Scares me how many "tile guys" are yelling "DON'T SCREW INTO THE SHOWER PAN!" As an installer we should know that there are different methods available now and should be able to recognize that he's using a top sealed method with no pre-slope or pan liner. I understand the average diyer not being up to date with our practices (Isaac is doing his best) but come on installers, we need to do more to educate ourselves within our trade.
Just a homeowner and diyer here, just commented under someone else's comment who was doing just that, I felt the need to make sure other homeowners understood this, scares me that I would see that and a "professional" wouldn't😂
So is this a method without using vinyl sheets over the walls and floors? How do you seal everything? Is there a website describing this method? We are trying to fix our shower and contractors are scarce. The ones who are answering are super expensive, as there is apparently a lot of demand in Florida. This training wheels method is the best we have found for getting the proper slope on the floor and we would like to try it. Do we do this over the vinyl sheets or do the vinyl sheets go over this? Lots of questions.
@@isaacholzwarth Thank you. Wandering around the TileCoach vids, I found where he sealed the deck mud with Hydro Ban to make it waterproof. Now I'm looking for an answer about how to put cement board on the walls will a concrete floor. Apparently, that is a bad idea, but no one says what to do where the cement board and concrete floor meet.
@@steveaustin2686 hmmm. I'm not certain about that, I haven't heard that. I do know that depending on code in your area you can use drywall behind kerdi (and I believe the others like hydroban as well) although I've never loved the idea. That's why I'm going to use go board instead, it's already waterproofed so I don't have to use kerdi, and it's really light. Good luck with your project!
I learned how to do dry pack in the 90s. Those guys were really good and pretty fast too. I was never fast but if you take your time you can get those pans pretty perfect. Tile guys have gotten away from this but I firmly believe in what the old timers taught. You should know your craft and this is part of it.
Thank you so much for all your videos. I've learned so much. Today i did this method for my shower remodel. It worked great. After all it is my first time ever doing a mud pack. My wife enjoyed the video so much she even jumped in and helped out. Thank you again.
This is the best DIY I have found for a custom shower base. My husband and I are very handy, but neither of us have ever done a custom shower base. Most of the DIY just show bits and pieces or use high cost prefab, but don't actually show it being done old school from start to finish. Thank you. We DIY because we cant afford to hire someone.
I’m not a full time tile guy but I’m a remodeler and have been doing tile/showers for many years. There must be a hundred ways to do a shower. I have changed my technique over the years changing with the new methods. Every time I watch one of your videos and see yet another way to do it, I think “maybe I should do it that way?” Nice to learn something new/different. Never seen anyone mix deck mud that way.
I really appreciate all the information you put out there I’m a general contractor north of you in Oregon Washington. I am not a tile guy, but I have been doing tile for quite some time. I have learned a lot from your videos. In fact, I went down to Eureka California did a shower for a friend of mine. He was actually my roommate in college and I think I may go back and pull the bench out. They haven’t had a problem but I don’t want them to have a problem in the future and I think I may have done something wrong so I may just go pull it out make sure and re-tile it I don’t want them to have a failure. The pan liner was done right I know that because I watched your videos and make sure it was done correctly so I appreciate all the information to bring love to learn new things. I really don’t wanna do tile it’s not what I do but it’s another skill to put in the toolbox big jobs I sub out to my tile guy. We only do the small jobs. Appreciate you
I am about to do this step this weekend. I have watched this video close to 20 times and I feel confident I can do this. Thank you SO much for this tutorial. You are a wonderful teacher!
Hope you didnt follow this guys lead.. what a fool teaching people to screw through the pan liner.. how many repairs ive done over the years due to this type of install..😳🤢🤮
@@reloadrefine lol you're old school then, not knocking the pan liner method if done correctly it still works, but he screwed only into the Hardie backer, those holes then get filled with thin set, and then the waterproofing comes after by means of liquid membranes (redgard, mapei aqua defense, latricrete hydroban) or roll membranes (schlutter kerdi, laticrete hydroban), no pan liner here bud. keep watching him, maybe you'll learn something new
Hey Coach - I just completed my shower pan using pretty much exactly your process. I had no major problems and I think you would approve of the job I did. All thanks to your excellent instructions in this video! Thanks.
I hate to say this, but I hope you didn’t screw them boards on like he did at that low of a level that’s against code and it will ruin your shower pan and make your shower pan leak that is if you put a shower pan which I hope you did not trying to ruin any Wednesday or call someone out just looking out for the interest of everyone watching and thinking that this is the right thing to do when is not
Thank You! This video was SOOOOO helpful to me. I've watched many vidoes but, yours is by far the most useful to me as a DIYer. Again, Thank You I've learned so much from you. This is exactly what I needed.
I did this before watching the video and I like this method. First I put waterproof sheets and waterproof cement. After I put this sand mix cement for levelling. The results of the mosaic tile became wonderful.
Great video. I’m going to be doing this in a few weeks. You just relieved me of a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress. I’ve be watching your videos for a couple of months now and they are very helpful and educational. You are blessed with two great talents, your trade and teaching. Thanks.
@@TileCoach Thank you for doing this from Canada. I'm looking to build a small shower over concrete slab and this series of videos have been really educational. Really appreciate the work you've put into these. I'm not sure if it was mentioned anywhere, but how far down should the cement wallboard go down relative to the ground? If water does penetrate the membrane, is there possibility for it to wick up the wall into the framing?
