I'm remodeling my walk-in shower and just discovered that my contractor installed the shower pan liner directly on the plywood subfloor without a pre-slope layer. After that, he added micro-cement, then thinset, and finally tiles on top. I've heard that NYC building codes require a pre-slope for proper drainage. Is this something I should be concerned about? Should I ask my contractor to redo this part?
2 Answers
I had a similar situation where I insisted that my contractor remove the liner before the tiles went up and actually create the pre-slope with mortar. It was a hassle, and we had some mess below, but I’m really glad I pushed for it. Over a decade later, and my shower still drains perfectly with minimal mildew. Trust me, getting that slope right makes all the difference!
It sounds like your shower setup could lead to some major drainage issues. If the micro-cement doesn't create a slope toward the drain, water could pool and cause problems over time. It's crucial for the floor to slant correctly to allow water to flow down. I’d definitely recommend having a chat with your contractor about fixing this!
Yeah, I agree! Water pooling is the last thing you want in a shower. You might as well fix it while you can.
Sounds like it was worth the extra effort! Did you go with mortar underneath and then reinstalled the pan before the thinset and tiles?