From Cracks to Confidence: How Witte Home Improvement Restores Boulder Showers

How often do I get a call where a homeowner has an issue with their tray?

It can be cracked tile, or the original pan was not properly shaped, i.e., the original laborer

did not get enough slope to the drain when shaping the dry pack (cement) where the water stands pooled in the shower. I had one case where the water leaked out of the shower tray into their wall, creating mold. There can be other reasons as well, i.e., tired of the look, cannot keep it clean, tiles coming loose, etc.

So, the homeowner is looking to correct the issue but is hoping to not demo (tear out) the pan. Can this be done? Yes, the pan can be tiled without a tear-out.

Removing the tile from the pan would put at risk the waterproof liner underneath, and it may compromise the existing cement by cracking it or loosening it. Tearing out the pan altogether most likely would involve removing the bottom row of wall tiles. Do we have replacement wall tiles? So, if there are no drain problems, it might behoove us to simply go over the top of the existing tile. We can handle the tile and grout repair in Boulder with ease.

So, to do this, you want to check your drain cover. The cover should be level or slightly shorter than the tile coming up to it.  So, we all know that the new tile will be taller than the drain, so we must find a way to raise the drain or create an environment where the cover will be somewhat flush with the tile over the tile installation. This is the hardest part to figure out and takes mindful consideration if it can be done at all. Sometimes it cannot be done, but most of the time it can be completed successfully. I am not going to expound on how to raise your drain or drain cover because every situation is different and unique. You will have to get creative in how to remedy the drain elevation. 

So, now that we have determined how to extend our drain or make the cover level, we are ready to begin the tile work. It should go without explanation that the shower tray needs to be cleaned of soap residue and grime. I like to use environmentally friendly cleaning products, and I don’t hesitate to use a scraper (razor blade type) if needed.  Place your primer on the area where you need to reslope your tray for proper water flow to the drain.  In fact, you can prime the entire pan if you wish for better adhesion and waterproofing.  After a drying time period, you can mix up some “special” cement to create the proper sloping. Allow to dry, then do your tile layout. 

Set the tile and allow proper dry time before grouting.  Now the edges that butt up to the wall tile will need to be sealed.  Silicone will not adhere until the grout is completely dry. Remember the silicone will match the grout in color, so choose accordingly. Allow for a couple of days of dry time. And there you have it. A new tiled shower pan (tray) for a fraction of the cost as compared to a demo and installation of a new shower pan. Witte Home Improvement comes as a trusted choice for tile repair and custom tile installation in Boulder.