@@TileCoach Very interesting to see how tradesmen in other countries do jobs, here in England when l did wetrooms l used to get an old guy in who was an old school plasterer and floor layer who could also do fancy plaster ceiling cornice work like you would see in stately homes, when he laid the wetroom floors he did it pretty much like you showed here but usually over a bigger area, ie the whole bathroom floor.
Been doing tile for years now and this is actual how I learned it first cause like you said, people that have done it for years use feel, screed lines, levels.
Dear god, man! You have to AT LEAST use some basic minimum safety tips. You're helping DIYers. The best thing you can do is teach them how to NOT lose a finger. The table saw shouldn't be on the floor. Get a nice rolling stand for storage. Wear eye protection. Maybe even recommend ear protection. Then put on a chainmail glove if you're not going to use a pushrod. And why don't you have the safety shield or the anti-kick bars on the saw? All that being said, this is an absolutely exceptional video! Thank you. You've given me the confidence to try this myself. Safety up and you'll be a god! This is my first video of yours and I love it! You're so genuine. Good job! Can't wait to watch more!!
...not to mention wearing a good quality respirator to avoid breathing fine cement/silica dust deep into your lungs. Not such a big deal for the one time DIY installer but for you that will do 1000 of these over your career that is no bueno! Eyes, ears, fingers, lungs are not replaceable.
I really appreciate your videos. I am not a pro. I have done a few tile showers with no problems, so far. However, you have provided excellent and useful advise for my next upcoming shower project, soon to begin. Beyond that, I want to complement you on the professionalism that you offer in a humble way. You seem like a genuinely good man. What's more, you are, both a technician and an artist at heart. It is a marvelous combination. Keep up the fantastic work in this wee corner of the world.
Sand cement and tradition! Thanks again for the awesome content coach. You've been a tremendous help these past 2 years doing tile. Ive learned the basics, I learned wall floating, now I think I'm ready to try floating a pan. I hope to make a living one day off of this, I am very passionate about it and I only want to do jobs right and they have to look pretty. I finally have tools, budget and the confidence to start a company! I want to give you my greatest gratitude as you are such a concise, chill, well spoken person and really shine a light on the raw talent and drive tradespeople have. Much love from one (former) addict to another (been cali sober 6 years).
Must have watched this video 6 times and finally did the job yesterday. A few pointers: 1. Get the drain packed in solid first. Had my drypack move wile trying to make sure it was level. See #3 2. don’t be afraid to pack down as you go. I ended up having a low spot a few inches outside the drain b/c the drain was packed but the rest wasn’t. 3. If you’re attaching the flow fx to an existing stub out, add the thinset to the drain flange first then do the pvc/abs glue. Makes it a lot easier to level. The sakrete sand mix I used says to let it cure with plastic over the top, so that’s what I am doing. Seems like keeping it moist longer will aid in Hydration and curing. Probably going to wait 72hrs before applying hydroban. Thanks Issac for your guidance here!
Thank you Isaac. I like to think I'm a pretty good DIY'er. I have flipped several houses but installing a mud bed shower pan felt a little out of my league. I watched around 100 of your videos which are the best on TH-cam. This one in particular caught my attention. Installing a new bath at my house, I used my laser level to scribe a level line at the top of the curb and followed the directions in the video. In my case, the FlowFX drain ended up being 1-inch above the floor and the perimeter line was at 1.75-inches. I was extremely nervous being my first time and as I was by myself and didn't know how much time I had to work the mud. I also didn't know if I had enough deck mud. I mixed 4-50 lb bags and hoped for the best. I had made 2 screeds, 1 short for the sides and one long one for the corners. At first I was freaking out because it is definitely not as easy as I thought it would be. I took a few breaths and went to work. The first thing I realized I wasn't very good with the wood float. It just seemed to make a mess when I tried to make circles. But the closer I got to correct level, I started to get the feel for it. I worked at it for a while using the screeds. Flattened with the wood float, and then final finish with the steel trowel. As it turned out, I used the full 4-50lb bags. There was less than a handful left at the end. The final outcome was fantastic and I look forward to installing the waterproofing and tile. My only recommendation is to make sure you have enough mud. Way better to have too much then find out you need more. Thanks again for your fantastic videos.
Like others have said, I am so glad you made this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Loved the thought and detail you gave to creating the process. Great for DIYers. So much knowledge and experience wrapped into this video. MDF is inexpensive and easy to work with, drawing reference lines and putting down ledger boards, making jigs for screeding, using a bag to mix deck mud, showing your technique and explaining why you do things - Brilliant! Btw, your method isn't "dummy proof", it's a method that is inexpensive, efficient, and repeatable - its a great method & process! Keep up with the great work and content!
Thank you, buddy! This is the first video after which I see light in the tunnel. Some weeks ago I saw the mud is made as 3 to 1, instead 4 to 1, as you suggested. Please, specify the cement and sand quality next time, so all info in one . Thanks again.
