Shower Pans with benches

[Confused Rookie]

I am buiding a steamshower and want to build tiled benches along the length of the walls in there. The bench frames will be made of wood and I plan on just using the basic box design. Do I lay the CPE shower liner underneath the benches, or should I have the benches already secured before I pour the mortar (to create the shower pan), and run the CPE liner up to where the benches start? How do I protect the bench frames from moisture? I'll use cement board all around the benches, but is that enough to protect the inside from moisture?

Does anyone know a good way to design this?
FYI...this is on a cement basement subflooring, not wood if that matters.

[JTG]

Rookie
Look in the Liberry here for JB's block benches. Great way to go inside a steam shower. Build them inside the pan.
Good Luck
JTG

[muskymike]

Hi there, welcome! Do you have a first name we can use? I would make the bench out of concrete blocks. Monument bench. Good typer that Jerry is.

[bbcamp]

Consider Kerdi instead of backerboard, if you have your heart set on a wood-framed bench.

[Confused Rookie]

This is the first I heard of Kerdi.... What exactly are you suggesting that I do with the Kerdi. I have built the benches (wood) but still need a way to waterproof them if I put them inside the shower pan and rubber liner. I have a 4.5x7 room and want put the 14" benches in an L shape along the walls of the room. I'm not sold on the cynderblock or monument benches yet. Laying any brick or blocks within the liner risks cuts/leakage..no? And besides, how would you anchor the blocks from moving?

[bbcamp]

OK, now that I know that you have your liner in place, it's a little late for Kerdi (www.schluter.com). Kerdi showers are a complete system which includes a special drain, but does not include a PVC or CPE liner. Also, it is a relatively new system, so some juristictions do not recognize it yet, so building inspectors have to be trained before they'll sign off.

I agree with Mike and Jerry, a monument bench is your best choice now. The mass of the bench is enough to keep in anchored in place. Plus, when you tile it, you will further lock it in.

Although the benches are usually built directly on the liner, you could build it on top of the setting bed, if you are worried about tearing the liner.

The beauty of the monument bench is that it sits completely within the pan, and is impervious to water, so there is not chance for rot. The down side is that they can absorb water, so they take longer to dry out.

Take another look at the Shower Construction thread in the Liberry. Then come back with anything that doesn't make sense to you.