Forming the sides
Thresholds are a necessary structural element that prevents water from flooding the floor. In addition, the sides serve as the boundaries of insulation and waterproofing, so they are formed after preparing the screed and installing the ladder.
The work begins with markings, since without it it is impossible to guarantee the accuracy of the design. To create the sides, moisture-resistant bricks must be used and reinforcement must be provided.
General recommendations for building a threshold:
- This design element is provided even when pouring the screed. When installing the formwork, the required height is immediately provided.
- It is advisable to give the side a rounded shape to increase safety and aesthetics.
- Stiffening ribs made of reinforcement with a diameter of 10 mm are provided.
- The reinforcement is connected using a knitting wire with additional smaller rods, the diameter of which is 8 mm.
- For formwork, you can use available material, such as fiberboard.
It will take some time for the mortar poured into the formwork to harden. There is no need to rush, as the resulting surface will be the basis for laying the facing material.
Filling the screed
Before starting this operation, check that the funnel is in the correct position. Its height should be higher than the pallet by the thickness of the layer of glue and the tiles that are attached to it.
When pouring the solution, it is necessary to ensure the required slope, so marking will help to comply with this requirement. Beacons are used to mark the direction of flow.
In this case, there is no need for formwork, since the sides perform its function. It may take 2 to 4 days for the solution to dry.
Additional waterproofing
After the finishing screed has hardened, it is necessary to ensure absolute tightness of the surface and make it level. For this purpose, the following operations are performed:
- a layer of waterproofing material is applied, for example on a polymer base;
- the inner surface of the thresholds is treated with the same composition;
- after the waterproofing has dried, a self-leveling mixture is applied;
- The surface at the drainage point is rounded to effectively collect water and quickly remove it.
Applying another layer of waterproofing makes the project slightly more expensive and time-consuming, but it ensures that there will be no leaks.
Facing
There are many benefits to using ceramic tiles for your shower tray. The material not only has high-performance characteristics but also looks very impressive, especially with a successful combination of different types of tiles.
Laying tiles proceeds according to the following algorithm:
- Preparation of the adhesive composition. You must strictly follow the instructions contained in the accompanying documentation. Some compositions are set quickly, so this feature must be taken into account when applying them.
- Laying tiles. Starts from the angle chosen by the wizard.
- Quality checking. The main task when laying tiles is to achieve a smooth horizontal surface, so you need to constantly monitor the relative position of the tiles.
- Correction of irregularities. To monitor the correctness of work, beacons are used. A rubber mallet is used to level the surface.
- Lining the bottom and sides. The edge tiles should not protrude, so they should be cut to size.
- Removing auxiliary elements and cleaning seams. Crosses and excess glue must be removed the next day after completion of work.
- Grouting joints. For this, a special construction mixture and a rubber spatula are used. The remaining material is wiped off with a damp sponge.
- Sealant treatment. All joints of adjacent surfaces and corners of the thresholds are sealed with a transparent compound that protects them from moisture.
- Final cleaning. At the final stage, traces of grout and sealant residues are removed.
Installation of a shower cabin
The shower cabin is mounted on the prepared pallet after the adhesive fixing the tiles has completely hardened. If a shower screen is installed, it can be placed directly on the tiles, which greatly simplifies the process. In any case, when assembling the plumbing structure, you should strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Using ceramic tiles as a finishing material for a pallet opens up a lot of scope for creativity. You can create an original interior by combining different types of tiles or decorating the room in a certain style. This coating will please the eye for a long time and will make shower procedures more comfortable.