As always informative video. I am a DIY'er and I will be using this method in a few weeks, glad I saw it today. I will be adding a 45° angle to the screed notch out to get cleaner edges. Thanks for your knowledge and for sharing it with the world. God bless you and your family
I couldnt watch the whole video,, but this is a very unique way of installing a shower base 😂 I personally make every curb (if there is one) out of dry pack. And I always use a shower liner,, as an added level of protection
Sooo glad your channel came up on my screen! I have watched several dry pack videos for showers but yours is by far the most useful to me as a DIYer with no dry pack float experience. I'm subscribed and next will search for a video of yours on sealing the dry pack and laying in the tile. Tx, Mike
Dude! watched this once and was able to finish a 4x3ft deck perfect, to fit full tiles all the way up to the shelf/knech. thumbs up for this easier way!
I don’t know if you have ever seen and tried this method but over where i’m at in California it’s pretty standard to make your screed out of wall float once your done floating the walls
Hi , watched your videos. Most detailed and logical. Trying to do my bathroom on my own. When I removed the tub, noted my floor board is cut much larger than drain. Please share what shall I do to cover this if I go with conventional shower pan (pour pre-slop and then mud and then tiles ). So you think I should simply go with iron shower pans ? Can’t add a picture here.
Skills! Very informative. I wish I had seen this video before I started my DIY project. I was using a thin metal float and constantly cutting into the cement. I could not get it a smooth as you did. Your videos have been a guide through out bathroom reform, thanks
Great method other than screw holes below the curb. If you are going to do this, you should make your first line above the curb (on top of the level set onto the curb) and use wider stock so you don’t puncture the membrane below the curb.
@@joelmaze4359I’m getting ready to do this. I’m going to use go board. Wouldn’t I be ok drilling below the curb anyway vs the way he did it. I wouldn’t have to use a table saw and just buy 1x2 and be done. The holes I’ll use to hold the wood would be seals and then hydro ban or membrane after. I’m I missing something? I’m planning on using kerdi sheet membrane and then hydro ban on top of that 😂 first time doing this 😂 🤷🏽♂️
@@besearchingforwisdom6267 I suppose. Anyways, just for the record... I screwed mine up. I dried packed it and it was near perfect, but the shower handle kit was not installed as I was waiting for Amazon delivery. Everytime someone in the kitchen ran the faucet it would send water to the shower water supply lines. By the time I found out it was solid and I couldn't work with. Letting you know so you don't make same mistake.
Thank you so much for the work you do in putting your videos together and making them available. I have found them to be an invaluable resource for the DIY community! I completed my shower base today using this method and am happy with the results. Is it perfect? No... but I think it is better than what I did 20 years ago, and certainly good enough! It's got the proper slope and darn near perfectly level all around. Thank you again!
Brah, thank you somuch I’m retired our FlOURSTONE PAN IS CRACKED AND LEAKED FOR MONTHS MAYBE YEARS I HAVE DRYROT UNDER AFTER I CUT IYT OUT AND REPAIR IM GONNA USE YOUR METHOD….THANK YOU MY BROTHER YOUR EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT MAKE ANYONE FEEL STUPID….
I have a question - I did a mud bed on our last house - 20 years ago. At that time I used a rubber membrane under it all. Is this necessary with your method? I will be using durock for the walls and taking the mud bed right up to the walls. I had also planned to use a waterproofing sealer - Aqua-Defense over everything. Thanks so much for your great video - I will be using the "training wheel method"!
As a DIY'er, I sid a couple showers with a quick pitch style method with the weep style drain. The problems I had with the screening off the old plastic stick method was irregular shapes of wide spacing. I would create dips or humps and of course not being straight horizontally at the wall when tiling. This time I upgraded to this flofx drain and this method for making a pan.. I feel much better with the results even with a now larger shower and irregular shapes. It was cheaper, easier and allowed me to have a lower curb. I'm happy I bought my drain and tile leveling tools from your store.
Thank you for this great video. Towards the end you said the deck mud shown is not the one you normally use. Which is the deck mud you would recommend?
I’m going to use this method. I saw Sals it is a good method and it’s similar but this is better because I don’t want to leave the board down in the dry pack afterwards.
Thank you so much. Great video I’ve done lots of tile work well pretty much every type of work do you do when a house. But I’m doing my first shower and I was pretty nervous about how to get the slope done correctly. So awesome job really appreciate it
Thanks so much for the clear instructions! I used this method in a 48" x 42" bed with a linear drain on one end, and things went mostly good....lol... unfortunately there is a low spot though. What is the best way to fix this before the liquid membrane is applied? About a 16th to an 8th low max. Thanks again for what you do!
Just wanted to thank you for the tremendous amount of effort and thought you put into these videos to teach us the easiest ways to achieve great results. The amount of time you take to make everything perfect says a lot about your work ethics and the pride you take in your skills you have learnt through years of experience. I haven't only learnt about tiles from you but also learnt how to do the job the right way how to be proud of the finish product at the end. It's not easy to find great people like you so thank you.
Thank you for this video. I've been stressing for weeks over how to do this cuz I've never done it before, and what I've already done I have to rip back out because it's totally wrong. But now that I've seen his video I know exactly how to do it thank you so much
I had my shower custom made with cultured marble. The floor of the shower is a cultured marble mix that was poured into a shaped fiberglass basin. No mud required. Virtually no chance of water leaking out unless somehow the drain wasn’t installed properly. The walls of the shower are cultured marble. No grout. It cost a lot of money but worth it.
