Questions & Answers

I am doing a tub to shower conversion using a mortar bed and Hydroban for the walls. After hanging the Hydroban, one wall puckered inwards at the seam by maybe 1/8", which I thought would be a problem, so I got the plastic screeds that Isaac sells and screeded it using thinset so it was flat and plumb.

After a few days I noticed a horizontal crack in the thinset, but figured it's concrete, and concrete cracks so whatever. But today I was finalizing the tile layout (rectified 4 x 4" tiles) and realized that the crack was due to the wall buckling outwards now. It's out by maybe 1/8", but these rectified tiles (Sant'Augostino pixel tiles) are not tapered at the edge at all, so will really show any lippage.

I've waterproofed the whole thing, and it's got a heated floor (Ditra Heat), so I don't want to do…

I've learned a ton from your site. Thanks, Isaac!

First time DIYer on a shower replacement. I have done the preslope and liner (with successful 24-hr flood test). Drain is slow through the weepholes (can see and hear the water slowly leave the liner) but I've been told that as long as it drains, it will be OK. I will have a contractor apply waterproofing and install the shower tiles but they have been delayed. I want to add the shower mud deck floor and complete the concrete wall installation myself to save time and money.

1. Is there concern about slow weep hole drainage?

2. Mud deck min. thickness is 1.5inches, correct?

3. Do I leave a gap between the bottom of the concrete board and the shower mud deck and then seal the gap with silicone as seen in the shower float video?

4. Is it possible to…

Where is a good spot to get help with tile layout?

I have 4x11 subway tiles.

Problem being in have two large niches and preferably would like a full tile at the top. I also have some black accent pencil strips to create a running line around. Not sure how high I want em.

The two niches go in the knee walls.

Big question here.. how do I predict layout before? Or should I just pick a height for the niche and just hope for the best. Cutting the tile if needed?. I plan on using white pencil to trim the edges also.

I tried AI and even fiver to get some visual.. not much luck.

I just wanted to share my guru shower pan. I let the flood test sit for a week with .5" water up the wall. I found it easier to use a standing ruler to see if the level moved. I could not see the water line clearly on the wall to mark it.

I used the guru pan and the top two corner flanges are guru, the bottom two are something on Amazon, and they worked but for some reason they didnt like to be in the corner. Constantly wanted to pucker.

The pan.. I went with a thicker 3/8 trowel. I think it was to much as my drain ended up lower than the pan by almost a quarter.

Its a solid pan feels good and does not dent easy unlike some other brands.

This will be curbless.

Next is the walls.