Replacing a Leaking Shower Pan? Why We Rebuild with Schluter
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Stains on the ceiling below, loose tiles near the drain, grout that never dries, a musty smell that bleach won't fix. These usually point to a failed shower pan. We list the warning signs in signs your shower pan is leaking. This post covers what comes next.
Why patching rarely works
In a traditional shower, the pan liner sits under a thick mortar bed. Once it fails, the mortar above it is already soaked, and there's no way to reach the liner without removing the tile and mortar. Regrouting or caulking can hide the symptoms for a while, but the water keeps getting in underneath.
What a replacement involves
Demolition: remove the floor tile, mortar bed and old liner, plus the lower wall tile so the new waterproofing can lap up the walls.
Inspect and repair: check the subfloor and studs for rot and replace damaged wood.
New drain: install a drain that bonds to the waterproofing, such as Schluter KERDI-DRAIN or KERDI-LINE.
New floor: a pre-sloped KERDI-SHOWER tray or a sloped mortar bed.
Waterproofing: KERDI membrane on the floor and up the walls, with every seam and corner sealed.
Flood test: we plug the drain and fill the floor with water before tiling, to confirm there are no leaks.
Tile and grout.
Why Schluter for the rebuild
With Schluter, the waterproofing sits right under the tile, so the new mortar and subfloor stay dry. There are no weep holes to clog. And because the whole system can be covered by Schluter's warranty when installed to their specs, you get more than a contractor's promise.
You can see the parts we use: Schluter shower systems on Amazon.
Don't wait on a leak
The longer water gets into the subfloor, the more wood has to be replaced, and the bigger the bill. See our shower pan replacement service, or call or text Mike at 916-847-2825. Many homeowners also use a pan replacement as the moment to convert a tub; see our tub-to-shower conversion cost guide.
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