I've done similar by cutting hardi board around the perimeter as a ledger and just leave it in there. I cut it big enough it wedges in so not nails. But I like this idea better gonna give it a try. Great video thanks
Outstanding video. Thank you. I have a question. I'm installing a shower in my basement and a clamping drain was installed previously by someone else. The primary drain plate was in stalled only 3/8" above the concrete floor. Is that to shallow to install the pre-slope mudd bed? Do i have to choose a different method of install or change the drain or? Hopefully the mudd bed on concrete can taper to that thickness.
Nope... not an issue. As long as you make sure your pre-slope maintains a 1/4" per foot drop from the furthest point on the perimeter of your pan down to the top surface of your exiting drain flange you'll be good to go. Think of it this way... the thickness of the pan at the drain (in this case will be 3/8" ) will be your set point. Or better yet... thinking of it the other way around... the taper is from your drain flange "up to" the furthest edge of your drain pan. (the taper will happen automatically as long as you follow the slope of 1/4" per foot.
Hey Isaac, great video and technique, just a heads up, here in south florida we use shower pan liner, we place the dry pack on top, the liner goes up about a feet on the walls before we place the cement board for walls and also is covering the curb......we try not to nail it or screw drive it, just the necessary, in this particular technique using the guides will make a bunch of unnecessary holes......just that, thanks
What do you think about just measuring out the height needed from the drain height and adding 3/8 then cutting the height you need with the perma base and screw that in and just screed off the top of that and leave the perma base pieces in place since that is going under the waterproof membrane?
This is great. I'm an old slow mover and this looks like it will make the dry pack faster and a little easier. I wonder if some time you'd show us how you'd do the dry pack for a trench drain. I've never done one and I have one coming up. I'm trying to visualize how to keep the perimeter level at the drain end when the slope is very short. You'd have a similar challenge when replacing a tub and keeping the drain location. Thank you for all the great info.
Great video, I have question pertaining to your shower curb in the this video. Could you do a video on how you built your shower curb and water proofed it. I believe in the next video of this series you water proof it with liquid water proofing, however it also looks like you have a thin set mortar and mesh fiberglass tap on your curb. Is this correct or did you do something different.
Ordered my flow fx drain and will be using this method soon. Thanks so much for making this video. Never done a dry pack or shower pan before so I’m sure I’ll watch this video three more times lol.
Scares me how many "tile guys" are yelling "DON'T SCREW INTO THE SHOWER PAN!" As an installer we should know that there are different methods available now and should be able to recognize that he's using a top sealed method with no pre-slope or pan liner. I understand the average diyer not being up to date with our practices (Isaac is doing his best) but come on installers, we need to do more to educate ourselves within our trade.
That being said. Yes if you're using a pan liner or hot mop this method is not for you lol
Just a homeowner and diyer here, just commented under someone else's comment who was doing just that, I felt the need to make sure other homeowners understood this, scares me that I would see that and a "professional" wouldn't😂
So is this a method without using vinyl sheets over the walls and floors? How do you seal everything? Is there a website describing this method? We are trying to fix our shower and contractors are scarce. The ones who are answering are super expensive, as there is apparently a lot of demand in Florida. This training wheels method is the best we have found for getting the proper slope on the floor and we would like to try it. Do we do this over the vinyl sheets or do the vinyl sheets go over this? Lots of questions.
@@isaacholzwarth Thank you. Wandering around the TileCoach vids, I found where he sealed the deck mud with Hydro Ban to make it waterproof. Now I'm looking for an answer about how to put cement board on the walls will a concrete floor. Apparently, that is a bad idea, but no one says what to do where the cement board and concrete floor meet.
@@steveaustin2686 hmmm. I'm not certain about that, I haven't heard that. I do know that depending on code in your area you can use drywall behind kerdi (and I believe the others like hydroban as well) although I've never loved the idea. That's why I'm going to use go board instead, it's already waterproofed so I don't have to use kerdi, and it's really light. Good luck with your project!
Contractor in FL here. That mixing technique is genius!
I learned how to do dry pack in the 90s. Those guys were really good and pretty fast too. I was never fast but if you take your time you can get those pans pretty perfect. Tile guys have gotten away from this but I firmly believe in what the old timers taught. You should know your craft and this is part of it.
I used this method yesterday. PERFECT results. First time doing a mud pan. DIYer. Thanks for posting and contributing great ideas to the community.
Thank you so much for all your videos. I've learned so much. Today i did this method for my shower remodel. It worked great. After all it is my first time ever doing a mud pack. My wife enjoyed the video so much she even jumped in and helped out. Thank you again.
This is the best DIY I have found for a custom shower base. My husband and I are very handy, but neither of us have ever done a custom shower base. Most of the DIY just show bits and pieces or use high cost prefab, but don't actually show it being done old school from start to finish. Thank you. We DIY because we cant afford to hire someone.
I’m not a full time tile guy but I’m a remodeler and have been doing tile/showers for many years. There must be a hundred ways to do a shower. I have changed my technique over the years changing with the new methods. Every time I watch one of your videos and see yet another way to do it, I think “maybe I should do it that way?”
Nice to learn something new/different. Never seen anyone mix deck mud that way.
