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Curbless Shower Pan Installation

VIM Method

by Jeff Patterson in DIY Bathroom Remodel, How to Build a Shower

Curbless shower pan installations require skill and attention to detail.

Otherwise the entire shower could be a huge failure, and that would suck.

Plus you’d also be wasting a lot of time and money.

Today’s tutorial shares how to install a VIM curbless shower pan.

You can do this installation, and we’ll show you the correct methods.

Let’s dive in!

Curbless Shower Pan Installation…VIM Method

There are many ways to build a curbless shower pan. The project begins with determining if you have wood or concrete subfloors.

Curbless showers over concrete can be a challenge. It requires removing the old concrete, new plumbing, and building the concrete pan.

Today’s tutorial shows how to install the VIM shower pan over a wood subfloor. And the first step was to cut the shower pan to size. This bathroom needed a tub to shower conversion. So the VIM pan was cut to roughly the same size as the old tub.

But the pan could also be cut so that it extends beyond the functional shower area.

However, only the old 3/4″ plywood subfloor in the tub area was removed. Then new 3/4″ plywood was installed flush to the top of the joists.

Once the new shower area is framed, the VIM curbless shower pan can be back filled with modified thin-set mortar. Then the same mortar is troweled onto the subfloor.

It’s best to have the plumbing done before cutting the pan. This allows the VIM pan to be dry fit and positioned.

Watch our detailed video to see how to install the VIM curbless shower pan

How to Waterproof Shower Walls

The fastest way to waterproof shower walls is with foam backer boards.

Laticrete Hydro Ban Board was the best option for this project for a few reasons.

First, the VIM shower pan will be waterproofed using Laticrete’s Hydro Barrier, which will bond to Hydro Ban Board.

Second, Hydro Ban Board made waterproofing around the shower window easy.

Here’s the deal,

Hydro Ban Board needs plumb and straight studs that are 16″ on-center.

Plus, only Hydro Ban Board screws should be used, not drywall or deck screws.

In addition, Laticrete makes a Hydro Ban sealant that waterproofs the board screws, seams, and transitions.

The walls in this curbless shower were waterproofed in less than 2 hours using Hydro Ban Board.

Watch our video to see how

How to Waterproof the VIM Pan

VIM’s shower pan requires a liquid membrane. Fortunately the kit comes with Laticrete Hydro Barrier.

Here’s the important part,

The curbless shower pan and entire bathroom floor should be waterproofed.

If the curbless shower drain clogs then water will make it’s way out into the main bathroom area. But there’s a way to protect the floor area outside the shower.

Strata Mat was used on the bathroom floor. It’s an uncoupling membrane that prevents tiles from cracking.

All the voids on top of the Strata Mat should be filled with thin-set mortar. Then, once the mortar dries Strata Mat can be waterproofed with the Hydro Barrier.

In addition, all the changes of plane between the shower walls and bathroom floor need to be addressed with both Hydro Barrier and a fleece.

Plus, VIM requires the use of fleece over the entire curbless shower pan.

Our video shows how to make this curbless shower and bathroom floor 100% waterproof