What Tile Cement To Fix A Shower Tray

[colo]

Hello,

I am about to install a 1200x800 shower tray on a raised plinth made of 4x2 timber and a 18mm plywood top.

I can either use cement motor or tile cement but its got to be 15mm bed of whatever.

I think tile adhesive will give the best bond but I cant find one that I can lay 15mm thick as most are thin set.

Can any one please advise the best tile adhesive to use.

Thank You for any advice.

[dewaltdisney]

I used silicone to fix my shower base and it has never moved. I used a whole tube and formed a matrix of beads all over the base and then put the shower tray on it and wiggled it a little to bed it. The cement approach is to deal with uneven substrates but in your case you have formed a nice flat platform and as long as it is level and plumb the silicone way will do it. It takes a few days to cure though so avoid any movement on it until it is sound.

DWD

[artillerydave1]

The plumber who fitted both my shower trays for my recent renovation used expanding foam from the gun and then weighted the tray down.

He reckons that is much less prone to failure / movements that the old cement bed method.

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[aeromech3]

Are we reading this, 15mm of silicone or foam is going to be hard to judge and apply!
Colo: why do you need 15mm are you trying to follow the bedding instruction in mortar or align with a tile or what?

[colo]

Are we reading this, 15mm of silicone or foam is going to be hard to judge and apply!
Colo: why do you need 15mm are you trying to follow the bedding instruction in mortar or align with a tile or what?

Hello,

Thanks for response.

I am following the manufacturers instruction who state that the tray must be laid on a 15mm bed of either cement or tile adhesive. I thought tile adhesive would be stronger but cant find any that allows 15mm thick.

Cheers

Col

[wine~o]

I am following the manufacturers instruction who state that the tray must be laid on a 15mm bed of either cement or tile adhesive. I thought tile adhesive would be stronger but cant find any that allows 15mm thick.

Cheers

Col

any decent quality addy will do. The thing is that when used as an adhesive for tiling you add more water than when bedding down a shower tray.

for bedding down you want to add just enough water so that the addy will just hold in a clump when squeezed in your fist, this is known as a "dry mix"

[colo]

I am following the manufacturers instruction who state that the tray must be laid on a 15mm bed of either cement or tile adhesive. I thought tile adhesive would be stronger but cant find any that allows 15mm thick.

Cheers

Col

any decent quality addy will do. The thing is that when used as an adhesive for tiling you add more water than when bedding down a shower tray.

for bedding down you want to add just enough water so that the addy will just hold in a clump when squeezed in your fist, this is known as a "dry mix"

Thank you.

Your advice is much appreciated

Are you saying that by adding less water I can lay a thicker bed and is it safe to assume that there will be less shrinkage because there is less water to evaporate.

[wine~o]

Sort of... the cement will "bind" the addy together... you will be using a fair bit more addy though.

[arco_iris]

It takes a few days to cure though so avoid any movement on it until it is sound.

Though DWD refers to silicone, any cementitious (or adhesive) product takes time to 'cure' and the longer you can leave it undisturbed, the better. I've today bedded a kitchen sink into a worktop with Fixall Clear, weighted it down with 5 bricks on each corner, now I'm going on holiday for three weeks. You have this advantage when retired & not under pressure to finish a job.

Same applies to brickwork, stone walls, manholes, etc., leave it alone.

[colo]

Sort of... the cement will "bind" the addy together... you will be using a fair bit more addy though.

Hello,

I would be grateful for a little more help.

I have been onto tray manufacturer, Just Trays, who have said I can use tile adhesive as an alternative to cement but not to use flexible adhesive which they say 'will allow movement under the tray'. I personally would think the flexi would be better than cement mortar which will crumble after time.

Is there such a thing as a rapid set none flexi tile adhesive.


ATB

Col

[chrrris]

I personally would think the flexi would be better than cement mortar which will crumble after time.

Sand/Cement mortar is fine and will not crumble if mixed correctly. If your house is brick built, sand/cement mortar is what is holding it up -- if it crumbled over time, you'd have more pressing concerns than your shower tray!

[steviejoiner74]

On plywood or chipboard then I’ve only ever seen a tray set down with silicone or gun grade foam.
Never seen a plumber set a tray with cement based product unless it going down to concrete floor.

[chrrris]

On plywood or chipboard then I’ve only ever seen a tray set down with silicone or gun grade foam.
Never seen a plumber set a tray with cement based product unless it going down to concrete floor.

I don't do many shower installs but I always follow the manufacturers instructions -- which, up until maybe 2 or 3 years ago, nearly always said to use mortar. But now most of them actually say "use cement mortar or silicone".

I fitted a fairly large Mira Flight tray a few weeks ago and noticed they now say silicone is okay as an alternative to mortar, so that's what I used. Seemed to be fine.

Never had one crack on me, but that's always the fear -- if it cracks and you haven't followed the manufacturers guidelines, they have a get-out-of-jail-free card

[colo]

I personally would think the flexi would be better than cement mortar which will crumble after time.

Sand/Cement mortar is fine and will not crumble if mixed correctly. If your house is brick built, sand/cement mortar is what is holding it up -- if it crumbled over time, you'd have more pressing concerns than your shower tray!

Thanks Chrrris.

That makes perfect sense and I appreciate your advice. It is reassuring to know that you have used cement mortar with no problems.

I am probably being over cautious. I thought the cement would break with the constant foot traffic.

Thank you

Col