I really appreciate all the information you put out there I’m a general contractor north of you in Oregon Washington. I am not a tile guy, but I have been doing tile for quite some time. I have learned a lot from your videos. In fact, I went down to Eureka California did a shower for a friend of mine. He was actually my roommate in college and I think I may go back and pull the bench out. They haven’t had a problem but I don’t want them to have a problem in the future and I think I may have done something wrong so I may just go pull it out make sure and re-tile it I don’t want them to have a failure. The pan liner was done right I know that because I watched your videos and make sure it was done correctly so I appreciate all the information to bring love to learn new things. I really don’t wanna do tile it’s not what I do but it’s another skill to put in the toolbox big jobs I sub out to my tile guy. We only do the small jobs. Appreciate you
I am about to do this step this weekend. I have watched this video close to 20 times and I feel confident I can do this. Thank you SO much for this tutorial. You are a wonderful teacher!
Why is dry pack better than wet and set?
@@1969wareid Excellent!
@@lokivato I would guess wet and set would be difficult to get a fall on.
Hope you didnt follow this guys lead.. what a fool teaching people to screw through the pan liner.. how many repairs ive done over the years due to this type of install..😳🤢🤮
@@reloadrefine lol you're old school then, not knocking the pan liner method if done correctly it still works, but he screwed only into the Hardie backer, those holes then get filled with thin set, and then the waterproofing comes after by means of liquid membranes (redgard, mapei aqua defense, latricrete hydroban) or roll membranes (schlutter kerdi, laticrete hydroban), no pan liner here bud. keep watching him, maybe you'll learn something new
One of the best shower pan videos I have seen.
Hey Coach - I just completed my shower pan using pretty much exactly your process. I had no major problems and I think you would approve of the job I did. All thanks to your excellent instructions in this video! Thanks.
WHAT if your drain is at EITHER end 3x5 pan ant ideas
I hate to say this, but I hope you didn’t screw them boards on like he did at that low of a level that’s against code and it will ruin your shower pan and make your shower pan leak that is if you put a shower pan which I hope you did not trying to ruin any Wednesday or call someone out just looking out for the interest of everyone watching and thinking that this is the right thing to do when is not
thanks so much for all,God bless you and your family,Watching from Canada.
My man , you are the MAN !! Wouldn’t be able to feed my family without this knowledge . Thanks Man keep up the good work !!
Thank You! This video was SOOOOO helpful to me. I've watched many vidoes but, yours is by far the most useful to me as a DIYer. Again, Thank You I've learned so much from you. This is exactly what I needed.
I did this before watching the video and I like this method. First I put waterproof sheets and waterproof cement. After I put this sand mix cement for levelling. The results of the mosaic tile became wonderful.
Great video. I’m going to be doing this in a few weeks. You just relieved me of a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress. I’ve be watching your videos for a couple of months now and they are very helpful and educational. You are blessed with two great talents, your trade and teaching. Thanks.
Glad I could help! I am blessed to have great viewers too!
@@TileCoach Thank you for doing this from Canada. I'm looking to build a small shower over concrete slab and this series of videos have been really educational. Really appreciate the work you've put into these. I'm not sure if it was mentioned anywhere, but how far down should the cement wallboard go down relative to the ground? If water does penetrate the membrane, is there possibility for it to wick up the wall into the framing?
@@TileCoach Very interesting to see how tradesmen in other countries do jobs, here in England when l did wetrooms l used to get an old guy in who was an old school plasterer and floor layer who could also do fancy plaster ceiling cornice work like you would see in stately homes, when he laid the wetroom floors he did it pretty much like you showed here but usually over a bigger area, ie the whole bathroom floor.
Don’t do what this guy does, he’s not a tile guy!!! You’ll have problems for sure
@@johndentice5501 what problems would you run into?
Bro. The bag method for mix made my day. Been doing buckets. So simple and obvious but a game changer. Thx.
GLad it worked for you
Super helpful!! Just finished my first shower renovation from a fiberglass insert to a full tiled with drypack floor pan base.
Been doing tile for years now and this is actual how I learned it first cause like you said, people that have done it for years use feel, screed lines, levels.
Dear god, man! You have to AT LEAST use some basic minimum safety tips. You're helping DIYers. The best thing you can do is teach them how to NOT lose a finger. The table saw shouldn't be on the floor. Get a nice rolling stand for storage. Wear eye protection. Maybe even recommend ear protection. Then put on a chainmail glove if you're not going to use a pushrod. And why don't you have the safety shield or the anti-kick bars on the saw? All that being said, this is an absolutely exceptional video! Thank you. You've given me the confidence to try this myself. Safety up and you'll be a god! This is my first video of yours and I love it! You're so genuine. Good job! Can't wait to watch more!!
...not to mention wearing a good quality respirator to avoid breathing fine cement/silica dust deep into your lungs. Not such a big deal for the one time DIY installer but for you that will do 1000 of these over your career that is no bueno! Eyes, ears, fingers, lungs are not replaceable.
I really appreciate your videos. I am not a pro. I have done a few tile showers with no problems, so far. However, you have provided excellent and useful advise for my next upcoming shower project, soon to begin.
