Tile shower tray: how to make it yourself?

A bathroom is not only a place for hygiene procedures, but a corner of relaxation, so you want it to be cozy, clean and beautiful. There is no need to put in a huge bathtub. It is quite possible to install a compact shower in which you can invigorate in the morning and relax in the evening. Moreover, you can avoid buying an expensive shower cabin, and make a shower tray from tiles with your own hands.

The small space of the bathroom often forces you to look for optimal solutions so that it is convenient for all family members, and at the same time, everything you need is available. If the bathroom is combined, then this problem becomes even more urgent. Sometimes a good solution is to install a shower stall. But finished products, which are in a wide range in construction and plumbing stores, are not suitable for everyone because of the high price. You should think about how best to enclose the space in order to protect nearby things from water ingress, and the pallet can be made of tiles. And this is a simple process if you have all the necessary materials and tools.

There are two options for installing the pallet.

• You can buy a ready-made kit in the store, which includes a polystyrene pallet. It is already sealed and has a frame. It can be installed, built a curb, decorated with ceramic tiles. Arrange the upper space in the simplest way: screw the handrails to the wall for convenience, place a pipe on top and hang a waterproof curtain.
• Everything is done by hand - from start to finish.

Pallet shapes can be very diverse: square, triangular, round, oval. Sizes range from seventy centimeters and up. It all depends on the size of the bathroom and the place that can be taken under the shower without prejudice to the rest of the space. It would be logical to consider in the future the option of installing a certain type of cabin without a pallet. Then the dimensions are adjusted to the size of the base of the cabin, which is subsequently planned to be installed.

The main steps for creating a do-it-yourself tile pallet are as follows:

• think over and designate the size of the future structure;
• decide on the material for construction;
• arrange a comfortable side;
• prepare the area on which the pallet will be installed;
• think over and make thermal insulation;
• mount the ladder;
• build a pallet;
• revet the pallet and the side.

When it is decided where the shower base will be located, and what shape it will be, you need to outline its contours. Before purchasing the material, you should calculate how much is required. It is recommended to take the tiles with a small margin, so that in case of damage to the element, it can be replaced. In the process of work, it may turn out that somewhere there was a miscalculation, so it is better to be on the safe side. In addition, you immediately need to decide whether the pallet will be deep, what will be used as a guarding device - plastic, glass or film.

The shower tray is based on a concrete foundation, which is finished with decorative material.On the outside, a wall is laid, thanks to which water will not spill onto the bathroom floor. Inside this structure there is a drain designed to drain water into the sewer. The plane is mounted so that there is a slight slope towards the ladder.

Making a shower with your own hands begins with the fact that you need to create waterproofing and thermal insulation.

For waterproofing the floor, roofing material and a strong film are used. The places where the floor and walls meet must be completely closed. Even the smallest cracks need to be removed. Then the whole space is treated with bituminous mastic. It is applied, like the primer, in an even layer. Then you need to let the site dry well for a day, and apply a second layer. The final step will be to secure the waterproofing tape at the joints.

Thermal insulation is made using foam plastic with a thickness of at least three centimeters. It must be of such density that it can withstand loads well. When making a sewer drain, which is responsible for the drainage of water, each element must be properly strengthened: pipes, funnel, gaskets, as well as a grate and a siphon, which are responsible for preventing unpleasant odors from entering the room.

Before making a cladding of tiles or ceramic tiles, the entire area is treated with a special waterproof compound. When laying tiles, you need to use tile adhesive that is resistant to moisture. You will also need a moisture-resistant grout to process the seams.

Moisture-resistant adhesives that have good consumer reviews include the following:

• Unis Plus;
• Eunice Pool;
• "Litokol" K80;
• "Ceresit" SM11.

Suitable grouts include Ceresit CE 40 Aquastatic... It contains antiseptic additives that prevent the formation of mildew and mold.

You can make a pallet using an acrylic coating. This material is often used to cover bathtubs and showers. Due to its good performance characteristics, acrylic is in demand by consumers when installing bathtubs and shower cabins. The acrylic coating can be easily renewed if required.

There is an even simpler version of the pallet - it is enameled. Thus, you can save money. But it has two drawbacks - cold to the touch and rather slippery. When using it, it is better to lay a rubber mat on the bottom. The iron pallet is more rigid and resistant to deformation, but it is prone to corrosion. The metal is thin enough, so its vibration is possible, as well as noise that will be emitted by jets of water falling on the pallet.

A cast-iron pallet is much stronger, and corrosion is not afraid of it. He is able to serve for a long time. But it is necessarily covered with enamel, on which, over time, the appearance of chips is inevitable, which spoils the appearance of the shower. Some make pallets of wood to preserve a uniform style; it requires special processing beforehand.

To make the shower tray look really beautiful, it was pleasant to take water procedures in it, it is better to cover the base with decorative material.The space to be faced is very small, so you can choose an original beautiful tile and think about the design.

The simplest option: after pouring the surface with concrete or laying bricks, plaster the surface well, treat it with a primer, and then apply a moisture-resistant paint, matching the color to other surrounding details.

The tiles can be matte or glossy, with different patterns. You can decorate the surface by combining different colors. A mosaic covering will look very attractive. Especially if its elements are already present in the rest of the decor. Small details will help lay out complex surfaces if the pallet, for example, is not rectangular, but oval or round. Ceramic tiles and mosaics are considered favorites in the cladding of the shower stall. But natural or artificial stone used as cladding also looks interesting and stylish.

The pallet is finished with decorative elements only after the concrete and other types of masonry have completely hardened.

The tile laying technology does not differ from the installation of other surfaces. We act in the same way as if we were fixing it to the floor or walls. The glue should be chosen waterproof. A notched trowel is used for even application. There is no need to apply glue to the surface of the tile itself. The surface is leveled with a mallet. The cladding starts from the drain. Tiles are trimmed as needed at the edge of the walls.

There is one more tile expert advice that is worth listening to. When buying tiles, you need to pay attention to parameters such as moisture absorption and wear resistance.

Tiles with a high degree of wear resistance are more expensive, but if the shower is installed in an apartment, and not in the country, for example, and it is used instead of a bath, then you should not save on this. Better to choose high wear resistance. And one more nuance: the shower tray involves the use of tiles with the least moisture absorption. This information, if the tile meets all the requirements, must be included on the package.

For convenience and comfort, the pallet structure can be equipped with a floor heating system. You need to pay attention to safety. Experts recommend using a cable system for installing a warm floor, since it provides strong insulation and a protective screen. And one more nuance: when choosing a heating element, you need to take into account its characteristics. Only constructions with IP class can be used in rooms with high humidity.

The tile gives unlimited scope for imagination. Therefore, it will not be difficult to arrange a pallet.

A good option for combining beige tones, where the walls are made a tone lighter than the pallet using decorative inserts. And the pallet itself is lined with tiles of different sizes and sizes.

The compact corner pallet, lined with large tiles, also looks good. The walls and floor are laid out in the same color scheme with even larger elements. In general, everything looks harmonious.

Another interesting solution. It is enough to build a deeper pallet. It can function as a bathroom if necessary. In this case, the bottom of the pallet is laid out with small tiles, and the walls are large. The colors of the walls and floor are the same.

The mosaic-type coating looks interesting in the design of the pallet, and it is used in combination with large slabs on the walls.

In the next video, you can see how to make a do-it-yourself tile shower tray.