top of the waterproof membrane with the trowel. Begin laying the tile, staring at the area around the drain grate and working your way out toward the shower walls.
10
Insert tile spacers at the corners of the tiles to ensure that they are evenly spaced.
11
Apply the grout with a rubber grout float to the tile. Run the float over the tiles and push the grout between the spaces, or joints, of the tiles. Remove any excess grout with a damp sponge.
12
Apply two coats total of waterproof grout sealant to the grout on the tiles.
Source: www.HomeGuides.sfgate.com