Beyond that, I want to complement you on the professionalism that you offer in a humble way. You seem like a genuinely good man. What's more, you are, both a technician and an artist at heart. It is a marvelous combination. Keep up the fantastic work in this wee corner of the world.
Thank you! Where are you from?
@@TileCoach I live in Massachusetts and Maine.
@@TileCoach Central Coast of California
Sand cement and tradition! Thanks again for the awesome content coach. You've been a tremendous help these past 2 years doing tile. Ive learned the basics, I learned wall floating, now I think I'm ready to try floating a pan. I hope to make a living one day off of this, I am very passionate about it and I only want to do jobs right and they have to look pretty. I finally have tools, budget and the confidence to start a company! I want to give you my greatest gratitude as you are such a concise, chill, well spoken person and really shine a light on the raw talent and drive tradespeople have. Much love from one (former) addict to another (been cali sober 6 years).
I used this process over the weekend, and I can recommend. I didn't think the "mix in bag" would work, but it was great and mess free.
Must have watched this video 6 times and finally did the job yesterday. A few pointers:
1. Get the drain packed in solid first. Had my drypack move wile trying to make sure it was level. See #3
2. don’t be afraid to pack down as you go. I ended up having a low spot a few inches outside the drain b/c the drain was packed but the rest wasn’t.
3. If you’re attaching the flow fx to an existing stub out, add the thinset to the drain flange first then do the pvc/abs glue. Makes it a lot easier to level.
The sakrete sand mix I used says to let it cure with plastic over the top, so that’s what I am doing. Seems like keeping it moist longer will aid in Hydration and curing. Probably going to wait 72hrs before applying hydroban.
Thanks Issac for your guidance here!
Thank you Isaac. I like to think I'm a pretty good DIY'er. I have flipped several houses but installing a mud bed shower pan felt a little out of my league. I watched around 100 of your videos which are the best on TH-cam. This one in particular caught my attention. Installing a new bath at my house, I used my laser level to scribe a level line at the top of the curb and followed the directions in the video. In my case, the FlowFX drain ended up being 1-inch above the floor and the perimeter line was at 1.75-inches. I was extremely nervous being my first time and as I was by myself and didn't know how much time I had to work the mud. I also didn't know if I had enough deck mud. I mixed 4-50 lb bags and hoped for the best. I had made 2 screeds, 1 short for the sides and one long one for the corners. At first I was freaking out because it is definitely not as easy as I thought it would be. I took a few breaths and went to work. The first thing I realized I wasn't very good with the wood float. It just seemed to make a mess when I tried to make circles. But the closer I got to correct level, I started to get the feel for it. I worked at it for a while using the screeds. Flattened with the wood float, and then final finish with the steel trowel. As it turned out, I used the full 4-50lb bags. There was less than a handful left at the end. The final outcome was fantastic and I look forward to installing the waterproofing and tile. My only recommendation is to make sure you have enough mud. Way better to have too much then find out you need more. Thanks again for your fantastic videos.
Like others have said, I am so glad you made this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Loved the thought and detail you gave to creating the process. Great for DIYers. So much knowledge and experience wrapped into this video. MDF is inexpensive and easy to work with, drawing reference lines and putting down ledger boards, making jigs for screeding, using a bag to mix deck mud, showing your technique and explaining why you do things - Brilliant! Btw, your method isn't "dummy proof", it's a method that is inexpensive, efficient, and repeatable - its a great method & process! Keep up with the great work and content!
Que pasó,? Con your liner?…..
That,
EPIC FAILURE!! Nailing through a shower pan 🤒🫣
Thank you, buddy! This is the first video after which I see light in the tunnel. Some weeks ago I saw the mud is made as 3 to 1, instead 4 to 1, as you suggested. Please, specify the cement and sand quality next time, so all info in one . Thanks again.
Yes we used to buy a bag of Portland & always 4/1
This is the video I needed, thanks for sharing not just your skills and knowledge, but also your ability to teach.
I have been doing tile for years.. This is so helpful. Thank you.
Sir your video very helpful for me. After starting watching videos. I made almost 20 new showers. Thanks
I always enjoy watching masters at their craft. You are one of those 😀
Love the mixing tip! Most of the time it's a huge mess. That works great!
Mixing the mud in a bag ?! Ingenious!
As always informative video. I am a DIY'er and I will be using this method in a few weeks, glad I saw it today. I will be adding a 45° angle to the screed notch out to get cleaner edges. Thanks for your knowledge and for sharing it with the world. God bless you and your family
This was so helpful I just completed my dry pack shower pan successfully because of you! Thanks :)
I couldnt watch the whole video,, but this is a very unique way of installing a shower base 😂 I personally make every curb (if there is one) out of dry pack. And I always use a shower liner,, as an added level of protection
One of the better instructional videos I've watched. Thanks!
This is the best DIY I’ve seen this year - big fan of your instructions, feedback and ideas
Thanks so much 😊
Sooo glad your channel came up on my screen! I have watched several dry pack videos for showers but yours is by far the most useful to me as a DIYer with no dry pack float experience. I'm subscribed and next will search for a video of yours on sealing the dry pack and laying in the tile. Tx, Mike
simplicity comes with knowledge and experience. thank you bro
Dude! watched this once and was able to finish a 4x3ft deck perfect, to fit full tiles all the way up to the shelf/knech. thumbs up for this easier way!
