Shower Liner Under Tile

Disclaimer: This guide concerns typical center point drain installation. If you are working with a linear drain or curbless shower design, head over to Quickdrain to specialized instructions. Oatey's shower pan liner kits come with one liner and 2 corner dams in a universal design for right or left corner installations.

In fact, the absence of a liner can be riskier than having a one under the tiles. Installing a shower pan liner is a must and it can be the difference between an enriching experience every day to a leaky bathroom. The costs of fixing the leaks and dealing with health issues that may arise from mold, grit or water logging can be extremely high.

This article by Fine Homebuilding explains how shower pan liners should properly be installed to avoid removal/replacement. What is a Shower Pan Liner? A shower pan liner is a waterproof mat that you install under shower tiles and also keeps water from damaging the floorboards underneath the shower. This 6'x8′ shower liner kit by Oatey is an Amazon's Choice.

A shower pan is made up of mortar or mud, a waterproof liner, felt paper, tile backing, thinset, tile and grout. This is the most traditional shower floor construction, but it is also the most complicated, labor. Shower Pan Liner Replacement - Ceramic and Marble Tile Showers - John P.

Bridge Ceramic tile showers that are properly built contain a waterproof barrier (shower pan liner) under them that catches water transferring through the tile floor and directs it down the drain pipe. You can't see the shower pan liner after the shower is completed, so you don't know what type of material it. Still, over time the water infiltration can cause damage to the grout, causing loose tiles and crumbling grout lines.

Shower liners beneath the mortar are what protect the subfloor from deteriorating in the same way. Most modern shower floors incorporate a flexible liner as a waterproof membrane beneath the tile and mortar. DIY Shower Floor Membrane Installation A shower floor membrane, sometimes called a pan liner, catches all moisture that seeps past the floor tile and directs it toward the floor drain.

In a perfect world, the tile floor would divert all the water toward the drain opening. However, in real life, small cracks form along the shower walls and next to the drain. Caulking does help seal these.

Put the liner back over the drain and press the liner into the silicone. Attach the drain clamping ring tighten the bolts firmly to secure the liner to the drain. The liner should be run up the walls of the shower pan and corners should be folded as shown above and nailed or screwed along the top 1" of the liner to hold the liner in place.