Cultured marble shower base -- good choice?
newsoutherner1
12 years ago
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Comments (19)
kirkhall
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Cultured Marble vs onyx collection vs solid surface shower pan
Comments (78)Lenore, who is installing the granite slab shower? Start there and make your priority be hiring a VERY experienced tile professional - one you have vetted carefully to insure that their qualifications meet your design requirements and product selections. Stone slab installations are not for the B team, and especially in a wet area. Can it be done? Yes, depending upon the structure over which a solid surface stone is installed and the methods used. We install solid surface shower walls regularly, but from an empty cavity which we build to meet all specific design and installation specifications, including the pan. A solid stone slab cannot be supported by the pan (it is not meant to support a slab wall). A slab wall is pinned and tied so it is self supported, not supported by a pan. This is a very complex installation. A LOT to consider. As one example, the thickness of your slab? 2cm. 3cm? (effects the weight load on the space). And I could go on. After you have carefully vetted the qualified tile contractor, have this conversation with them. If you question or want to clarify their recommendations, check back or seek professional advice from other qualified sources. Please consult with a professional onsite. Good luck with your project....See MoreMaterial for base (leveling) of cultured marble shower
Comments (1)It seems like the problem starts at the subfloor. The contractor who fixed the subfloor should have done it in a way so that the subfloor wasn't an inch lower on one side....See Morecracked cultured marble shower pan
Comments (8)Same thing happened to my cultured marble shower pan. A loud pop and then thin cracks extending from both sides of the drain hole. The original installer told me the same thing. He'd never seen this happen before and that I'd need to replace the whole shower because the wall panels sit on the pan top edges. When I examine the drain from underneath (from the crawl space under the house), I see that a 2x10 joist runs very close to the drain hole, close enough that the 3" plastic drain pipe is off vertical by 10-15 degrees. The pipe was obviously forced into position before the compression ring was secured. My theory is that this arrangement put great pressure on the floor pan, with the pan floor on one side of the drain hole being forced upward and the pan floor on the other side of the drain hole being forced downward. After 17 years of pressure, the floor finally gave way. My conclusion is that this was a serious plumbing error and I'm in the process of making my case with the plumbing outfit that did the work. They should have cut out a section of the 2x10 joist, thus allowing the drain pipe to be installed vertically, and then installing headers against the two cut ends of the joist. Seems to me the plumber is liable for the damage and the replacement of the entire shower....See MoreShower waterproofing for cultured marble slab walls and pan?
Comments (3)I installed my solid surface shower walls over drywall, not even greenboard, and put the custom solid surface pan over the wood subfloor. If you leave an 1/8" between wall corners and pump them full of color matched silicone, it allows for panel movement without leaking. Another of the advantages of solid surface in the shower, besides lack of grout to maintain, is the labor and material savings of waterproofing. Plus the foolproofery....See Morelisa_a
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