Yes!
You are a wonderful teacher!
Thank you for caring so much!!
this technique is very smart let's thank JEOVA only he allows this knowledge
What?
I wish that I would have found your videos sooner. But you are making it so much easier for me now.
I use this method after seeing this mock up....perfect every time....thanks for sharing this method!!
Thanks for all your videos man. I am a contractor in Ky but I always like learning new ways to do things
I don’t know if you have ever seen and tried this method but over where i’m at in California it’s pretty standard to make your screed out of wall float once your done floating the walls
OMG. That drypack in the contractor bag trick. I was getting ready to buy a bucket auger... not now.
Yes! For up to 3-4 bags its great.
Hi , watched your videos. Most detailed and logical.
Trying to do my bathroom on my own.
When I removed the tub, noted my floor board is cut much larger than drain.
Please share what shall I do to cover this if I go with conventional shower pan (pour pre-slop and then mud and then tiles ).
So you think I should simply go with iron shower pans ?
Can’t add a picture here.
Skills! Very informative. I wish I had seen this video before I started my DIY project. I was using a thin metal float and constantly cutting into the cement. I could not get it a smooth as you did. Your videos have been a guide through out bathroom reform, thanks
I LOVE this method. Thank you so much for taking the time to impart your knowledge to those of us who really want to learn. Bravo, dude. Bravo.
This is going to be my 3rd successful mud pack tomorrow let you know how it turns out many good tips thank you
Great method other than screw holes below the curb. If you are going to do this, you should make your first line above the curb (on top of the level set onto the curb) and use wider stock so you don’t puncture the membrane below the curb.
He's not using a membrane here. This shower is getting a liquid membrane in the next step.
No membrane, remember...no preslope either..
Exactly. Never puncture the membrane
@@joelmaze4359I’m getting ready to do this. I’m going to use go board. Wouldn’t I be ok drilling below the curb anyway vs the way he did it. I wouldn’t have to use a table saw and just buy 1x2 and be done. The holes I’ll use to hold the wood would be seals and then hydro ban or membrane after. I’m I missing something? I’m planning on using kerdi sheet membrane and then hydro ban on top of that 😂 first time doing this 😂 🤷🏽♂️
Excellent. This is how I learned to form 25 foot walls with a contractor decades ago
Super interesting and informative. Is there a follow up video that shows how to waterproof the dry pack and how to tile the dry pack?
Outstanding video on step-by-step dry pack shower floor base thank you 🙏 for showing us this process A+
Love it. I'm trying this method. He's flawless... well except for one slight error. He called it a 6 sqft.... it's actually a 9 sqft
It looks like it's not 36"x36" to me, but probably 30x30...either way he said to do your calculations on your own job
@@besearchingforwisdom6267 I suppose. Anyways, just for the record... I screwed mine up. I dried packed it and it was near perfect, but the shower handle kit was not installed as I was waiting for Amazon delivery. Everytime someone in the kitchen ran the faucet it would send water to the shower water supply lines. By the time I found out it was solid and I couldn't work with. Letting you know so you don't make same mistake.
Thank you so much for the work you do in putting your videos together and making them available. I have found them to be an invaluable resource for the DIY community! I completed my shower base today using this method and am happy with the results. Is it perfect? No... but I think it is better than what I did 20 years ago, and certainly good enough! It's got the proper slope and darn near perfectly level all around. Thank you again!
Beautiful!!! You can finish concrete any day of the week for me. Who needs tile with that finish!!! Thumbs Up Isaac.
Awesome video, you make me feel confident that I can do this job. Love your unique techniques!
Brah, thank you somuch I’m retired our FlOURSTONE PAN IS CRACKED AND LEAKED FOR MONTHS MAYBE YEARS I HAVE DRYROT UNDER AFTER I CUT IYT OUT AND REPAIR IM GONNA USE YOUR METHOD….THANK YOU MY BROTHER YOUR EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT MAKE ANYONE FEEL STUPID….
I have a question - I did a mud bed on our last house - 20 years ago. At that time I used a rubber membrane under it all. Is this necessary with your method? I will be using durock for the walls and taking the mud bed right up to the walls. I had also planned to use a waterproofing sealer - Aqua-Defense over everything. Thanks so much for your great video - I will be using the "training wheel method"!
As a DIY'er, I sid a couple showers with a quick pitch style method with the weep style drain. The problems I had with the screening off the old plastic stick method was irregular shapes of wide spacing. I would create dips or humps and of course not being straight horizontally at the wall when tiling. This time I upgraded to this flofx drain and this method for making a pan.. I feel much better with the results even with a now larger shower and irregular shapes. It was cheaper, easier and allowed me to have a lower curb. I'm happy I bought my drain and tile leveling tools from your store.
Best tutorial I’ve seen so far, you know your stuff bud.
I just used this method and it worked great, thank you!
Great idea! trying to do it from just a marked line is very difficult.
Could you show this method for a curbless shower with off center drian,love your stuff brother!!!
Great video thank you! I'm planning on using your method however, I'll be putting the mix in dry, slope/level then add water.
Thank you for this great video. Towards the end you said the deck mud shown is not the one you normally use. Which is the deck mud you would recommend?
