Tub to shower conversion

[Jake12]

I’m back. Training my next generation. Son is planning a bath remodel which includes a tub removal and conversion to a shower.
I’m trying to catch up on the latest product recommendations from the experts.
I built a kerdi shower 12 yrs ago which went really well. I laid a mud floor.
I’ve spent a few hours on the forums trying to catch up on latest technology which has created a few questions. I also purchased John’s latest books.

I’ve run across some debates between Kerdi products and others. So thought it was time to reconnect with the trusted experts.

I thought the trays seemed like a great concept but my project 12 yrs ago had an odd sized shower so i went with mud.

Seeing my sons house,with a standard tub tear out, I thought perfect spot for the tray... after my research here, starting to question that. My son is leaning that way too in interest of saving time and insuring a reliable base to build the shower and drain from. I want to help get him off on the best path.

1. What is issue I see hinted towards about the slope on the Kerdi trays?

2. His tub is 60 x 30 and looks like the tray is 38” so assuming we cut 4” off both sides? Any issues here?

3. Any other thoughts on trays? Other manufacturers?

3. See the Kerdi board and John is talking about that in his book. Is that still a good option? See shimming can be a challenge? Any other thoughts advice?

They are eager to go but need some homework before getting too far down the road.

Look forward to your recommendations

[cx]

Welcome back, Scott.

Originally Posted by Scott

I’m trying to catch up on the latest product recommendations from the experts.

That would be a bunch of folks not known to you who you've found on an Internet site? Just making sure we're on the same page here.

1. The Schluter foam shower trays I've seen have less than the required 1/4" per foot slope from the farthest corner to the drain. And the slope they do provide depends upon the subfloor being very near perfectly flat and level.

2. The issue there is that you end up with a perimeter that is not level, which can effect the appearance of your wall tile.

3. One manufacturer who I know claims all of their foam trays are properly sloped is the Noble Company. There could be others. But it's still a foam tray and may or may not fit your shower footprint and drain location and is still subject to all the other problems with foam shower trays.

Other thoughts are the need for a leveled subfloor, the need to cut the trays to fit the shower footprint, the need to cut it further to accommodate the drain location, the fragility of the foam resulting in big dimples if you kneel on them, and the high cost.

I would always recommend, and I would always do, a mortar bed floor for my shower of any style. The materials are dirt cheap, it matters not that your floor is not perfectly flat or level, it's not difficult to place the material, the floor can always have the required slope from a perfectly level perimeter and it always fits the footprint and drain location perfectly and it provides a much more solid floor for your shower. What's not to like?

3 (second time). The foam board is easy to carry and to cut, fairly easy to install, some say it's a lot faster to install, but with having to patch each fastener hole and all joints and seams, I'm not sure. But I haven't tried making a shower with it. It's also very expensive compared to the alternatives, 'specially hanging drywall and covering with Kerdi membrane.

For the professional for whom the cost is not an issue (customer pays for everything), it might be a good alternative. And some of our DIY visitors have opined that they favor it for the ease of handling and don't mind the extra cost.

[Jake12]

Thanks CX

Great points that will help us evaluate.

Yes to your first point.

I’m sure we’ll be back soon with questions once the work begins.

Great to see the JB site is still going strong.

Scott