I’m going to use this method. I saw Sals it is a good method and it’s similar but this is better because I don’t want to leave the board down in the dry pack afterwards.
Should you wet concrete slab ,before applying thinset.. And do i do anything to concrete slab to clean it to ensure, thinset sticks.?
Thank you so much. Great video I’ve done lots of tile work well pretty much every type of work do you do when a house. But I’m doing my first shower and I was pretty nervous about how to get the slope done correctly. So awesome job really appreciate it
So helpful. Thanks for these tutorials and clever way of doing things.
Chase is the man! Best drain around!
Love your videos. I am confident I can do this.
Thanks so much for the clear instructions! I used this method in a 48" x 42" bed with a linear drain on one end, and things went mostly good....lol... unfortunately there is a low spot though. What is the best way to fix this before the liquid membrane is applied? About a 16th to an 8th low max. Thanks again for what you do!
Just wanted to thank you for the tremendous amount of effort and thought you put into these videos to teach us the easiest ways to achieve great results. The amount of time you take to make everything perfect says a lot about your work ethics and the pride you take in your skills you have learnt through years of experience. I haven't only learnt about tiles from you but also learnt how to do the job the right way how to be proud of the finish product at the end. It's not easy to find great people like you so thank you.
Thank you. Keep it going!
i never seen any one mix cement using trash bag. New learning today. Thanks
great content and enjoy watching, but how would you do it with a 5 x 3 shower with the drain at one end not center
Bro! This is exactly what I needed. I’m going to try this on my walking-on shower when my house is completed (cookie-cutter track). Thanks a lot!
Very cool mixing technique, thank you for sharing!
That's some nice mud, smooth like butter
Have you ever used this method when the drain is say 5' from the far end of the shower? Do you recommend a different method in that case?
Thank you for this video. I've been stressing for weeks over how to do this cuz I've never done it before, and what I've already done I have to rip back out because it's totally wrong. But now that I've seen his video I know exactly how to do it thank you so much
I had my shower custom made with cultured marble. The floor of the shower is a cultured marble mix that was poured into a shaped fiberglass basin. No mud required. Virtually no chance of water leaking out unless somehow the drain wasn’t installed properly. The walls of the shower are cultured marble. No grout. It cost a lot of money but worth it.
I've done similar by cutting hardi board around the perimeter as a ledger and just leave it in there. I cut it big enough it wedges in so not nails. But I like this idea better gonna give it a try. Great video thanks
great tips....ive tiled alot of walls but always been never attempted this ...this is a surefire way
Outstanding video. Thank you. I have a question. I'm installing a shower in my basement and a clamping drain was installed previously by someone else. The primary drain plate was in stalled only 3/8" above the concrete floor. Is that to shallow to install the pre-slope mudd bed? Do i have to choose a different method of install or change the drain or? Hopefully the mudd bed on concrete can taper to that thickness.
Nope... not an issue. As long as you make sure your pre-slope maintains a 1/4" per foot drop from the furthest point on the perimeter of your pan down to the top surface of your exiting drain flange you'll be good to go. Think of it this way... the thickness of the pan at the drain (in this case will be 3/8" ) will be your set point. Or better yet... thinking of it the other way around... the taper is from your drain flange "up to" the furthest edge of your drain pan. (the taper will happen automatically as long as you follow the slope of 1/4" per foot.
great video. do you have a video how to build the curve using permabase? like the one here. thanks
Hey Isaac, great video and technique, just a heads up, here in south florida we use shower pan liner, we place the dry pack on top, the liner goes up about a feet on the walls before we place the cement board for walls and also is covering the curb......we try not to nail it or screw drive it, just the necessary, in this particular technique using the guides will make a bunch of unnecessary holes......just that, thanks
What do you think about just measuring out the height needed from the drain height and adding 3/8 then cutting the height you need with the perma base and screw that in and just screed off the top of that and leave the perma base pieces in place since that is going under the waterproof membrane?
Every one of your videos is awesome tile coach. Thanks
Looking to fo my first dry pack for a dog bath. Thanks for the easy to follow lesson!
will definitely be booking your time to help me with a tile project! Thank you!
I’ve watched this video 3 times…. Great work brother
This is great. I'm an old slow mover and this looks like it will make the dry pack faster and a little easier.
I wonder if some time you'd show us how you'd do the dry pack for a trench drain. I've never done one and I have one coming up. I'm trying to visualize how to keep the perimeter level at the drain end when the slope is very short. You'd have a similar challenge when replacing a tub and keeping the drain location.
Thank you for all the great info.
Do you have a video showing the applications to use schluter, latticrete, wedi, backer, etc?
Awesome video, thanks! I used a foam substrate on my last remodel, but this give me confidence to try dry pack.
Great video, I have question pertaining to your shower curb in the this video. Could you do a video on how you built your shower curb and water proofed it. I believe in the next video of this series you water proof it with liquid water proofing, however it also looks like you have a thin set mortar and mesh fiberglass tap on your curb. Is this correct or did you do something different.
Sorry I can't help but I have the same exact question.
@@slightlynerdish We have the same question as well.
The cuŕb gets waterproofed with the same membrane as the walls and floor.
Ordered my flow fx drain and will be using this method soon. Thanks so much for making this video. Never done a dry pack or shower pan before so I’m sure I’ll watch this video three more times lol.